How to Create a Professional Email

Need an e-mail that you can use to apply for a job? Follow this step-by-step guide to create a professional email in under 10 minutes.

There are many online platforms that you can use to create an email address. Each platform comes with its advantages and disadvantages. For simplicities sake, we recommend using "gmail" to create a professional email address that you can include as your contact on your resume or cover letter. To create your g-mail email address, go to the gmail homepage by typing gmail.com in your browser, or simply click here. 

GETTING STARTED

You should arrive at a webpage that looks like the photo above. The language of the webpage will depend on your location. Our homepage is written in French, however we can adjust the language with just a few simple clicks.

If you would like to change the language, simply scroll to the bottom of the page and select the language that you are most comfortable in. 

Now that you are viewing the gmail homepage in a language that you are comfortable with, you can click on the blue "create an account" button to get started.

STEP 1

On this page you'll see the option to write your first and last name, select a username, and create a password for your account. Be sure to write your actual first and last name and to do so in the latin alphabet so that your email address is compatible with your english-language job search. Below we have written an example for Zara Bhatt. 

The username you use for your email address should be professional. That is to say, it should include at least your first or last name, or ideally both names. We recommend first trying your [firstname]lastname as your username. When you click away from the username box, you will either see a red notification (which means that this username already exists) or a green notification which means that this username is available for you to use as your email address.  

If your first username choice has a red notification, google will recommend other, similar usernames that are available for you to use. Google's recommendations always include your first and/or last name and are typically fine for a professional purpose. We recommend choosing one of google's recommendations if your first username choice is unavailable. We have selected zarabhatt6@gmail.com to create our email address.  

As you can see, the password you use for your email account must be at least 8 characters longs and must include a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols (!@#$%^&*_-,.?). Be sure to select a password that you will remember. You will need this password to check your email. 

STEP 2

Google will then ask you to provide a phone number to link with your email address. You will use this number to access your email address if you ever forget your password. 

You can adjust the country code for your phone number by clicking on the flag on the left hand side. After you submit your phone number (by clicking next) you will receive a text message with a 6-digit code from Google. 

NOTE: If you do not have a phone number, scroll below for our instructions to create a mail.com account instead.

Insert the code you received and verify your contact information by clicking "verify" in blue. 

STEP 3

You will then be asked to fill in your birthday and gender information. Unfortunately, there is no way to "skip" this section, but you are free to provide whatever information you would like here. Your selection will not be visible to anyone else. 

STEP 4

You are free to skip this next section if you choose to, it will not impact your ability to send and receive emails. You can do this by clicking on "skip" if you would not like these additional services. 

If you would like to save time, we recommend selecting the "express personalization" option. Otherwise, selecting the "manual personalization" option is fine too.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and select "confirm" to agree to Google's usage terms and agreements. 

Select the blue "I agree" button on the following page. 

FINAL STEP

You now have successfully created your very own professional email! The homepage for your email address should look something like the image below. Be sure to check your email on a regular basis. Employers expect you to respond to emails within 1 to 3 business days, the sooner the better. 

Creating a gmail account offers many possibilities that you can use to your personal and professional advantage. For more information and how to use your gmail account, click here.

Don't have a phone number to create gmail account? Create an email using "mail.com" instead.

To access mail.com, simply type the webpage in your browser or click here. Then click on the gray "Sign Up" button on the right-hand side of your screen. 

STEP 1

When selecting your username we recommend beginning with your first and last name, as we've done for Zara below. If the username using your first and last name is already taken consider alternatives like adding a single number to the end of your username (zarabhatt1, zarabhatt2, or zarabhatt3) or shortening your first or last name (zbhatt, zarab, zarbhatt). Check to see if the username of your choice is available by clicking the blue "check" button. 

In the password recovery section, you will be prompted to include either a phone number or email. If you have another email address that is unsuitable for professional use, it is okay to use this as your recovery email address. No one will see your recovery email address besides you. If you do not have another email that you can use, feel free to use (alitisalproject@gmail.com) as your recovery email address and we will be happy to assist you in the event that you forget your password.

Be sure to click on the square next to "I am not a robot" and answer the questions that pop up to confirm that you are a real human being. Then simply click "I agree. Create an email account now." in blue. 

STEP 2

You will then be directed to a screen that looks like the photo below. Click the green "activate your account now" button.

FINAL STEP 

Congratulations! You have just created your very own email address. Click on "Go to your inbox" written in blue to check your email. Be sure to check your email often, in case you receive any messages from a potential employer. 

If you have any questions, comments, or would like further help to create an email address, leave us a comment below and we will get back to you as soon as possible!