Outdated beliefs about professional emails

A few months ago, I posted a job opening for a 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 at my company, Wellness Vows - Sports Nutrition Clinic Location preference? Bangalore or Chennai.⁣ The response? Flooded inbox.⁣ ⁣ But here’s the real story:⁣ Very few left a good impression.⁣ And no—I’m not even talking about qualifications yet.⁣ Here’s what I saw—and sadly, it’s far too common across professions: 1. “Dear Sir” when my name—and gender—are clearly visible online. (𝘛𝘪𝘱: 𝘈 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘴.)⁣ 2. Emails with no body. Just a lonely “Resume.pdf” floating in space.⁣ 3. Someone wrote the entire message... in the subject line.⁣ 4. One forwarded the same email to 10+ orgs—without even hiding the trail.⁣ 5. A few DMed me directly after I clearly said not to.⁣ 6. The role was for a Sports Nutritionist, yet most were with clinical background with zero sports exp.⁣ 7. Contact numbers that don’t work. If I can’t reach you, how will I hire you?⁣ 8. Some checked their email months later and asked for another chance.⁣ 9. Hobbies on the CV? Still stuck on “listening to music” and “drawing.”⁣ 10. Achievements? “Awarded XYZ prize in 3rd grade.” No, really.⁣ ⁣ Now, what’s concerning here isn’t just a lack of professionalism—⁣ ↪︎It’s the lack of effort.⁣ ↪︎The lack of awareness.⁣ ↪︎The lack of respect for the opportunity itself.⁣ ⁣ From blank emails to outdated CVs, here’s what it reflects:⁣ ↪︎No effort to understand what the role demands.⁣ ⁣ Your resume isn’t your first impression.⁣ ↪︎Your communication is.⁣ ⁣ And both should reflect who you are today, not who you were in school. ⁣ ⁣ Because If crafting a clear, thoughtful email or updating your CV feels like a chore…⁣ ..What happens when it’s time to face real-world expectations? ..Or to manage responsibilities under pressure? ..Or to work with professionals who expect precision? ⁣ Let’s be honest—client work (in any field) requires far more than just good grades. ✔︎It demands presence. Precision. Professionalism.⁣ To every budding young professional out there—⁣ Your job application doesn’t begin with “Attached is my resume.”⁣ ↪︎It begins with doing your homework.⁣ ↪︎Respecting the process.⁣ ↪︎And showing up like you actually want the job.⁣ ⁣ Because attention to detail?⁣ Not optional.⁣ It’s a mindset.⁣ An attitude.⁣ And your real first impression.⁣ ⁣ Maybe that’s why I’m the nightmare of most young applicants.😆⁣ Strict? Yes. Particular? Always.⁣ But hey—excellence doesn’t bend for convenience.⁣ (𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯.)⁣ ⁣ Anyway, to end my little rant:⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.⁣ So show up like you mean it.⁣ ⁣ (Repost to help someone in your network avoid these mistakes ♻️)⁣ ⁣ P.S. If you’ve been on the hiring side—what’s the one thing that makes you hit delete instantly? #careertips

8 years ago, I wrote a letter to the then editor of The Law Society of NSW Journal, raising concerns about the use of “Dear Sirs” in legal correspondence, a phrase that reflects a past when the profession was overwhelmingly male. 8 years later, I still receive emails that begin with “Dear Sirs” (and, if you know me, you know that I don’t stay silent when it happens!). So it was encouraging to see that The Law Society (England and Wales) has now issued updated diversity and inclusion guidance urging firms to move away from this outdated salutation. “This gendered greeting perpetuates the assumption that the recipients of correspondence are by default men,” said the Society. “This is no longer accurate, representative or appropriate in today’s diverse society.” 👏 👏 It certainly doesn’t reflect the reality of the legal profession in NSW, where women make up the majority of practising lawyers. The guidance also encourages members to use neutral terms such as “Dear all” or simply “good morning” If they do not know the identity of the recipient. Like I said in my letter below, I would also be ok with an emoji 😂. This may seem like a small detail, but language matters. And changing language that no longer serves the profession is a meaningful step toward greater inclusion and modernisation.

The lowest level of communication is 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐡é 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. During an introductory call, the Startup CEO told me: "Priya, I am sick of seeing '𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥' in all our employee's emails." I laughed. But I knew exactly what he meant. Corporate emails are drowning in robotic phrases. ❌ "Hi, how are you?" ❌ "I hope you are doing well" ❌ "Just checking in..." ❌ "Looking forward to your response!" ❌ "As per our last discussion..." These statements are so generic and repetitive. You can't build better connections with these phrases. None of these add value. None of these feel human. Why? 1️⃣ It’s Overused & Predictable Phrases like "Hope you're doing well" or "Just checking in" have become so common that they often feel robotic and insincere. 2️⃣ Lacks Personalization If you send "I hope this email finds you well," it could be addressed to anyone. There’s nothing specific about the person, their situation, or your relationship with them. It doesn’t stand out. 3️⃣ Doesn’t Add Value A message should engage the recipient or provide something meaningful. Generic greetings don’t contribute to a conversation - they’re just fillers. ➡️ Instead of: "Hope this email finds you well..." Try: "Loved your recent post on AI Agents - quick question for you!" ➡️ Instead of: "Just checking in..." Try: "Following up on Project A - any updates?" ⛔ People don’t want formalities. ✅ They want clarity. ✅ They want real conversations. Let’s make corporate communication human again. What’s one corporate phrase you’d love to see disappear forever? Drop it in the comments! 👇 P.S. If you spend hours writing professional emails, it's high time to learn "Email Etiquette."📩 DM me for more! #emailetiquette #corporates #training #softskills #writing #professionalwriting #businesswriting #persuasivecommunciation #connections #startups #trainers #corporates