Should You Use School E-Mail on a Resume? — The Answer

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A university degree can act as a signal to employers that an applicant is hard-working, dedicated, and skilled.

Almost all employers will value an education and be happy to know that their potential employees have attended school.

A school e-mail address can be convincing proof that you obtained an education, but is it appropriate to use this e-mail as part of your contact information on a resume? 

There is no instance in which you should use your school e-mail on your resume. Companies are looking to contact you as a working professional and using your school e-mail makes it look like you are not ready for the working world. Instead of a school e-mail address, you should be listing a professional e-mail address on your resume.

 

Why shouldn’t you use a school e-mail?

The main reason why you should not use a school email on your resume is that it simply looks unprofessional on a resume.

Furthermore, it shows that a person is still tied down to their school, rather than being an independent self-starter.

If you want to signal to your school that you have obtained a good education, you could list your school, your major/minor, your GPA,  or other achievements instead. 

You should also be aware that most school e-mail addresses expire within a year or two after graduation. This is because school e-mail addresses are only meant to be used by active students.

There are many discounts and passes given by shops or museums that need a student e-mail to verify student status, which is another reason that they are set to expire.

If you use a school e-mail address on your resume, it could potentially expire while you are still job-searching.

This could lead to a lot of missed opportunities! It is best to use your own personal, and permanent e-mail. 

 

Using school e-mails for job applications

School e-mail should not be used for job applications. The use of school e-mail addresses comes off as unprofessional and ill-prepared for the working world.

Create a professional and personal e-mail address instead, and only use a school e-mail for school related matters.

 

Is using school e-mail on a job application unprofessional?

School email addresses are used by students to e-mail professors and pass in homework assignments. Their purpose is to prove you are an actual student, and to maintain a more secure school network.

If you use your school e-mail on a job application, you are flagging yourself as someone who has not yet completed their education.

You also show that you haven’t had the foresight of creating your own professional e-mail, which can be a red flag to a serious employer.

Stick to using a professional e-mail address so that your resume doesn’t stand out for the wrong reasons.

 

Should I apply for an internship with my school e-mail?

If the internship you are applying for is related to your current school, then you should use your school e-mail. School internships are typically exclusive to students, so it is normal to use a school e-mail.

In all other cases, it is better to use a professional and personal e-mail address.

 

Should you use a school e-mail to apply for a school internship?

When applying for a school internship such as doing clerical work in an office or assisting with a professor’s research project, it is best to use your school e-mail address. 

Internships are great work experiences to list on a resume for students and new graduates, so be careful that you don’t accidentally use the wrong e-mail address on your application.

As a student it is abnormal to use anything other than school e-mail for correspondence with anyone associated with the school, especially when applying for a job or internship within that circle. 

Professors are familiar with the school’s email servers and have their own school e-mail accounts.

Using a school e-mail address also proves that you are indeed a student at that school, which is likely a requirement of the internship.

 

Should you use a school e-mail to apply for a professional internship?

You should never use a school e-mail address when applying for an internship which isn’t associated with your school. 

School e-mail addresses should only be used by current students in a school setting. Applying for an internship outside of the academic setting is a professional process, and this should be done using a professional e-mail address. 

School e-mail addresses are also set to expire within a few months after graduation, which would be troublesome if a recruiter were to contact you after that point. 

 

What type of e-mail is best to list on a resume?

You should list your own professional e-mail address in the contact information section on your resume.

Common e-mail servers that people may use are Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail.

You can make a free account on any of these websites, and it only takes a few minutes.

Make sure to choose a professional-sounding name for your new e-mail account.

 

How do you format an e-mail address in a resume?

An e-mail address should be put at the very top of your resume along with your name, address, and phone number.

When using a professional e-mail, your contact information section of your resume should look something like this:

 

As in this example, many people choose to have their name as their e-mail address. This can help potential employers, co-workers, and friends know who an e-mail is from.

E-mails which do not contain a name such as ‘[email protected]’ can be confusing, as the sender is not instantly recognizable. 

If your desired name is not available, try adding numbers after your name.

Even if the e-mail address “JaneDoe” is taken, “JaneDoe56” might be available for use and is perfectly acceptable as a professional e-mail address.

Using more than two or three numbers, however, is not advised.

This makes your e-mail address look like it is from a spammer, or people may think it is a junk email.  

 

How to e-mail a resume

A resume should be sent using a professional e-mail address. The format should be .doc or .pdf unless otherwise specified. Address the email to the recruiter by name if possible, explain what position you are applying for, describe your e-mail attachments, and include your contact information.

When e-mailing a resume, begin with a friendly salutation followed by a comma such as Dear, Good evening, etc.

Add a proper subject line which includes the position you are applying for, and repeat this information in the body of the e-mail

Explain who you are, why you are contacting them, and a brief sentence describing a relevant reason you are a good fit for the job.

In this case, you’re writing an e-mail including an attachment. Be sure to inform the recruiter that your resume is attached to the email (and make sure to actually attach it before sending!)

End the email professionally using a complimentary closing such as “Kind regards,”.

You can check out our full guide on “What to write in an email when sending a resume” for a more in-depth look at how to best write a professional and high-quality e-mail to an employer!

 

Frequently asked questions on the topic of using a school email on a resume

 

Should I use my university email to apply for jobs?

University e-mail addresses should only be used when applying for jobs within the university. For any other job, you should never use a school e-mail address on the job application. The use of school e-mail comes off as unprofessional, so it is best to use a personal e-mail address for this purpose.

 

Should I use my university email to apply for internships?

If the internship you are applying for is within the university, then a school e-mail address should be used. In academia, it is uncommon for students to use personal e-mail addresses. For any other internships, a personal e-mail address should be used instead as it is more professional.