According to researchers, Mitja Back, Stefan Schmukle, and Boris Egloff, all of the Department of Psychology at the University of Leipzip, five of six standard personality traits are often inferred - and with some degree of accuracy - from one's choice of email address. (Source)
The user name side of an email address can say a lot about a person's personality such as neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and narcissism. A user name is like an advertisement of one's self, and especially when applying for a job, must be carefully considered as to not give off the wrong impression.
So, what about the domain name side of an email address?
So, what about the domain name side of an email address?
The term "domain shame" recently coined by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Don Fernandez, refers to how you feel about and how others perceive that bit to the right of the "@" symbol in your email address. (Source)
For example, Yahoo or Hotmail email addresses may be associated with spam; however, a Gmail address could imply a person is a savvy computer user. While there are plenty of legitimate people using Yahoo and Hotmail addresses and there are a growing number of spammers using Gmail, some may take certain domains more seriously than others.
I think the safest bet when applying for employment is to use your real name as your user name of your email address. And if you're worried about "domain shame", you can purchase your own personal domain name very cheaply. Not only will this help you be taken more seriously with potential employers, but you will also be taken more seriously from your peers and any other part of your digital life.
UPDATE: Poll Results 9/72/08 - 10/4/08
What user name do you use in your email address?
(More than one answer allowed)
80% My real name
80% Custom alias
Do you suffer from domain shame?
00% Yes
100% No
00% Don't know
I think the safest bet when applying for employment is to use your real name as your user name of your email address. And if you're worried about "domain shame", you can purchase your own personal domain name very cheaply. Not only will this help you be taken more seriously with potential employers, but you will also be taken more seriously from your peers and any other part of your digital life.
UPDATE: Poll Results 9/72/08 - 10/4/08
What user name do you use in your email address?
(More than one answer allowed)
80% My real name
80% Custom alias
Do you suffer from domain shame?
00% Yes
100% No
00% Don't know
Great post! I have always been weary of what email address I use when emailing employers or send resumes.
ReplyDeleteI personally use Gmail for 90% of my emailing, but I do have emails with my ISP (charter) that I also have setup via pop3 on gmail.
So I can use Gmail to send and receive emails from any address I have even if it is ISP email or not.