If you’re interviewing for new jobs, you need a professional email address and voicemail. As a candidate, you need to present yourself formally to appeal to a hiring manager. Even if the company is less formal or your interviewer is casual, you still want to put your best self forward. This post will talk about why it’s necessary and give examples for a professional email address and an unprofessional email address.
Dedicate Your Account
When looking for a job, you need to separate your search from everything else. Not only is it important to have an email account specifically for your job search, but you also want to keep your hunt separate from your current role or responsibilities. You want to use a professional email account for your job search because it’s the very first thing employers will see, and it’s their way to contact you. Don’t hesitate to set up a new inbox for your work inquiries. It’s quick, easy, and free.
Avoid:
- singlegurl66@aol.com
- bartsboy@hotmail.com
Use:
- nickmiller@gmail.com
- nicholaskmiller@outlook.com
If you’re having a hard time creating a unique account that isn’t in use, try punctuation or simple numbers. You might not get johnsmith@gmail.com, but see if john-jay-smith is available as a username. Still stuck? Try johnsmith55 but stick to less than three numbers if possible, just to keep things simple.
Professional Email Signature
Set up a great email signature for yourself. You want to include contact information in every exchange with a potential employer so that you are completely accessible. We recommend including your first and last name, your email address, private phone number, and even a link to your LinkedIn page. Here’s how it should look.
Nicholas K. Miller
nicholaskmiller@outlook.com
888-555-1234
linkedin.com/nicholasmiller
Once you’ve got your account and your signature set, you may want to send yourself an email just to check that your formatting looks good. Review your font and sizing to make sure your settings are standard, and you’re ready to go! Be sure to check your inbox once daily, at a minimum. You never know when the perfect position might pop up!
Your Voicemail
First, a no-brainer: do not use your work phone number as contact information when applying for new jobs. Use only your personal cell number or landline if necessary. You do not want a potential employer calling you at your current job. These days, most conversation happens over your cell phone, so it makes sense to use this when you give out your number. However, it’s important to make sure your voicemail message sounds professional when you miss a hiring manager’s call. Be sure your message before the beep isn’t one left over from your college days. The last thing a hiring manager wants to hear is party sounds in the background because you forget to re-record your funny greeting from eight years ago.
You also want to make sure all information is up to date. Your voicemail message may include an old email address or your maiden name, so give it another listen. If you need to create a new one, make it clear and concise. For example:
“Hello, you’ve reached Nicholas Miller. I’m unavailable but will return your call at my earliest convenience. Please leave a message with your name and number and I will contact you as soon as possible.”
Find the Best Jobs on the South Side of Chicago with Davis Staffing
With these simple professional tools in your belt, you’ll be ready to dive in and begin applying for jobs today. If you’re looking to speed up your Chicago job search, check out Davis Staffing. Our family-owned staffing business has a 50 year+ record of connecting qualified candidates to great opportunities, so view our Job Board to find the right fit today.
