Asbury Park Press, NJ
07-10-06
E-mail etiquette
E-mail has come to dominate many office communications. According to Marie
Mayer, communications specialist with information technology services at
Iowa State University, the first thing to consider before dashing off an e-mail is:
Who is your audience, and what makes you credible with that person or group?
Mayer's tips for smoother e-mail correspondence include:
Use a descriptive subject line.
Be concise. "I try to get what this is about in the very first sentence," she said. If
it's a long e-mail, summarize its content in the beginning.
Use a "signature" at the end of your e-mail. Include your name, title, name of
your company and contact information, and e-mail address.
Parental help
The working world has changed over the decades, but parents can still be a
great resource for young people entering the work force, for everything from
compiling networking contacts to sharing their own experiences of working in the
"real world."
Parents should steer children to individuals or prospective employers who can
provide direction, support or suggestions in finding the job that best suits their
skills, abilities and interests, said Dick Reasons, a partner at CRG Lee Hecht
Harrison in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Parents can also help with job interviews by encouraging children to do Internet
research on the company they're applying with, and sharing their own interview
experiences, he said. Adults can be sounding boards and assist in evaluating job
offers. While a position may sound glamorous, Reasons said, if it doesn't meet a
child's interests or career goals, taking the position could end up in
disappointment.