A salutation is always a great thing to include in an email. Salutations set the tone, which is important when there is a critical message to convey. Try a “Good Morning” or “Hello”. Perception, even in writing, is always key!

Things to avoid:

  • “Hey!”
  • “What’s up?”
  • “Dear Sir, or Ma’am”
  • “To Whom It May Concern,”
  • No salutation at all.
  • Simply starting with the name, ex:

“Alonna,

I would like to speak with you about your resume.”

You would really want to avoid that last one because it’s kind of foreboding. For me, a salutation that just starts with my name reminds me of the days when I got in trouble and my mom called me by my full name!  If you start out like that, it might set a bad tone for the rest of the email. 

So, in short, practice the two P’s: Keep it Polite and Professional!