From Inbox to Interview: The Power of a Professional Email Address
A conversation we must have with clients (at times) is about how unprofessional their email address is. Job seekers can be oblivious to such things.
The email address could be too long, unprofessional, unbranded, and/or contain irrelevant added words or numbers. Take these examples into consideration:
The email provider could be perceived as unprofessional (or dated), too.
Those using dated AOL or Yahoo! email addresses come to mind.
It's our responsibility as resume writers to ensure our clients are given every opportunity to succeed.
When you must have the “your email could be costing you job interviews” talk with a client, here’s a bit of text you can use to drive the conversation:
“John, I noticed that you’re using a less-than-optimal email address. Has anyone ever mentioned that sometimes something as small as an email address can repel hiring managers? Thankfully, selecting a new one is quick, easy, and free. In fact, I recommend getting a Gmail or Outlook email address. Look for a straightforward first and last name email (e.g., [email protected]). If that’s not available, select [email protected]. You could use a hyphen between names if needed (e.g., [email protected]).
Here are a few email don’ts to help guide your client to registering a much-improved email address:
- Avoid numbers, especially when they reveal the client’s zip code, age, or birth date
- Avoid funny or silly words
- Avoid adding unnecessary words or text
- Avoid using personal descriptors, such as family, mom, or dad
