Job Search Email Etiquette Part 1- Salutations & Avoiding Common Errors

Job Search Email Etiquette – Email is the number one tool for job seekers. Follow this guide on Email Etiquette to keep your job search on track!

Email is the number one preferred form of communication in the workplace. Emailing is easy to do, allows you to thoroughly communicate all your thoughts and is easily tracked. For job seekers emailing is your number one tool, but over time email etiquette has significantly decreased. With the changes in technology and the use of smartphones and email, many individuals forget that there are certain rules that still apply. Simple errors and silly mistakes can take you out of the running for a job that could be a perfect fit. Below is a guide to better emails to help you avoid any unfortunate mishaps…

Part One: Salutations and Avoiding Common Email Practices

Salutations

Drawing from my own personal experience when I was in school – I emailed my professor with questions regarding an assignment and received a lesson in email etiquette. I did not add salutations to the email, and the first thing the professor responded with was “Whenever you are addressing anyone in an email, whether it is a student, professor, colleague, your employer etc… you must include the salutations.” The reason for this is simple, the reader should be addressed correctly, there should never be confusion of who the email is directed to and by including salutations you are respectfully greeting your reader. During your job search your salutations should be specific to the Staffing Specialist or Hiring Manager. Do a little extra research and find out their names, this way the email is more personal and you are able to address it to someone specific. Furthermore, during your job search you may receive email responses from the Staffing Specialists or Hiring Managers. During these ongoing conversations via email never forget to include the salutation. Even if the person you are emailing is less formal in their response, you should always include salutations. This approach will portray your professionalism, and could potentially add to the success of your jobs search.

Avoid Common Email Practices

Emailing, as mentioned, has become the norm for business communication and people often send messages that do not follow proper email etiquette. For example, it is not uncommon to use shortened words for convenience purposes (spelling ‘you’ and ‘u’). Often people include emoticons to lighten the mood or use caps lock (all capital letters) to enunciate their point. During your job search you must absolutely avoid every one of these common practices. You must always be grammatically correct. If you show your potential employer that you would rather conveniently spell your words than follow proper grammar, it will demonstrate carelessness. Your emails during your job search are typically the first form of communication that Staffing Specialists and potential employers will see. It could hinder your job search if you are not using proper grammar. Using emoticons is just unprofessional. They may look cute or polite, but can appear childish and likely will not help your job search. Avoid using emoticons altogether. Lastly, communicating through email can be difficult as there is no tone to the email, except the one you create. Never write any of your words in all capitals, as it does not really do anything except confuse your reader. Writing in all capitals is associated with erratic emotional behaviour and will ultimately not help in landing you your dream job.

The next time you send an email to a Staffing Specialist or potential employer review this guide and see if you are following suit. Part two of Job Search Email Etiquette will focus on length of emails and the importance of spell check…