Your Email Address is Important During the Job Hunt

Have you ever considered your email address to be a factor in your job search? This may sound strange and you may be thinking, "Who cares about my email address? It's not like employers really pay much attention to that stuff." Employers have told us when they see an unprofessional email address it can make all the difference in whether they call you back for an interview or not.

Well, in today's technological world your email address is in many cases your first impression. Having an inappropriate email address like hottiekisses@email.com or TruPlaya4Lfe@email.com is the same as showing up to a job interview in your pajamas, so unprofessional.

Like many people, you may not remember how old your email actually is, you may even be using the one you created back in high school. You know, the one that's filled with numbers, symbols and even worse, your childhood nickname.

Now is the time to make a change to your email address because it really is the very first thing people see when they communicate with you online, even before your name. You don't want to get automatically tossed in the trash because your first impression is IHateWorking@email.com.

Here are a few best practices when it comes to your email address and your job search.

Keep it professional:

Avoid email addresses with your nickname, pet’s name, hobby or any other personal info besides your name.

Keep it simple:

The best email addresses are simple and easy to understand. Avoid using numbers and symbols because these can be confusing since they look similar.

Keep it appropriate: 

If you're having a hard time finding a suitable combination of your name, don't give up because a professional email address can really help you land the job. Instead, expand your options to include your middle name, initial or a word related to the field you're pursuing.

We recently heard from a job seeker who was surprised to find out that employers weren’t getting back to her because her email address looked inappropriate. Even though she followed all of the guidelines above, she was still getting the cold shoulder from employers because of her unique last name. Those of you with interesting last names like Ms. Goodbody, should consider changing your email address to include you last initial or middle name. This will help reassure employers by showing them your email address is credible.

Creating a new professional email address also shows employers that you are a serious candidate, it's easy and not to mention, free. So take the time and create an email address that you're not embarrassed to share with employers because with so much competition out there, you've got to be sure you do everything you can to land the job. Don't let an inappropriate email address make a negative first impression on employers.