The 7 Habits of Good Online Communication
Poor communication skills. They can hurt you even when there are lots of open jobs, but when times are tougher, they can be devastating. Regardless of your profession, craft or trade, your industry or your years of experience in the workforce, the key to landing a dream job is clear, polite, business-like communications in all aspects of your job search, but especially on the Internet.
Interpersonal communications on the Internet typically occur as e-mail. Although these digital "letters" are easy to send and travel at great speed, they pose two very real challenges:
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First, unlike with telephone conversations or face-to-face meetings, these written messages lack the supplementary cues of a tone of voice or body language to help the recruiter interpret what you're "saying." It's not surprising, therefore, that half of the respondents in a survey conducted by Vault.com reported that the tone of an e-mail message was sometimes misunderstood.
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Second, e-mail actually conveys two messages. The first is what you say. The second is how you say it. The grammar and vocabulary with which you express yourself add another dimension that recruiters can and do use to evaluate you as a prospective employee.
For example, I recently received the following e-mail message from a job seeker:
nice site i don't have time to spend hours to post a resume here it is post it tanks.
Since I have no body language or tone of voice to help me interpret this person's message, I must rely solely on their words and grammar. So, what has this person communicated to me? Well, I see a person who wants me to do their job; a person who didn't take the time to proofread their message; and a person who is treating me as if I'm their friend rather than a business contact. How do I interpret those cues? I conclude that this is a person who is lazy, sloppy and lacks a sense of personal responsibility. Hardly the kind of impression that will lead to a job offer from an employer.
To avoid making the same mistake, practice the following 7 Habits of Highly Effective Online Communication:
1. Always do your homework. If you're looking for a job, make sure that you send your e-mail to a person and/or organization with open jobs to fill. The message above indicates that the sender has been to my Web-site. If that's the case, they should have noted that I am not a recruiter and do not post jobs or resumes. For me, the message was simply junk mail ... and they were simply a "graffiti correspondent."
2. Always begin your message with a salutation. If you don't have access to a person's name in an organization, use the standard business greeting of Dear Sir/Madam. Why? Because just as with written communications, e-mail messages can be formal or informal. The kind of message that you would write to a friend is not the kind of message you should address to a prospective employer.
3. Always follow the rules of good grammar. Capitalize the first words of your sentences and insert all necessary punctuation. A message to a recruiter is not the place to be playing e. e. cummings.
4. Keep your message short and to the point.
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If you're sending a resume to a recruiter, introduce yourself, state the purpose of your message, summarize what you can do for the organization they represent and close.
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If you're writing to ask for information about the recruiter's organization or job posting, introduce yourself, indicate what information you would like to have and why and close. Recruiters are very busy people, and they appreciate messages that help them do their job effectively and efficiently.
5. Always close the message with your name and contact information. Yes, I know that such information is usually (but not always) available in the address block at the top of your message, but why inconvenience the recruiter by making them scroll back up there to find it? In addition, many recruiters, especially those who are most interested in you, will want to establish contact by telephone, so provide your telephone number, as well.
6. Always proof read your message several times. It's absolutely essential that you eliminate all misspellings and grammatical errors from any and all communications. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it's a good one.
7. Always, always be polite. Communicate with others as you would like them to communicate with you. You don't need to be obsequious, but at least remember to write "please" and "thank you," when it's appropriate in your message.
The Internet gives you the ability to interact with recruiters quickly and directly. To make sure you send a message that will actually help you land your dream job, practice the 7 habits of good online communication.
Thanks for reading,
Peter
Who is Peter Weddle? Peter Weddle is a recruiter, HR consultant and business CEO turned author and commentator. Described by The Washington Post as "... a man filled with ingenious ideas," he has earned an international reputation, pioneering concepts in Human Resource leadership and employment. He has authored or edited over two dozen books and been a columnist for The Wall Street Journal, The National Business Employment Weekly and CNN.com. Today, he writes two newsletters that are distributed worldwide and oversees WEDDLE's LLC, a print publisher specializing in the field of human resources. WEDDLE's annual Guides and Directory to job boards are recognized for their accuracy and helpfulness, leading the American Staffing Association to call Weddle the "Zagat of the online employment industry."
© Copyright 2007 WEDDLE's LLC.
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