What does your email address say about you?

In today’s highly competitive job market, something as simple as your email address could be the reason why you don’t make the cut for an interview. With the amount of people now applying for jobs online and the number of applicants per job posting increasing each year at high rates, you need to ensure you are mitigating any potential reason to be pushed into the “no” pile.

An email address can say a lot about a person. Many of us have had the same email address for years, and most likely didn’t think about its implications when choosing it. Your email address is part of your personal brand and professional identity. It’s a good thing you can always change it or create a new one for job search and resume purposes only.

Follow these 3 simple rules:

1. Keep it professional. This seems like a given, anything that goes on your resume should be professional, but many people think their email address is plenty professional when really it isn’t. Remember the email address you created when you were in high school yet are still using it today: HaPpYGoLucKy18@yahoo.com, CubsFan7859!@aol.com, CheerGirl13!@hotmail.com, or when you thought you were being witty with your name: OhCecilia@gmail.com, ComeOnEilleen@yahoo.com? If your email address looks anything like one of these examples, it’s time for a change!

Additionally, be careful of implying anything personal with your email address such as interests, lifestyle, family, etc. (SoccerMamaof5@gmail.com). The more information you give a hiring manager or recruiter about your personal life opens the door for them to determine potential red flags. We all have personal lives and families, but your resume shouldn’t display that information. Also, your email address should just be for you, not shared with a spouse or family. SmithFamily000@gmail.com or JackandJane35@yahoo.com implies that anyone in the family could open and read the email.

And finally, avoid political, religious, or gender references – again, do not give a hiring manager or recruiter any reason to discriminate. Your email address should simply be your first and last name, adding in a middle initial or simple number at the end if your name is already taken.

2. Keep it ageless and current. JaneSmith1968@att.net and MichaelBrown@aol.com seem like perfectly good email addresses if following the first and last name suggestion I stated above, right? Wrong! You’ve been intentional in making sure your resume reads ageless so don’t use an email address that includes your birth year or age. What is wrong with Michael Brown’s email? Old domains such as @prodigy.net, @juno.com, @aol.com, among many others, can imply age as well. If you are in the process of creating a new email address, our suggestion would be to use @gmail.com as your domain and if you need to use a number because you have a common name, use a number that isn’t associated with a birth year or age.

3. Keep it simple. Complicated email addresses with too many numbers, symbols, or letters strung together that don’t mean anything can run the risk of not being copied over correctly when someone is trying to reach you. Imagine a recruiter or hiring manager quickly typing in MJones0983876@gmail.com, Jprscdeo134@yahoo.com or Djk24!@1@gmail.com. The potential for mistake is high! Additionally, refrain from using an underscore (_). If your email address is hyperlinked on your resume or cover letter the underscore could be hard to view – in this next example the underscore is used to separate out the first and last name, see how it is impossible to view? Jane_Smith@gmail.com.

As a potential candidate for a job, you want to make it as easy as possible to be reached. Don’t give recruiters or higher managers any reason to discard your application and make sure you are receiving the correspondence by ensuring your email address is simple and easy to read.

For more tips and blog posts, or to learn more about Fox Valley Career Connections’ resume writing services, check out our website www.careerconnectionsllc@gmail.com and follow us on Facebook & Instagram: @CareerConnectionsLLC