CELL PHONE ETIQUETTE

• Make your message professional.

• Always answer by saying your name.

• When you have passengers in the car, use the cell phone sparingly, if at all.

• When calling someone else’s cell phone, identify yourself and ask if it’s a good time to talk.

• Remember the clock is ticking when someone is using a cell phone. Discuss only pressing issues.

• If you get a call when you are driving, PULL OVER!

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

Chances are good that you will be using email for part, if not all, of your job search written communication. Here are several suggestions for ensuring clear, effective, and professional electronic communication:

Sending Email to Employers

Make your subject line as specific as possible (i.e. “Resume for Management Trainee Opening,” “Follow Up from Interview 6/14/07,” etc.). Avoid subject lines that are too general such as “Job Search” or “Resume.” Some companies will ask that you reference a job title, code, or number in your subject line.

Address and sign your emails. Begin messages with “Dear Ms. Brown:” or “Mr. McNulty:” and sign your messages with your full name and contact information. If you use the signature feature of your email system, do not include unnecessary quotations.

Use plain text, not HTML email. Some systems cannot support HTML email.

Use an easy email address to decipher. While “cutiepie@aol.com” might be appropriate for informal personal communication, it’s better to use an email that includes part of your name for professional email correspondence (i.e. bgibson@hotmail.com). It’s recommended to have one email address that you check daily just for your job search. Free email accounts are readily available on the web.

Spelling and grammar count, even on email. Again, proofread your message carefully before hitting “send.”

Provide a personal name if your email system allows it. People are more likely to read an email from “John Doe” than “jd1455@aol.com.”

Don’t expect an immediate answer. Electronic mail is about dealing with communication when you are able to do so.

Issues Specific to Resumes and Cover Letters

Follow the employer’s guidelines for sending resumes. Some will indicate that they prefer attachments in MS Word, for example, and others will expect you to use the form on their website. To be on the safe side, include your cover letter, in plain text, inside the body of the email. Cut and paste your plain text resume in the body, too, using “[start of resume]” as a divider. If a company does want you to send attachments, make sure you are not sending any viruses. Since you cannot physically add your signature to your letters, you might want to add “[sent via email]” at the top of any cover letters sent as attachments.

Basic Netiquette

Do not type in all capital letters. It is distracting and considered rude. Likewise, do not use all lowercase letters either. This may be considered a sign of laziness. Take your time and craft a well thought out email message just as you would if you were sending the same message as a letter via Mail.

Keep in mind that email is a form of written communication that creates a written record. Choose your words wisely.

Break your email message into short paragraphs and leave a blank line in between each paragraph. This makes your message much easier to read.

Avoid using e-speak acronyms such as BTW (by the way) and IMO (in my opinion).

Avoid using emotions (i.e. ;-) smiley faces) in professional correspondence.

If you are replying to a previous email, include enough of that original message for context. Do not simply send a one or two word answer without any reference.

Use “please” and “thank you” when appropriate.

EMAIL

• Electronic mail is useful in bridging gaps in time, distance and also for sending information related to facts and figures. However, it shouldn’t be used for a regular substitute for that “oh so important” personal touch. A telephone calls stopping by someone’s office, and/or a handwritten note should also be used.

• Use a form of thanks in the first 12 words of the message (“Thank you for responding to my last message so promptly.”).

• Ask permission—don’t assume someone will be willing and able to assist you.

• GRAMMAR and SPELLING!!

• Always include a copy of your message when responding to other’s messages. This saves the reader the trouble of having to retrieve the message that was sent to you.

• Tailor your message: formal or informal depending on how well you know the person.

• Follow up and have a goal to return emails within 48 hours.

• Confidentiality is never secure on email so be cautious.

Date: 2016-01-05; view: 769