Send (or Techtiquette Part II)

I don't love writing posts on "what you must do" topics. I hate to feel like I'm on a soapbox. And sometimes I wish I could get over my insistence on why spelling remains in style. But I think this is really important, and if you do this well--you can stand out.

If you're like me, you think nothing of sending 30-50 e-mails a day. You've probably cracked jokes about your ability to send e-mail in your sleep.

Don't. Or at least not until you read this gem: Send: Why People E-Mail So Badly & How to Do It Better

Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence (ever heard of "marshmellow experiment" for assessing smarts?) describes this gem by David Shipley & Will Schwalbe as the Elements of Style for the digital age.

Ever witnessed a career gone bad as the result of a simple e-mail? I can still remember a senior-level executive wandering down the hall at work asking "how do I take the 'reply all?' command back?" And the college senior who was so hurt by not getting invited to an interview that he wrote the recruiter to say that it was "their loss." (As it turned out, he suffered a bigger one: the company forwarded his message to a network of other recruiters--and he was shut out of campus interviews he'd worked towards for years.)

But beyond the negatives, Send provides invaluable tips on e-mail etiquette: how to title your messages, how to make the best use of a CC or a blind CC, and how to ensure that they will be read.

If you don't have time to buy the book, check out NetM@anners.com and have a look at their e-mail Etiquette 101 tips...and stay tuned. Coming soon: When to send an e-mail, and when to pick up the phone or seek out face time--advice from a Google Exec.

To your success,
Chandlee

Tech-iquette

"I eat my peas with honey, I've done it all my life.
It may taste kind of funny but it keeps them on my knife."

This is one of the only poems I can repeat from memory, a poem oft-quoted by my mother, and--often in the same breath as "Mabel, Mabel, strong and able...keep your elbows off the table."

Regardless of whether manners and etiquette are important to you, you can count on the fact that they may be important to the employers and individuals who help you in the job search. Fortunately, many of the "standards" for behavior are generally universal in scope--firm handshakes (for the U.S. based job search), saying "thank you for your consideration" in a cover letter, and sending a follow-up note post-interview.

What's less clear is etiquette protocol surrounding Web 2.0 and cell phones. Given that my mother has never sent a text message, I need more go-to resources on this...(and I find many of them through my friends at Career Hub).

In her latest post on Water Cooler Wisdom, Alexandra Levit shares Five Burning Questions about Tech Etiquette from Real Simple magazine. This piece provides expert answers to all of these questions you might even not have thought to ask.

1. You’re walking down the street and listening to your iPod when you run into someone you know. Do you need to remove both earbuds to talk to her?

2. Is it rude to check your PDA at a friend’s house?

3. How quickly must I respond to an e-mail? Are the standards different for work e-mails versus personal e-mails?

4. If someone calls you, can you e-mail the person back or send a text message if you’re not in the mood to talk? What if you text or e-mail someone and the person calls you back?

 5. Is using BCC on an e-mail considered sneaky? (Note: I especially liked this answer, as it had information I had not previously considered).

To learn the answers to these questions, check out the posting on Alexandra's Water Cooler Wisdom blog.

Missing Tim Russert (& The Secret to a Great Presentation)

It's election night, and I join many in missing Tim Russert.

Over at Keppie Careers, my friend Miriam Salpeter has posted a lovely piece in appreciation of Mr. Russert's interpersonal and communication skills. I remember his smile and easy manner; I once spotted him enjoying a quiet beer and a few laughs at the Hawk and Dove near Capitol Hill.

But more than that, I remember his election night skills and his legacy--the white board. As technology and poll tracking improved dramatically in 2000 and 2004, Mr. Russert always referred to a simple whiteboard with a dry erase pen to explain the results to the American public. He showed us how his math worked as if he were our third grade math teacher--and made the complex simple. I'll never forget the election of 2000, when at least one network called Florida for "Gore" and then retracted. In the end, Mr. Russert's white board prediction that the election would hinge on "Florida, Florida, Florida" was correct--and it was four long weeks before we truly knew our next President.

As I write, the polls are closing. Many statistics buffs, analysts, pundits and journalists are scrambling to access what's happened, and I'm thinking about how Mr. Russert's  legacy extends beyond politics to strong relationships and presentations of elegant simplicity.

I can only imagine that he'd be an advocate of the 3 x 5 rule for making PowerPoint presentations: no more than three bullet points per slide and five words per line. Next time you have a chance to attend a conference, evaluate the effectiveness of the speakers presentation techniques: In your opinion, what's more effective--having extensive slides with all the notes included onscreen, or a sparse presentation high on substance and low on bells and whistles? What works for you, and do you have any presentation role models or tips you'd like to share?

DIGG: It's a Great Way to Hide Digital Dirt

In my last post, I provide three strategies to use Facebook in strengthening your online presence. Here is one quick tip to increase your online presence--and simultaneously move less relevant information down in your search results: when you find information online that you like and which is pertinent to career trends or your interests--DIGG it.

Digg is a social networking tool that helps you stay informed, and track updates in your area of interest. (You can also use it to prepare for job interviews and networking opps.)

If you're the first to spot a piece, you can "DIGG it" by tagging it and adding your own analysis, you can also vote for articles that you think are important. This is a great way to share insights and your take on the news.

Depending on how you set your security settings, your DIGG can be picked up in Internet searches. If you make insightful comments on pieces that are relevant to your field or industry--it may impress that employer who is doing a "Google search" on you. And given that an estimated, 80% of employers are looking for you online, I think it pays to feed them good stuff. (Note: If you choose to pursue this tack, ask yourself WWAET* as you post).

I post pieces on Digg that I find to be of importance or amusement, and would love to see what you Digg, as well. To follow me on Digg, sign up and send me an invitation: http://digg.com/users/chandlee

If you really like Digg, check out Twitter, and feel free to connect with me there also: http://twitter.com/chandlee

To your success,
Chandlee

*What Would an Employer Think