Monday’s blog post focused on the challenges of using a home phone number on your resume. But, what about your email address? That … may prove to be an even bigger issue for CFOs and Finance Executives.
I send out a quarterly email to my distribution list with a few career tips, trends, insights, and articles, and last night was the last one for 2011. If you’re not on my email list but would like to be, please send me an email and I’ll be happy to include you.
Anyway, a few emails were returned as undeliverable, which got me thinking about how short-sighted it is to use a temporary email address. Suppose a recruiter pulled your 2-year old resume out of her database and emailed you about a great opportunity … only to receive back an undeliverable notice. Your loss!
I have a few other thoughts on email addresses. Are you surprised?
— AOL and Hotmail addresses send the wrong message … ancient, tech-dinosaur, amateur. Besides, they are hotbeds for hackers and the last thing you want/need is for a recruiter or influential contact to get an XXX-rated spam. Get rid of those email addresses and use gmail.
— Use an address that is permanent. It may cost you a few spammed or unwanted emails, but you want recruiters and companies to always be able to reach out to you … particularly in this tough, competitive market.
— Making someone work to reach you isn’t the best strategy either. Unless you really are a “dream” candidate, the recruiter might not be interested in registering as an accepted recipient through your spam filter. Make it easy for them to reach you.
— Don’t use your company email address – definitely not on your resume and not as your primary Linked In address either. It, too, sends the wrong message on your resume. And, when your job is gone, so is your ability to access your Linked In account.
What does your email address say about you? Is it accurate?
Cindy,
Excellent points for CFOs to consider as part of their personal branding.
I would like to add is that your email name is very important.
I have seen many email names that are inappropriate for professionals and executives. A CFO should be using their name (i.e. myname@gmail.com) or have a branding element to it (i.e. mynamecfo@email.com or biotechcfo@email.com).
Also, a CFO should consider getting their own domain name. The costs are minimal, and add to the cachet of professionalism and branding. It could be based on your last name (i.e. myname@lastname.com) or based on a personal brand you are trying to develop (i.e. myname@biotechcfo.com).
Great topic again Cindy,
Samuel Dergel – The CFO Expert
Dergel CFO Search & Consulting
http://www.thecfoexpert.com
Thanks Samuel. I try not to give away ALL my great tips … but this is spot on advice!
Excellent post and spot on advice to not use AOL or Hotmail (I’m always amazed when I see business professionals still use that for their businesses.)
As always, thanks Joel … for reading and for commenting. AOL and Hotmail are bad for CFO brands!