Kiss Your Dream Job Goodbye

Do you think that these e-mail address names are cool, hip and trendy?

• alliecat
• foxylady
• bigbadjim
• bacardigirl
• sillygirl
• gigglepoo
• hunkalicious

These names might be cute if you’re in high school or college, but if you are using them on a resume or job application you can kiss that dream job goodbye.

According to a recent MSNBC story, “electronic resumes linked to job candidates with quirky and “unprofessional” e-mail names are rated lower by potential employers than those with professional names.”

First impressions usually form lasting impressions, and in a competitive job market you don’t want to have an employer question your character or professional ability.

E-mail names are not the only offenders. As IM and text messaging supplant e-mail, these names are becoming equally important.

Think of what a prospective or current employer will think if they receive an IM from onehotbabe or bighunkystud. Names like that will make an impression, but not always the one that you want.

If you use a questionable name for your e-mail or IM, create a new account that you can safely use in a professional setting.

Save the cool, hip and trendy monikers for your friends and family. Your parents may worry about the e-mail they receive from sweetsexychick or an IM from whiskeydude, but at least they will still welcome you with open arms when you come home for the holidays.