• E-mail that you delete is still there.  Almost all messages that are deleted remain for an indefinite period of time on your hard drive, company server or regular internet provider.
• Therefore it is important to watch what you type!  Do not send any e-mail that you wouldn't want read by someone else.  E-mail is not private.

• Use folders to help keep your e-mail neat and tidy.  Most programs (ex. Microsoft Outlook) allow the user to create personalized folders.  Create appropriate folders and move your mail to them.  Not only does this free up some visual space but it also works to get your organized so that information is quickly and easily found.

• Most people do not like reading on computers.  Keep your business/work related e-mail quick and to the point.  Not only will the recipients say thank you, but your eyes will too!

• Use detailed (but not long!) subject lines.  This helps people to recognize a file faster and it aids in organization.  Here is a tip if you can't remember a password or a login name for an internet service.  
• Here, do what I do... send an email to an account that you can organize and  in the subject line type, "My information for www.newsjobs.com ".  I then place it in my special folder entitled, "Passwords".

• Be sure to "sign" your letters.  It can be frustrating to get e-mail and not know who to respond to .  On the same note, please keep these short.  Long signature files containing too much irrelevant information can be just as annoying.

• Don't send attachments unless it absolutely neccesary.  Always back those up with and plain text version.  Also, do not download attachments unless it is necessary.  There are far too many viruses flying about out there and many can seem to come from your friends by way of viruses that target your e-mail address books.

• Always acknowledge your e-mail senders.  It is a simple courtesy just to let someone know that you got their message but will have to reply more in depth later.  It is better to get a notice that your answer may be delayed than to think that it was never recieved in teh first place.
• Use an automatice reply program when you know that you will be away from the office for a few days.
  

• Unsubscribe yourself from mailing lists so that you are not flooded with unnecessary e-mail.  I know of several occasions when I myself have almost deleted important letters while in a haste to delete junk mail.

Good Luck!
Heather Lee Holman
Job Bank Coordinator