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July 01, 2005
So Hotlips36b@yada.com - What Does your E-mail Address Say About You?
When a candidate sends me his or her resume the first thing I see is the e-mail address, that’s my first impression of the job seeker.
As a career professional and employer, I can tell you straight away that I have difficulty seriously considering candidates when I see e-mail addresses that demonstrate poor taste or a lack of professionalism.
Job seekers, more than anyone, need an e-mail address that is clear, easy to read, that identifies you individually and as a professional. You may think it wise to disguise your online identity, but doing so in your e-mail address is like sending a letter and signing it “Mickey Mouse”. Keep it straight, not cutsy and as honest as possible.
Using just your first name (i.e... Dave@sample.com) is too personal. A combination of first and last name or initials is best, DaveParker@sample.com, Dparker@sample.com or even Dparker99@sample.com are simple, identify you personally and are representative of the kind of e-mail address you would be issued in a professional work environment.
When considering the right combination for your e-mail address, do not use your birthday or anything that indicates a year. It will automatically be assumed to be your birth year or age and could bias an employer.
If you have to use numbers, a zip code is a good place to start, it will be repeated on your resume and is appropriate, or choose numbers that could not possibly represent age. Stay away from combinations of o’s and zeros, strung together they can alter the appearance of your message and be confusing. For example, BAbalo00@sample.com looks a little like babalooo.
If you are using a free e-mail service such as Yahoo, or Hotmail, it may be difficult to get an e-mail address that fits the recommended format because of the numbers of people signing up for these services every day.
Just get as close as you can to the real thing. Be sure to read your combination before you submit it and make sure it does not say something that will embarrass you later by spelling something you did not intend.
Also, if you are using a popular free e-mail service, keep in mind that everyone recognizes Yahoo and Hotmail as “free” – this also makes a statement about you. Other less well known services such as Execs2k.com or Mail.com may give a more professional impression.
Whatever you choose, it is a very good idea to have a separate account just for your job search efforts. This way, when you sit down to examine and respond to your time critical employment opportunities, your focus won’t be challenged by e-mails from friends and family.
A successful job search takes a complete strategy; what may seem to be a minor detail now could have a major impact later. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.
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David Morales
VP of Client Services
Chandler Hill Partners, Inc.
A Career Advancement and Job Search Company
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