when applying for a job by email...

Oldernotwiser

A formal email, which was what the OP was asking about, should follow the same rules as a formal letter.ie

Dear Mr Smith/Dear Ms Jones - Yours sincerely.

Dear Sir/Madam - Yours faithfully.

Informal emails can be completely different but anything other than the above would be inappropriate in an email job application.

onlyforboards_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

It sounds even worse with a title - "Dear Miss Jane Smith"!

People's use of English nowadays is of such a low standard that common practice means nothing when judging whether something's correct.

I get dear first name surname all the time as my first name is not gendered. It doesn't bother me at all.

I don't think the op will suffer going by common usage in this instance as women in business is a modern concern making common usage fine.

I agree Ms. is considered correct etiquette but I have suffered using it in my own name, although I still do, and using it in the names of other women enough to know it gives out signals!

md63

If it says send email to Jane [EMAIL="smith@whatever.co.uk"]smith@whatever.co.uk[/EMAIL] I would just type Dear Jane...or in daring moments..Hello Jane, as far as I can tell, etiquette for email job applications are not set in stone, as yet. Maybe depends on the type of job you're applying for. I wouldn't go down the Mrs, Ms route though personally. Best of luck to anyone applying for jobs (me included)

md63

smith@whatever.co.uk has no link with me, I quite honestly typed that name innocently as an example.

Oldernotwiser

When unsure what to do, it's always best to go for the correct, more formal option. Your application won't be discarded if you write "Dear Ms Smith", even to a less formal company, whereas "Hello Jane" will see your application deleted in many places.

A job application is one of the most formal communications you'll make, so why take the risk?

cazziebo

Can I add something in here that might be relevant? If you are using email to apply for jobs then use an email address with your name in it. Not only is it more professional, it is less likely to be junked and will also make it easy to store and retrieve.

I can't tell you how many inappropriate email addresses I get in job applications. Hotlips69@hotmail just doesn't sound like our ideal recruit...

Savvy_Sue

Perhaps we should start a thread for 'most inappropriate email address from which you've ever received a job application'?

Fluffy bunnies, princesses of many descriptions, kettle is boiling ... I could go on.

I'm pleased to say that one of my sons stopped using one which had both weird and freak in it, before going to Uni and before applying for jobs, which I had advised him NOT to do! What's funny when you're 13 (and very probably true) just isn't going to get you very far in the workplace.

olly300

Use the formal version.

However one thing to be careful about if you are not sure on the gender of the individual then use "Dear firstname surname".

If you have your wits about you try and get through to the receptionist at the company and find out whether they are male or female.

No one gets offended by you doing this but people get offended if you address them as "Ms surname" when they are male and vice versa.