As students settle into the semester, University of Miami professors want to make sure their students know how to write a proper email.
Data has shown that employers are less likely to hire applicants who do not send a thank you email following an interview, and several other studies have displayed that relationships between students and professors have improved thanks to a well-worded email.
So, as students apply for internships or ask for an extension on their next paper, here’s some tips from UM’s very own professors to keep in mind.
Make the subject line clear
“Professors receive 10 or more emails a day, so a subject line that provides context before I open it is helpful,” said Professor Elayna C. Paulk (Professor C) of the School of Communications.
According to a study by Super Office, a concise and direct subject line can increase the chances of it being read by 45%.
“Format it similar to a lede in a story, straight to the point” said School of Communication’s Professor and Miami Herald consumer trends reporter Howard Cohen.
Brevity and clarity are a common theme among professionals as to what they look for in an email from employees, interns and students.
Pay attention to the details
Professor Cohen also shared that spelling a person’s name wrong, especially if it’s a follow-up email after you’ve met them in person, can make you lose your credibility almost immediately.
He also recommends to students to be careful with grammar and double-check spelling before the email is sent.
One NLM study found that, on a scale of 1-100, writers who had multiple spelling errors lost credibility by about 9 points. This same study can potentially be applied to students as they write emails back and forth between potential employers and future or current professors.
“I’ll re-read the email before hitting send to make sure it is clear and complete” said Professor C.
It seems the consensus among professors not only on campus but across the internet, is that double and triple-checking grammar, punctuation, and any other errors is conducive to a good email that makes a good impression.
Always send a follow-up email
“Language shouldn’t go out of style, communication shouldn’t go out of style,” said Professor Cohen.
When going for a job interview or some kind of internship, it’s extremely important to thank your interviewer, employer, etc. According to the University of South Carolina’s Career Center, 57% of job-seekers don’t send a thank you note, and being a part of the 43% who do can make you stand out as a potential candidate.
“A great thank-you note ties together how you are the perfect candidate for the role and as a future colleague,” said a source from the Society for Human Resource Management.
“In today’s competitive job market, small details like this often make all the difference,” said Professor C.
This school year, students can ensure they have a strong email to send to their internship by using resources such as Harvard Business Review or Purdue OWL.