E-mail for Job Searching: Checklist

	Does your e-mail address project the right image? Your e-mail should not be silly or playful, nor should it include parts of a company name. To project a professional image, do not use cute or "personal" e-mail addresses like dancinfool@abc.com, rickandmary@abc.com, cat-luvR@catz.com, etc..
	Is your e-mail address short and intuitive? Avoid e-mail addresses with long strings of numbers and letters.
	Does your e-mail address include digits like L, I, 0, or O? The digit 0 looks like the letter O and a non-capitalized L (l) looks like a capitalized i (I).
	Is your job search confidential? Protect your identity.

The Right Image

Many job seekers use personal e-mail addresses that are not appropriate for job searching. If your e-mail is cute or alludes to non-relevant personal activities, don't use it. What kind of impression do you think hunk-o-luvr@hotmail.com or sallysweet@hippie.org will make on a potential employer? If you have doubts about whether your e-mail is appropriate, set up another account – and while you're at it, select something that is based on your job target:

marketingpro@abc.com
consultant@professional.com
accountingexpert@email.com

Keep it Short

Try to select an e-mail address that's easy to remember and get the shortest e-mail address you can find. Avoid long e-mail addresses –- for example, 345_hjkis-PNN@abc.com will be difficult for people to remember or even write down. If you must use numbers or letters, use an intuitive series of numbers or letters:

angiegordonxyz@hmail.com
taxspecialist77@yahoo.com

Letters and Digits to Avoid

Avoid e-mail addresses with the letters L, I, and O and the numbers 1 and 0, because these digits and letters can be easily confused.

Caution: Confidential When conducting a confidential search, avoid using parts of your name in your e-mail address. If you decide to set up a new e-mail address for job searching, keep the following in mind: Most e-mail providers will ask you to set up a "profile" when you set up your account. But first, check out the site's Privacy Policy and don't sign up unless you're confident that your privacy is in good hands. If you've had your e-mail account for awhile, be sure to review your "profile" to see what personal information you may have provided when you set it up originally. For example, your name and contact information may be immediately accessible, and even worse, your profile might describe hobbies or activities that were not meant for employers' eyes... When confidentiality is important, leave the profile information blank.

 

Be patient with yourself.
Self-growth is tender; it's holy ground.
There's no greater investment.
— STEPHEN COVEY —

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© 2010 Pat Kendall
All Rights Reserved.