How to write emails for the developer job hunt

Splat.rb

A short talk on how to write emails while conducting a job hunt/best practices.

Transcript

1. how to write an email.
2. hi, i’m liz rush. • developer at cool dating app & woman-owned startup Siren • ada developers academy, cohort[0] • really good at writing emails • @lizmrush on twitter this is what i look like, sometimes.
3. we’re going to talk about how to write an email. • you do it all the time • when you mess up it’s embarrassing & you can’t take it back • people like good emails • they can get you or lose you a job • it’s really easy to learn how to do it well!
4. first things first: hello. ✅ Hi, or Hello, ❌ Dear John, ✅ Hi John, ❌ Mrs. or Miss Sarah Jones ✅ Ms. Sarah Jones, ❌ To whom it may concern:
5. subject lines. ✅ describe the topic and/or remind them where you met, ex: “follow up from appyhour last week” ✅ “time sensitive” (“urgent” rarely!) ❌ don’t use flags/the exclamation mark ✅ write it first & write it last ❌ never leave it blank
6. simply acknowledge pleasantries. ❌ “How are you and your kids? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you! How is work? Still living in the Castro? Did you ever finish building that synthesizer?” ✅ “Hope all is well in SF. I’d love to catch up and hear about your new job soon!” ❌ don’t send your life story ❌ don’t make more work for the recipient
7. tell, don’t ask. ❌ when you need something like extra time on a code challenge, do not ask for permission ❌ “Can I have a few extra days to do this, if that’s okay? ✅ “Things have gotten busy on my end as we push for a release this weekend. I can get this to you by the end of the week.”
8. resumes. ✅ send a pdf one-pager ✅ link to a full resume online name your attachments clearly ✅ “Liz_Rush_CV_March2015.pdf” ❌ “resume.doc”
9. sign offs ❌ no “truly”, “yours”, or “sincerely”s ✅ “Best,” is standard ✅ “Cheers,” is fine ✅ “Thanks,” or “Thanks again,” are best. ✅ include your signature if it’s the first email in the thread from you ❌ no quotes or “please consider the environment” in the signature
10. bonus tips ❌ no canned emails ✅ use default font and colors ❌ no emojis/emoticons (especially if you use outlook!) ✅ follow the other person’s cues
11. bonus bonus tips ✅ reply quickly if you need more time, just reply with a short timeline ❌ “I’ll get back to you.” ✅ “I’d like to think about it over the weekend; I will get back to you by end of day Monday.”
12. gmail undo!
13. and that’s how to write an email. now go out there & get to spammin’!