They’re Quietly Hurting Your Career
Email is one of those things nobody really teaches you, but everyone expects you to just “know.” And when you're starting out—maybe you’ve just graduated or you're applying for jobs—you assume if you keep it polite, it’ll be fine.
But that’s not always how it works.
The truth is, your email might be the first impression someone has of you. And if it feels sloppy, confusing, or rushed, the person on the other end might not take you seriously. Not because they’re harsh—but because they’re busy, and a poorly written email signals you might not be ready for responsibility.
I’ve seen this go wrong more times than I can count. I’ve made the same mistakes myself. So, if you’re new to the game or just want to clean up your communication, here are 10 common email mistakes that quietly hurt your credibility—and how to avoid each one.
1. Vague subject lines that don’t say anything
If the subject line just says “Hi” or “Request,” you’re forcing the reader to guess what your email’s about. That’s not helpful. Especially when their inbox is already overflowing.
Instead, give them a reason to open it. Something like “Internship Application – Zara Malik” or “Follow-Up: Graphic Design Proposal” makes your email easier to find and quicker to respond to.
2. No greeting, just demands
Starting with “Send me the file” or “Need this done today” without even a “Hi” comes off cold. You're not texting a friend—you’re talking to someone who deserves basic courtesy.
Add a simple greeting. Use the person’s name if you know it. “Hi Mr. Ali,” or “Hello Faiza,” is all it takes. It shows effort.
3. Way too casual or weirdly formal
If you start with “Heyyy!! Wassup??” you’re not getting a reply from a manager. On the flip side, “With humble regards I solicit your attention to the matter henceforth discussed…” is trying too hard.
Keep it simple. Professional but normal. You’re not writing a speech or a meme. Something like “I hope you're doing well” or “I wanted to check in about…” hits the right tone.
4. Burying the point under a story
Some emails take five paragraphs to say one thing. You don’t need your full life story before asking for an interview or a document.
If you’re reaching out for something specific, say it early. Don’t make people scroll to find out what you want. Put your point in the first three lines, then explain if needed.
5. Long paragraphs with no breaks
If your email looks like a giant block of text, it’s hard to read. Most people will skim or skip it entirely.
Break it up. Use paragraphs. Use bullet points if you’re listing stuff. Add space. It’s not just about being “neat”—it actually helps people understand what you’re saying.
6. Typos that could’ve been avoided
Nobody’s perfect. But constant spelling mistakes, missing punctuation, or sentences that don’t make sense? That gives off one message: you didn’t bother to check.
Just read your email once before sending it. Even reading it out loud helps catch weird phrasing or errors. It only takes a minute.
7. Weird email addresses
If your email is something like crazygirl_91@hotmail.com or legendkiller786@gmail.com, you’re hurting your chances before anyone even opens your message.
Make a new one. Use your full name or initials. Something like a.hassan@gmail.com or sana.rahim@outlook.com is clean and professional.
8. No signature or info about you
Sometimes people send emails with just a first name and nothing else. It leaves the reader wondering—who is this? How do I reply? Where are they from?
Add a short email signature. Name, title (or student status), maybe your LinkedIn if it makes sense. If you're applying for something, definitely include contact info.
9. Hitting “reply all” by mistake
This one’s easy to mess up. You get an email sent to 10 people, and you reply without checking who’s copied—and now your one-line “Thanks!” went to the whole office.
Before hitting send, check the recipients. If you only need to respond to one person, remove the others.
10. Rude or rushed follow-ups
Sending a second email 24 hours later with “Why haven’t you replied??” doesn’t come off as assertive. It comes off as annoying. People are busy, or they might’ve missed your message.
It’s respectful and gives the other person space to reply properly.
You don’t need to write the perfect email every time. But you do need to stop making the kind of mistakes that get your messages ignored.
The goal is simple: be clear, respectful, and easy to understand. That alone puts you ahead of half the inbox. Whether you’re applying for a job, asking someone for a favor, or just trying to build a better impression—email is often the first place that happens.
And the difference between being taken seriously or being forgotten? It’s usually just a few better lines.
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