If you are one of the 51 percent of employees considering a new job in the new year, you are probably wondering how you can stand out from the rest. It is difficult to be one of the few candidates chosen for an interview, so you need to ensure that you follow all of the instructions carefully before submitting your materials.
However, it’s often the very first impression you make that can make all the difference. Even before seeing your resume, a hiring manager, human resources professional or networking connection may see your email. Too many job seekers overlook the importance of having a professional looking email address and signature. They skip this step, and it can be a critical error. So how can you leverage your email to make a unique impression that can land you an interview?
[See: 25 Best Business Jobs for 2017.]
Create a professional email address. This is a given, but it is also surprisingly overlooked. If you haven’t changed your email address since high school, take a few minutes to create a new professional-sounding email address for your job search. It is a good idea to use this email address exclusively for your job search endeavors to stay organized.
A professional email address is simple, usually a combination of your first and last name, and not too long. Whatever name combination you choose, you want it to inspire confidence so that the hiring manager won’t feel unsure opening the email.
Leverage your signature. This is the next way to take your email to the next level. There are several elements you can adjust in your signature line to make your email professional and unique.
For example, consider including your branding statement. Your statement is a combination of your skills, your work experience, how you stand out from your peers in your industry, your values and the results you provide to your customers or clients. It should make clear what you bring to an employer that most people don’t.
Don’t have one yet? Don’t just quickly write something up to put in your email signature. Take time to ensure that your branding statement will properly represent your unique skill set and make your value to an employer clear. Ask a trusted family member or friend to be a second pair of eyes.
[See: The 10 Worst Jobs for Millennials.]
Include your LinkedIn profile link. If you have a personal website or an online portfolio, include them here as well. This will make it easy for the hiring manager to learn more about you. However, to use these elements, you will want to make sure they represent you properly. Review them carefully before inserting them into your signature line, update and clean them up if needed and if you’re not actively participating with your network, set a goal to start doing so in the new year.
Make sure to list your email address and phone number. Make it easy for a hiring manager, recruiter or human resources professional to get in touch with you. If they are checking your email on a phone or tablet, your email and phone number will appear as live links, making it easy for them to tap to respond or call you.
You could also include a small headshot in your signature. This is a great way to give the recruiter a face to put with your name and resume. People connect with people, not just a piece of paper. Make sure that your headshot is a professional photo with good resolution. Consider using the same headshot you have on LinkedIn to standardize your professional image.
Finally, prioritize which elements best represent you as a professional. Just because you can include all of these elements in your signature doesn’t mean that you should. Having too long of a signature can also seem unprofessional and overwhelming. For example, if you have a personal website, but haven’t updated it in over a year, while you are active on LinkedIn regularly, it would be more useful to include your LinkedIn profile link instead of your personal website.
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
Once you’ve decided on each element, use live icons or buttons in your signature. This allows you to include several links on one line of your signature without it looking cluttered. If you are going to use live icons, make sure they are easy for a hiring manager to identify what they are.
Ultimately, your email signature should look something like this:
— Professional headshot
— Your name
— Your branding statement
— Your email and phone number
— To view my online portfolio, click here
— LinkedIn profile/website link
Good luck with your search!
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How to Use Your Email Signature Line to Stand Out in Your Job Search originally appeared on usnews.com
