Career Corner: Email Etiquette

**The Associated Press style guide officially removed the hyphen from the word email on March 18, 2011. Make note of this change when using written communication as some future employers/professors may pay close attention to AP style!
 
Do you remember when you were finally old enough to create your own email account? It may have even been linked to an instant messaging system where you would sit for hours gossiping and creating
drama amongst your fellow middle school classmates (don’t we all miss those days). Your email address/screen name was probably something along the lines of cutie_soccerchick486, 2hot_4u3918, or xxangel_babyxx. It almost seemed like there were unwritten rules stating that your account name had to include at least one or more of the following:

1. The words “cutie” “hottie” or “sexy”
2. A term of endearment such as “baby” or “princess”
3. A random strand of numbers (usually a combination of your boyfriend’s birthday, your park district basketball jersey number, or your lucky number)
4. A series of unnecessary underscores and xx’s

Bonus points if you could incorporate the after school sport you play with one of the terms of endearment from rule #2.
 
Fortunately, these unwritten rules of email and account names change once you hit college. Even if you are freshman undeclared major with no desire to begin a job or internship search, you will still be communicating with professors and other classmates. Who would you take more seriously in an academic situation: sugarhunniprincess_87890@uni.edu or Sarah.Smith@uni.edu?
 
First and last names or initials are always the safest way to go. Avoid numbers when possible, and make the next email address something that you would be comfortable putting on your professional resume.  Since email is so quick and easy, it can often be viewed as somewhat informal. However, this does not mean that your grammar and word choice should be informal. Avoid using texting lingo in your emails, and always, always, ALWAYS spell check before sending. Misspelled words and grammatical errors are a major turn-off to professors and especially future employers or co-workers.
 
When you do get to the point where you are communicating with professionals in your job or internship, be sure to keep emails short and to the point. Similar to your social media accounts, email communication will relay a lot about you. Although you are separated by Internet airwaves, your email still has the potential to speak volumes about you and whether or not you should be given an interview. Good written communication is vital to your success, so start practicing professionalism and good email etiquette each time you send an email, even if it is just to a friend or classmate. Check into linking your school email account and other personal/work accounts to a Gmail account. Gmail has a lot of great features that may come in handy in your career. And please, ditch the sexy_softball_girlie01 email address!