With the high volume of texting it is easy to get carried away with the shorthand, acronyms, and emoticons. Understanding the texting lingo has become just as important as utilizing the technology to send the flurry of messages that go out each day. However, while it has become an integral part of communication there is still one very important realm where it is not appropriate, that being the professional email.
When applying for a job or corresponding to anyone in a professional sense it is critical to use all your best writing skills and manners. Times maybe a changing, but the perception of competency and respect have not. Whether responding to a job posting on Monster.com or CraigsList.com here are some key points to keeping your email professional, worthy of consideration, and hopefully out of the trash.
- Be Respectful: Address professionals with Mr., Ms., or Dr. and not by first name unless invited to.
- Be Concise: Make your point quickly, but don’t forget important details for clarity.
- Be Polite: Say “please” and “thank you.” Three simple words that can greatly effect the tact and tone of your email.
- Be Grammatically Correct: Check all punctuation and spelling. Check behind your spell check because it will not catch when you use “their” when you should have used “there.”
- Be Professional: Avoid using texting shorthand, acronyms or emoticons. Cute and quick as they are to communicate with the only thing they communicate to a professional is your lack of maturity.
Writing a professional email is a skill not to be undervalued. Several articles cover the various aspects of email etiquette and others even include examples of writing a professional email.
