Savvy Professionals Series: The Casualness Of Email

As the use of the internet when conducting a job search becomes more common, the use of emails to communicate with network contacts and potential employers has become standard practice.  This is particularly true because more than 70% of jobs are still originating from networking, which lends itself to more casual communication.  Most of us are more familiar and comfortable with the formal structure of a cover letter.  I even have clients who struggle to email a cover letter rather than print it on linen paper.  We are in a new world, however, and we are better served by adjusting our styles when looking for a job.

When emailing a network contact, the most useful way to communicate is in short, casual emails.  Avoid formal language and long emails.  If you are asking a networking contact to pass along your resume to a contact, attach it, but otherwise, wait to be asked or, attach it and include in your email language such as, "I've attached my resume for your reference and, if you are so inclined, feedback."

When sending a resume to a potential employer, you can either write a short email to accompany it. It should be moderately formal and very short. Your other option, which is more formal, is to attach a cover letter, along with the resume. In that case, your email should be 1 or 2 lines indicating the purpose of the email and the existence of the 2 attachments.

When in doubt, be more formal.