Check your e-mail address to create the right impression
COULD your e-mail be putting off employers?
The start of the year is traditionally a time for taking stock and it's been estimated that, for a massive 11.84 million people, that means finding a new job.
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get it right: An e-mail address could be getting in the way of your chances of that dream job, according to training experts Talk About Local,
Two in five employees are believed to be job hunting right now.
In 2013, the internet is crucial to successful job hunting and candidates need to look good online – not just have a nicely polished CV.
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Recent research indicated that 77 per cent of employers look for candidates in search engines with 35 per cent admitting they eliminated a candidate because of what they found online.
Only 33 per cent of candidates actually bothered to search for information on themselves, to see what their prospective employer might find out.
But something as seemingly basic as an e-mail address could be getting in the way of your chances of that dream job according to training experts Talk About Local, which has been working with jobseekers across the UK as part of its innovative Networking For Work programme.
Founder William Perrin explained: "First impressions are vital and your e-mail address is the first thing a potential employer can see about you. That fluffybunny$99 address you have used as a personal address for years might be a liability when applying for a job.
"We get lots of feedback from employers of bizarre and inappropriate e-mail address being used for serious applications – from the highly technical and impersonal like 1786brz72$@... through to some rather racy things that are a bit too personal.
"But people have often used these addresses for years or just among their peer group and don't quite realise the liability they may have created.
"So Talk About Local developed a checklist and scoresheet for jobseekers to check their e-mail address.
"It's only a few minutes work to check your e-mail address and make changes if necessary."
Here's the checklist:
Is your date of birth part of the user name? eg jamesmith1956 or janesmith1987? Employers shouldn't take age into account but may subconsciously think too old, too young or so on.
Jokey nicknames? Your potential employer really won't appreciate that you are the "fluffiest bunny" or 'toughest guy'.
Street speak, slang or rude words – your mates might think it funny or cool, but an employer isn't likely to.
Don't use someone else's e-mail account to send off your application.
It's confusing to the potential employer to receive communications from what seems like several different people.
Put basic contact details at the end of every e-mail so that the employer doesn't need to hunt around to get back to you.
What e-mail service – the second part of your email address – do you use?
E-mail provider brands can create different impressions a bit like brands of car.
For more information about the work of Talk About Local, e-mail hello@talkaboutlocal.org or phoning 0121 288 2910.
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