Is Your Email Address Holding You Back? (wsj.com)

Whether you're freelancing or on the job hunt, don't let a poorly conceived online handle limit your career prospects A quick glance at any group email confirms what recruiters and hiring managers know too well: Not everyone sheds their adolescent email addresses when they enter adulthood, instead maintaining allegiance to digital monikers based on the music, videogames and contraband they once held dear. From a report: Though rebranding yourself online can be a pain (as those who've been through the ordeal of changing their contact info know), the practice is often better for your career trajectory, said Chris Swanson, a career and college counselor at Bremerton High School in Washington state. "It's just like the idea that a handshake and eye contact makes a good impression. That's the first thing that comes across someone's desk." Even so, many Americans still use curious handles for professional exchanges, either by virtue of inertia or nostalgia or because they've never had an employer-issued handle and don't know any better -- they only know Dave Matthews rules.

[...] It might be ironic to send missives from @aol.com, but it doesn't suggest an exceedingly tech-savvy candidate. Actually, "It weirds me out," said Ms. Moore. "Why are you still using AOL? Gmail is definitely the winner." Don't even get her started on Hotmail. When updating a resume it's a good time to evaluate if an email address seems dated, especially if applying for a tech gig.

Comments

LPT: If you're enrolled in grad school part-time..

[b0s0z0ku]

If you're (say) enrolled in grad school part-time, use your university address. This provides automagic proof that you're in fact enrolled -- one less thing on their resume for them to need to check.

Re:Fastmail

[b0s0z0ku]

Or just host your own domain and use the IMAP service of your choice (or your own server) to store email. It's cheap nowadays.

Re: Fastmail

[nukenerd]

Using 365 shows you are either a dick or a minion.