Hey Designers! Is it ok to use Gmail as your main e-mail?

[citizenzen]

What BS. If I'm going to apply for a new job, I'm not about to use my current, "professional looking" e-mail address from my current company for any correspondence, that is just asking for trouble.

What's BS? You doubt that hiring committees pick apart every detail of an application? I'm not saying that a free email address alone would ever be grounds for not hiring a candidate, but it is one of many small parts of the story the candidate weaves about his/herself.

And in the design world (note thread title) there are enough candidates with domains and websites with portfolios. The candidate with a gmail address risks getting lapped by the competition.

When the first cut of applicants reduces the field from 24 to 8 based upon nothing more than the application, you can't afford any missteps. If you wonder why you aren't getting called into any interview, this may be one (of many) reasons.

 

[Signal-11]

In what profession does an e-mail address domain detract from a qualified candidate? Not trying to pick a fight, just genuinely curious. The concept of judging someone on something that petty is completely foreign to me. (Note: I'm not talking about a username like SupaSexyPlaya696969@gmail ; rather the difference between john.doe@gmail vs. john.doe@business.com )

Independent IT consulting. As a bunch of graphics designers have pointed out, graphics design.

Might seem silly, but one could say the same about dress codes. I imagine you wore socks to your last real job interview?

 

[splitpea]

What BS. If I'm going to apply for a new job, I'm not about to use my current, "professional looking" e-mail address from my current company for any correspondence, that is just asking for trouble. Obviously, if I'm going to be printing up business cards I would, but for a resume I'm giving to another potential employer? No way.

No, of course you don't use your old company's email to apply to a new job. The idea is that if you work in certain fields or are self-employed you should have your *own* domain with a custom email address.

That does not apply to 9-to-5-ers outside creative or technical fields, but of course the email address you send employers should always be reasonably professional in appearance, as you described.

 

[miles01110]

Independent IT consulting.

Ok. I hope any former Googlers don't go into independent IT consulting then.

 

[MattSepeta]

Nope

All things considered, why NOT get a domain? You are virtually guaranteed to have your name as a domain available through godaddy, and there are coupon codes out there to get it pretty cheap.

My friend recently got some business cards done for freelance video compositing, and without even thinking he used his hotmail which was something like sk8erdood@hotmail.com, and when they were printed and in his hand he went D'OH!

As superficial as it seems, peoples subconscious will always notice if you are using a free email service, like gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc. Even .mac accounts look pretty cheezy.

 

[yg17]

IMO, it looks unprofessional.

I recently was thumbing through a motorcycle magazine whilst err.. using the facilities.. at work. There was an Italian manufacturer of helmets (they looked quite nice too).. and their email was soandso@AOL.COM. Yes.. AOL.COM. That would be fine 10 years ago.. but in 2010? That's just ridiculous.

Most web hosting sites will throw in a domain specific email service too. Use it.

I think there's a difference between a company using an AOL email address and an individual. I would not do business with that company either, they should have their own domain, but if I'm recruiting an employee of that company and they give me an AOL address, big deal.

No, of course you don't use your old company's email to apply to a new job. The idea is that if you work in certain fields or are self-employed you should have your *own* domain with a custom email address.

That does not apply to 9-to-5-ers outside creative or technical fields, but of course the email address you send employers should always be reasonably professional in appearance, as you described.

I'm a "9-to-5-er" in a technical field, so you're saying it's unprofessional for me, being in a technical field, to use a gmail.com address? I don't have the content for a website. I can't have a portfolio of the work I do, I bet I'd be breaking all sorts of confidentiality agreements at my current job if I posted any details of what I do beyond "I'm a Java developer for XYZ Corp."

I think I'd rather take the risk of using a Gmail address rather than use @myname.com with myname.com pointing to a basically blank page, or a page which has nothing more than a copy of my resume, which the recruiter already has.

 

[yellow]

I think there's a difference between a company using an AOL email address and an individual. I would not do business with that company either, they should have their own domain, but if I'm recruiting an employee of that company and they give me an AOL address, big deal.

I don't disagree with that. My resume has my .Mac address, but my personal business definitely has it's own domain email.

 

[Melrose]

I use it on my resume. Why not use it. It's my email account

In what profession does an e-mail address domain detract from a qualified candidate? Not trying to pick a fight, just genuinely curious. The concept of judging someone on something that petty is completely foreign to me. (Note: I'm not talking about a username like SupaSexyPlaya696969@gmail ; rather the difference between john.doe@gmail vs. john.doe@business.com )

It detracts only in that the experience is incomplete; It subtly hints that you don't know what you're doing - wether this is the case or not. If you design websites, and do it seriously, and want to be taken as seriously as you can, it's best to have an email at your domain. It's accepted business practice. To have email elsewhere is less professional. It's like a car salesman saying "Oh, yeah, I sell Fords! Best in the world! Really! You need to buy a Ford! They're the most reliable, fuel-efficient [insert keywords] vehicle! I can sell you a Ford! Forget the fact I'll only drive a Honda!"

You will not ever - or hardly, hardly ever - find a professional (the serious kind of professional) who uses email other than his own domain, or for who he works for. Mebbe it's the circles I work in, but it's only part timers and those not so serious about things that do otherwise. Notice I don't say anything about their skill level or talent - using another email domain has nothing to do with this.

Plus, you risk confusing potential clients, who may get confused seeing two different domains or wonder if you really know what you're doing. If you're starting out or handling projects as a freelancer you'll do fine, but if you're looking to seriously get into practice, get your own domain. It's cheap enough there's really no businesslike excuse not to.

 

[Signal-11]

Ok. I hope any former Googlers don't go into independent IT consulting then.

Then that Googler should consider registering a domain for his new business.

I use my Gmail account on my CVs. But I'm not a professional design guy.

Seriously, did you wear socks and a tie to your last formal job interview?

 

[Macky-Mac]

if you're looking for a job as an employee, then gmail is ok, but if you're looking for business as a consultant, contractor, or freelancer then having your own domain is better

 

[leekohler]

I've been in the advertising world for a very long time, and the last thing I would care about is someone's e-mail address. Honestly, it's irrelevant. All I care about is if they can do the job, not if they have their own domain. That would work against someone IMO, if their portfolio wasn't that great. It would tell me they pay attention to the wrong things.

 

[miles01110]

Then that Googler should consider registering a domain for his new business.

I disagree completely. If a Googler kept their Gmail account, applied to a job that he or she was qualified for with a comparable interview/skillset, and was subsequently turned down because a Gmail e-mail address was deemed "not professional enough," it's that organization's loss. Not to mention the hiring manager should be replaced.

I use my Gmail account on my CVs. But I'm not a professional design guy.

There seems to be some difference between the argument for a freelancer and that for someone looking for a more "structured" (probably not the right word, but you get the idea in context) employment situation, which seems necessary to me. I'll grant that I probably wouldn't buy something from a company that had an @gmail contact address, but on a resume

Seriously, did you wear socks and a tie to your last formal job interview?

I wore socks, but not a tie. But the issue with looking professional in a work environment doesn't really relate at all to choice of e-mail service provider.

 

[H00513R]

While a personalized domain is great, I would stick with your normal email unless you actually have something at that domain. When I get email addresses I'll sometimes check the domain. If there's nothing there, then what is the point? But nowadays email addresses are like phone numbers - everyone has one. Domain specific are like designer license plates...