Today's question: I sent out a bunch of emails to alumni in the advisory network and I haven’t heard back from anyone. What’s wrong? Why did they join the network if they’re not going to respond?Answered by: Donna Milmore, Tufts Career Services
Your question is particularly timely. Many students will be thinking about using winter break to explore careers through networking. This is an ideal time to look closely at subject lines and salutations: two key components of networking requests by email.
Assuming that you sent your emails to people who are employed, you must keep in mind that they’re leading busy lives. Their responsibilities often extend beyond the workplace, including partners, families, professional and community commitments. Students have breaks between classes, long vacations, and a predictable cycle of work but the ‘real world’ doesn’t operate that way. Be patient; you may hear back when they’re able to turn from more pressing work to your email which seems less time-sensitive (to them, not to you :))
In the meantime, I recommend that you meet with a Career Counselor to review what you wrote in your email. Students can inadvertently sabotage their networking efforts through careless communication. First, think about what you wrote in the subject line of your email. Subject lines are comparable to headlines; they influence what people choose to read ~ and in which order they read. Ineffective subject lines could be general phrases such as “Career Advice,” “Job search,” or most disastrous of all, the absence of a subject line.
If you’re writing to a Tufts alumnus/a, make sure to include “Tufts” in your subject line. Example: "Career Question from Tufts Junior." If someone has given you a contact, include that person’s name in the subject line. Example: "Referral from Prof. Smith at Tufts."
Crafting subject lines can get your email opened more quickly and get you off to a good start with a new contact. Next, your salutation can continue to create a positive impression ~ or not. Avoid the informality that is characteristic of texting or emailing with friends. For example, never say “Hey” when addressing a business contact. Use the same formal salutation that you’d find in formal correspondence. Example: “Dear Ms. Smith,” but not “Dear Jennifer Smith.”
Subject lines and salutations are the first things that your recipients will note in your correspondence; it’s your ‘first impression.’ Harness their power to get off to a good start in your new relationships.
