Making the Most of Your Email

I am seeing a trend in email correspondences from job
seekers and thought it would a good idea to address email etiquette.

These days everyone has an email address whether they own
a computer or not. Most people take email for granted and find it a quick and
easy way to stay in touch with friends, communicate at work, and send files
electronically. Email is much faster and more cost efficient than snail mail.

Email is one of the ways job seekers send their resume
for review. How your email is written tells a recruiter a lot about you before
you walk in the door.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Be sure your email address is professional
  (consider buying a domain name from GoDaddy.com). No recruiter wants to see a
  resume coming from johnnysmommy@xxxxxx (I kid you not!).
• If you are going to take the time and find an
  email address to send your resume along, then address your correspondence to
  the person receiving it. You have no idea that in a given week I receive at
  least 25 resumes where the job seekers will say nothing in their email other
  than “Here is my resume.” Really? And you wonder why you are out of work?
  Another example is the candidate who will send their resume to me (not
  addressing me by name) and demand when I review their resume that I should call
  them. Really? And you wonder why you are out of work? Just the other day a
  senior recruiter in my office received an email from a potential candidate
  telling him he spelled something wrong in his correspondence. In and of itself,
  that would have been okay, but when the job seeker added “emoticons” to the
  email, it revealed an immaturity. By the way, when he reviewed his email, he
  realized there was nothing incorrect.
• Be sure to research the job and/or company you
  are applying to and express how you meet the qualifications and what value you
  can bring to the job.
• Make your points in a succinct way. Recruiters
  receive many resumes and they often don’t have time to read lengthy emails.
• Don’t be cute in an email. Be sure you don’t forget
  that you are looking for a job. Smiley faces and colored fonts will make you stand out … but not
  in a good way.
• Check your spelling and grammar. This is not a
  time to hit the “send” button before you proof your document.
• Sign your document with your first and last
  name. Remember to be professional; the recruiter is not your friend. They are people
  who can help secure an interview for you. Refrain from using inspirational
  quotes at the end of your email. While these quotes might inspire you, leave
  the quotes to look at and repeat when you are getting dressed. Another thing to
  refrain from is using Bible quotes in your email and signing off by saying
  “Have a blessed day.” Religion is important to many people, including myself,
  but there is a time and place for it.

In conclusion, email has been a very powerful tool.
Remember not to abuse it in your job search. While most employers welcome the
technology age and gladly accept email as a mode of communication, there are
some potential employers who may not be comfortable with it.