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!
