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Posted by djbruuen on Jun-10-2009 15:12:

Addressing superior via email.

I have the situation where I can only reach this superior via email which could lead to a job. The question is when addressing a female superior, what is the proper form to address them? should I write their full name in the greeting? use MS. instead of Mrs. or Miss (since I obviously don't know her marital status) Address only using the first name? thanks for the insights.

Posted by She_Fitz on Jun-10-2009 15:27:

Re: Addressing superior via email.

quote:
Originally posted by djbruuen
I have the situation where I can only reach this superior via email which could lead to a job. The question is when addressing a female superior, what is the proper form to address them? should I write their full name in the greeting? use MS. instead of Mrs. or Miss (since I obviously don't know her marital status) Address only using the first name? thanks for the insights.

Do you know her?

What is the context of the email? Is it business related or is it to sell yourself?

I generally reference people by their first name and can't think of any business emails I have seen where people use last names.

Posted by SasH21 on Jun-10-2009 15:28:

Re: Addressing superior via email.

Posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* on Jun-10-2009 15:34:

I always use "Ms" if you don't know her marital status. It's the safest route.

For a superior I would always use Ms. LAST NAME, as a sign of respect.

Posted by djbruuen on Jun-10-2009 15:37:

thanks for the insights so far (unfortuantely conflicting)

she_fitz - i don't know her personally, it is a 'sell yourself' type of email. I've contimplated using only the first name as through 99% of my email dealing I don't even think twice about referring to anyone in any position by only the first name in a greeting (with the exception of an employment scenario)

sash21 - i like the idea of miss 'last name' but is this proper suit when not knowing her marital status - i guess its less offensive accidentally using miss instead of mrs. If only it was a male superior it'd be a no brainer.

Posted by malek on Jun-10-2009 15:41:

no one uses Miss anymore because its offensive to most even if they're single, just use Mrs Last Name.

Posted by ChemEnhanced on Jun-10-2009 15:41:

If you are unsure if they are married or not then always use Ms. LASTNAME in any professional correspondence.

Posted by exstasie on Jun-10-2009 15:41:

quote:
Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~*
I always use "Ms" if you don't know her marital status. It's the safest route.

For a superior I would always use Ms. LAST NAME, as a sign of respect.

+1

That is what I would do as well.

Ms. is probably the best route. I would advise against Mrs. or Miss.

Posted by SasH21 on Jun-10-2009 15:44:

Yes, you guys are right...Ms. is the way to go if you don't know her status - I just checked how I usually sign my e-mails! - the format they told us to use at work

quote:
Originally posted by djbruuen
thanks for the insights so far (unfortuantely conflicting)

she_fitz - i don't know her personally, it is a 'sell yourself' type of email. I've contimplated using only the first name as through 99% of my email dealing I don't even think twice about referring to anyone in any position by only the first name in a greeting (with the exception of an employment scenario)

sash21 - i like the idea of miss 'last name' but is this proper suit when not knowing her marital status - i guess its less offensive accidentally using miss instead of mrs. If only it was a male superior it'd be a no brainer.

Posted by djbruuen on Jun-10-2009 15:45:

appreciate the replies everyone. I'll go with Ms. as it definitely seems the safest route.

thanks

Posted by Skipper on Jun-10-2009 15:47:

Re: Re: Addressing superior via email.

quote:
Originally posted by SasH21
Dear Miss Last name,

Good luck!

No

Posted by FunkyCrew on Jun-10-2009 15:51:

Re: Re: Re: Addressing superior via email.

quote:
Originally posted by Skipper
No

quote:
Originally posted by SasH21
Yes, you guys are right...Ms. is the way to go if you don't know her status - I just checked how I usually sign my e-mails! - the format they told us to use at work

Posted by SasH21 on Jun-10-2009 15:53:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Addressing superior via email.

quote:
Originally posted by FunkyCrew

Haha,thanks Kris!

Have been working at my conference for two days in a row and up since 6 am...I think I left my brain in the office on Monday lol

Posted by Engine9 on Jun-10-2009 15:55:

or u can use:

Hey baby

then u can possibly score a new job with "benefits"

Posted by SasH21 on Jun-10-2009 15:57:

quote:
Originally posted by Engine9
or u can use:

Hey baby

then u can possibly score a new job with "benefits"

Bogdan, You don't change!

Posted by Time2Burn on Jun-10-2009 16:09:

Ms. So and so would be the most professional. Also, I must stress how important proper grammar, spelling and punctuation are to winning a job. Please do not write your letter in the same way you wrote your post if you want this job. Yes I realize most don't think writing properly on a message board is important. In my work place tons of applicants have been automatically dismissed because of poorly written cover letters.

Posted by ChemEnhanced on Jun-10-2009 16:18:

quote:
Originally posted by Time2Burn
Ms. So and so would be the most professional. Also, I must stress how important proper grammar, spelling and punctuation are to winning a job. Please do not write your letter in the same way you wrote your post if you want this job. Yes I realize most don't think writing properly on a message board is important. In my work place tons of applicants have been automatically dismissed because of poorly written cover letters.

+1

If cover letters or resumes have spelling mistakes or grammer misktakes they typically get thrown in the paper shredder.

Posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* on Jun-10-2009 16:22:

quote:
Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
+1

If cover letters or resumes have spelling mistakes or grammer misktakes they typically get thrown in the paper shredder.

I'm assuming "grammer misktakes" was spelled wrong on purpose? lol

Posted by ChemEnhanced on Jun-10-2009 16:24:

quote:
Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~*
I'm assuming "grammer misktakes" was spelled wrong on purpose? lol

Posted by FunkyCrew on Jun-10-2009 16:26:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Addressing superior via email.

quote:
Originally posted by SasH21
Haha,thanks Kris!

Have been working at my conference for two days in a row and up since 6 am...I think I left my brain in the office on Monday lol

I hear ya

Posted by Skipper on Jun-10-2009 16:48:

quote:
Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
+1

If cover letters or resumes have spelling mistakes or grammer misktakes they typically get thrown in the paper shredder.

lol

Posted by mute79 on Jun-10-2009 17:06:

Heyy, how you doin'?

Posted by Big Boss on Jun-10-2009 17:28:

In business you never use a person's first name. That is considered a sign of disrespect.

Posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* on Jun-10-2009 17:47:

quote:
Originally posted by Big Boss
In business you never use a person's first name. That is considered a sign of disrespect.

I think it's appropriate in certain circumstances. i.e. If it's someone at the same level as you and you know the person well, thus you've established a first name basis with them. Generally I would wait for them to establish it because I started calling someone by their first name. I would say it's a fine line until then.

Regarding a superior, however, I would say it would be a sign of disrespect to call them by their first name. Always Mr or Ms (or Mrs when appropriate)

Posted by ExtremeWays on Jun-10-2009 17:51:

Let me wikipedia that for you:

quote:
Ms (UK) or Ms. (USA) (pronounced /mɪz/ or /məz/[1]) is an English honorific used with the last name or full name of a woman. As with Mrs. and Miss, Ms. is a contraction of the honorific "Mistress", which is the feminine of "Mister" or "Master". Unlike Miss and Mrs., Ms. is used properly of divorced women. In the U.S., the Emily Post Institute states that Ms. is the default form of address for business correspondence with a woman.[2]

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