Are Email Addresses Really That Important?

Email affords both prospective employers and employees considerable convenience. Thanks to email, resumes, cover letters and recommendations can be sent at the press of a button rather than having to wait days or hours for snail mail or faxes. Because email is such an important part of your job search, your email address matters. A sharp, professional email address can help improve your chances of getting an interview. Here's how to establish your business email.

Show Credibility

A professional-looking email address immediately boosts your image. It shows contacts that you are web-savvy and know how to market yourself. Conversely, an outdated, ill-sounding or otherwise unprofessional email address creates the idea that you may not be competent or professional enough for the position. In this way, a poor email address undermines your credibility immediately. It leaves clients to wonder whether you are a legitimate professional, and if so, why you do not seem to be taking your web presence seriously.

Convey credibility with your email address by making sure it is up to date. Avoid using your college email address unless you are a recent graduate. If you have changed your name, make sure that the name in your email address matches the one on your resume as closely as possible. Also, if using a public email hosting service, avoid hosting companies that were relevant 10 years ago but are not so much anymore. This is especially worth considering if you are applying at a tech company.

Ideally, your email alias should consist of your first and last name only. However, securing your desired user name with a public email host is sometimes difficult. If someone already has your name, try inserting your middle initial or substituting your first initial for your first name. You can also try placing a period between names. Avoid special characters (other than a period) and numbers at all costs. If this is not possible, it may be worth considering a private email address.

Establish Brand Identity

A private email address can be a marketing tool in and of itself. Both parts of it, before the "@" and after, firmly establish your identity. For this reason, consider getting a private email address by purchasing your own domain name and hosting your email from there. This way, employers will see "yourname@yourname.com" and can immediately navigate to your site and learn more about you, your work experience and your skill set. This helps your email address stick in the employer's mind by forcing them to see your name twice and gives them a website to associate with the email and resume. If you go this route, make sure that your website is professional-looking and has relevant information. An empty, inappropriate or shabby-looking website will defeat the purpose.

When searching for a new job, your professional email address is often the first information an employer gets about you. The address should be simple, straightforward and modern, conveying your identity without being distracting. Though your email address is a small detail, it could make the difference between getting an interview and getting sent to the spam folder.

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