Subject…E-mail for Dummies

The use of the Internet and other technology is increasing. Well, duh. But, just how much do we actually use the World Wide Web?

According to Young Voter Strategies 2007 article, “Background on the Millennial Generation,” nearly two-thirds of 18-30 year olds check their e-mail daily and 70 percent use the Internet daily. It’s pretty obvious that e-mail is the way to go.

But what I have come across is that e-mail, a simple technology tool, is not so simple. Sure you write it, click send and then wait for a response. Piece of cake, right? Until you are sitting in front of your computer wondering what you could possibly write as your subject. Subject for job or internship searching: Hire Me Now So That My Parents Will Stop Hounding Me, Thanks. Somewhat inappropriate.

So, how do we establish ourselves as professionals through the Internet and e-mail? Most of the advice I have heard is to be to-the-point and polite. Easier said than done.

Let’s start the process from the top.

E-mail address. This might be the easiest thing about the whole process. Double check and make sure everything is spelled correctly and that the right person is receiving your message.

Subject line. It should be to-the-point. Here are some examples.

Subject: “Hi!!!” For your generic subject this works if your e-mail is to your friend. But, unless you’re best friends with the person in HR at your potential place of employment this says nothing about what your e-mail will discuss other than that you like exclamation points.

Subject: “Questions.” Questions about what? More than one question? This is too vague.

The subject line should be as specific as possible so that the recipient knows exactly what they will read about, but not so long that your subject line becomes the first sentence of your e-mail.

Body. If you know the person’s name you’re sending the message to then write their name or even say Hi Mr/Mrs So-and-So. Always be polite. If you want something write please, if they’ve done something for you, write thank you. Address your issue and give them a way to contact you. End the e-mail with something courteous, best regards, thank you, I hope to hear from you soon, etc.

Click send. And voila-you have completed a professionally coherent message. Bravo.

Our look at the e-mail process will hopefully help you the next time you sit in front of your computer looking at your ‘Compose’ screen. Here are some more tips from NetWriting that you should also keep in mind.

If you practice your e-mail etiquette in everyday life with your friends and professors it will be easier once you get to the working world. So, get out there and start e-mailing.

-Aida