You’ve had your email address since you were in middle school. You might think it’s still relevant today, but have you considered your email address could be part of the struggle of landing a job? This small bit of information might sound like it’s only a minor blip in your existence, but in reality, it’s your brand and your identity.
Your resume is often the first impression a potential employer is going to have of you. Your resume should always include contact information, including your email. A major turn off for a potential employer is to see an inappropriate or unprofessional email on a resume.
Not many people would you want to have a professional relationship with someone who brands themselves as FarmPlaya69, so it’s best to follow these tips.
- Keep it simple. Just use your name, initials, or a slight variation.
- Common Name? Add a middle initial or your middle name. Try adding a random one- or two-digit number but keep it minimal so it is easy to read.
- Long last name? Just use the first letter or a middle name instead.
- Stay professional. Avoid any personal information, like nicknames, pet’s names, or hobbies. And don’t include any part of your birthday.
- Make sure it is appropriate. As well as avoid suggestive, political, or funny words or phrases.
Don’t stress if you need to fix your email. It is typically an easy process and should not take up too much of your time. If you don’t want to get rid of your current email but feel as though it may be inappropriate, make a new email to use specifically for job hunting. If you’re concerned about keeping all your email in one place, some email hosts have options to connect all your mailboxes in one location.
When you have an email address that is less than professional, you are giving the impression that you have an unprofessional approach. It could imply that you don’t have an attention to detail since you thought your email was professional enough. You also run the risk of offending someone on the hiring team.
Also keep in mind that your email host could be giving an impression. Some people view email addresses with AOL or Hotmail as dated and give the appearance that you’re not tech-savvy or imply your age, leaving you open to age discrimination. Gmail or other free providers are a better bet.
