How professional is your email address?
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
By Jim Davidson - CPI firm Optimance
As a career consultant, I meet a lot of fantastic people from all fields of business, and they normally present a very professional image. They have a business card with a title and email clearly displayed, again in a professional manner. Once ties are cut with that business, what will happen to that professional image? People must carry on with it as they present themselves to the marketplace as a unique product, ready to work for someone that values their services.
Unfortunately, many do not realize that the way they represent themselves has an impact on how they (as a product) are received. For now, let’s set aside the clothes, hair, piercings or any other facets that come into play much later in the process. I want to discuss something much more fundamental – the email address.
How would you feel about my being your career coach if the email address I provided you was something like IdRatherBeFishing@xyz.com or QuittingMyJobSoon@xyz.net? Is that professionalism?…No! Yet, I see many email addresses being used by candidates that are as bad (or worse)!
Take time to think about the image you want to present to a future employer. There are plenty of sites that provide free email addresses. Take the time to choose an email address that helps to create your professional image before going to market. Our career consultants will bring this to your attention, but why wait?
Jim Davidson
Career Partners International
Tags: career advice, Career Transition, careers, etiquette, job advice, personal branding