In my last job, my manager's wanted email to be short and to the point.
My new job is a bit more relaxed (at a bank in loan support) and some of my previous habits (mainly good ones) carried over.
I got reprimanded for using an "@" in the middle of the email to direct a question/comment to someone.
Good Morning Brian,
Please see attached. Double check the math please. Let me know if you have any question.
@ John, please reach out to Paul about the up coming project.
Thank you,
AJ
Per my manager:
"please don’t use any texting jargon in your emails “@John”. This deal is especially sensitive since we are copying the borrower directly. We should use professional email etiquette when sending emails to internal and external recipients. Emails should be concise and professional."
I understand I should go by what my manager's want, but I thought this is making emails easier to read and not waste time (I hate wall of text emails and my previous managers would literally just delete them without reading).
Also keep in mind that while internal emails may be more relaxed when a customer is included there are different rules. If management sees using the @ as "texting" jargon, they are not going to want the customer to see that because they don't want the customer to think a bunch of "punk kids" work there. It's all about appearances. For this kind of issue just deffer to what management wants because fighting over it gains you nothing, where making management happy lets you keep your job.
I understand I should go by what my manager's want, but I thought this is making emails easier to read and not waste time (I hate wall of text emails and my previous managers would literally just delete them without reading).
Waste time? Really? How is @ any quicker than spelling "at"? milliseconds? I'm sorry, but that is a poor argument.
Also keep in mind that while internal emails may be more relaxed when a customer is included there are different rules. If management sees using the @ as "texting" jargon, they are not going to want the customer to see that because they don't want the customer to think a bunch of "punk kids" work there. It's all about appearances. For this kind of issue just deffer to what management wants because fighting over it gains you nothing, where making management happy lets you keep your job.
Indeed.
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Quote from "Mysticake" »
(about the English language) It's kinda like a raft that was cobbled together from parts of three different boats and since then has been kept barely afloat with crude repairs every time a leak appeared.
I understand I should go by what my manager's want, but I thought this is making emails easier to read and not waste time (I hate wall of text emails and my previous managers would literally just delete them without reading).
I understand I should go by what my manager's want, but I thought this is making emails easier to read and not waste time (I hate wall of text emails and my previous managers would literally just delete them without reading).
By not waste time I mean that the readers know what to look for. Nothing worse than scanning through emails trying to find details (that's why I highlight key info like dates or requests)
Whatever the utility of it, do you honestly think that kind of thing comes off as professional to people who put a lot of stock in "being professional"?
Pick your battles...
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"Until you have lived as a statue, do not talk to me of pigeons."
—Karn, silver golem
I understand I should go by what my manager's want, but I thought this is making emails easier to read and not waste time (I hate wall of text emails and my previous managers would literally just delete them without reading).
By not waste time I mean that the readers know what to look for. Nothing worse than scanning through emails trying to find details (that's why I highlight key info like dates or requests)
The original email is only 2 lines long... (5 if you include the good morning and signature).
When doing internal emails it might make sense to use highlighting, bold, italics or something else to direct people's attention to key text. See what your manager prefers for these options. For external emails though the company you work for wants to be presented in a professional way. Clearly they see using the @ in front of a person's name as not being professional and want you to not do it.
Also, I wouldn't call what your manager sent to you as a reprimand. That is simply managing. The manager is telling you to correct a behavior to fit what the company wants. As far as I can tell you were not punished.
Hey ajprokos - I think the '@' sign was inappropriate in a professional email. Even when it's a laid back environment, using '@' is very much a kind of forum slang or shorthand. It's not something anybody uses professionally. When you're typing a professional email, ALWAYS write it out like you're writing a memo or a letter. Don't slip into internet-speak, because most people don't know internet lingo and it came come across as confusing, insulting or just plain unprofessional. Like yelling 'YO JOHN' across the office to get someone's attention.
Remember, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. You don't have to agree, but that's the way it is.
In my last job, my manager's wanted email to be short and to the point.
My new job is a bit more relaxed (at a bank in loan support) and some of my previous habits (mainly good ones) carried over.
I got reprimanded for using an "@" in the middle of the email to direct a question/comment to someone.
Per my manager:
"please don’t use any texting jargon in your emails “@John”. This deal is especially sensitive since we are copying the borrower directly. We should use professional email etiquette when sending emails to internal and external recipients. Emails should be concise and professional."
I understand I should go by what my manager's want, but I thought this is making emails easier to read and not waste time (I hate wall of text emails and my previous managers would literally just delete them without reading).
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
Currently Playing:
Legacy: Something U/W Controlish
EDH Cube
Hypercube! A New EDH Deck Every Week(ish)!
Waste time? Really? How is @ any quicker than spelling "at"? milliseconds? I'm sorry, but that is a poor argument.
Indeed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
By not waste time I mean that the readers know what to look for. Nothing worse than scanning through emails trying to find details (that's why I highlight key info like dates or requests)
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
Pick your battles...
—Karn, silver golem
The original email is only 2 lines long... (5 if you include the good morning and signature).
When doing internal emails it might make sense to use highlighting, bold, italics or something else to direct people's attention to key text. See what your manager prefers for these options. For external emails though the company you work for wants to be presented in a professional way. Clearly they see using the @ in front of a person's name as not being professional and want you to not do it.
Also, I wouldn't call what your manager sent to you as a reprimand. That is simply managing. The manager is telling you to correct a behavior to fit what the company wants. As far as I can tell you were not punished.
John, please reach out to Paul about the up coming project.
And you would have the exact same thing.
Remember, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. You don't have to agree, but that's the way it is.
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