When it comes to hiring, employers and candidates insist that first impressions still matter. But apparently the brain hasn’t gotten the message when the lips are moving and fingers are typing. Quite a few candidates are doing some pretty stupid things these days regarding finding a job.
Let’s start with what is the possibly the very first point of contact between a candidate and a company – the email address. The just released HR Magazine (May 2011) included an interesting article about how a cutesy, clever, or freaky email address might create a bad first impression with the employer. For example, a few of my favorite inappropriate email addresses submitted by candidates applying for jobs at my clients included “sexylady@XXX.com, Joelovessex@XXX.com, hitemhardordie@XXX.com, partygirl1267@XXX.com, moneymotivatesme@XXX.com ... and that’s just scratching the surface. With high unemployment and employers practicing very selective hiring practices, turning an employer off with a provocative email address might not be the best way to get the hiring manager’s attention.
A recent study took this one step further. Researchers rated the email addresses of30,000 job seekers applying for entry-level, non management jobs in the U.S. What they found was a potential link between crazy sounding email addresses and low scores on pre-employment tests.
For example:
Cutesy and inspirational addresses and those with a money them scored slightly lower on pre employments assessment tests.
Candidates whose addresses were rated inappropriate scored lower.
Candidates with appropriate email addresses scored higher in conscientiousness, professionalism, and work-rated experience.
I’m not suggesting – nor did the article – that employers should use email addresses as a screening tool. But when combined with a pre-employment test assessing a candidate’s honesty, integrity, and work attitudes, the email might trigger greater scrutiny during the interview and subsequent background checks.
The study should prompt candidates to think twice about the email address they attach to the resume they attach to the job application.
Let’s start with what is the possibly the very first point of contact between a candidate and a company – the email address. The just released HR Magazine (May 2011) included an interesting article about how a cutesy, clever, or freaky email address might create a bad first impression with the employer. For example, a few of my favorite inappropriate email addresses submitted by candidates applying for jobs at my clients included “sexylady@XXX.com, Joelovessex@XXX.com, hitemhardordie@XXX.com, partygirl1267@XXX.com, moneymotivatesme@XXX.com ... and that’s just scratching the surface. With high unemployment and employers practicing very selective hiring practices, turning an employer off with a provocative email address might not be the best way to get the hiring manager’s attention.
A recent study took this one step further. Researchers rated the email addresses of30,000 job seekers applying for entry-level, non management jobs in the U.S. What they found was a potential link between crazy sounding email addresses and low scores on pre-employment tests.
For example:
Cutesy and inspirational addresses and those with a money them scored slightly lower on pre employments assessment tests.
Candidates whose addresses were rated inappropriate scored lower.
Candidates with appropriate email addresses scored higher in conscientiousness, professionalism, and work-rated experience.
I’m not suggesting – nor did the article – that employers should use email addresses as a screening tool. But when combined with a pre-employment test assessing a candidate’s honesty, integrity, and work attitudes, the email might trigger greater scrutiny during the interview and subsequent background checks.
The study should prompt candidates to think twice about the email address they attach to the resume they attach to the job application.
