Address Recruiter By First Name? Email Etiquette Forum

[Anonymous User]

If a recruiter emails you, saying "Hello (First name)," then signing with "Sincerely (his first name)," do I respond to the recruiter with "Hello (his first name?)" Or do I still use "Mr. (his last name)?"

Thanks!

[Desert Fox]

If a recruiter emails you, saying "Hello (First name)," then signing with "Sincerely (his first name)," do I respond to the recruiter with "Hello (his first name?)" Or do I still use "Mr. (his last name)?"

Thanks!

First name.

[Anonymous User]

If a recruiter emails you, saying "Hello (First name)," then signing with "Sincerely (his first name)," do I respond to the recruiter with "Hello (his first name?)" Or do I still use "Mr. (his last name)?"

Thanks!

First name.

Thank you.

[Anonymous User]

I disagree. I say last name. Mr. or Ms. At least in the very beginning be as formal and respectful as you can. You can go on a first name basis if you ever get to talk to that person in real life once.

[r6_philly]

I disagree. I say last name. Mr. or Ms. At least in the very beginning be as formal and respectful as you can. You can go on a first name basis if you ever get to talk to that person in real life once.

If OP meant independent recruiter (who will profit off your placement), then there is no need to be formal ever. You are their client.

[Anonymous User]

I disagree. I say last name. Mr. or Ms. At least in the very beginning be as formal and respectful as you can. You can go on a first name basis if you ever get to talk to that person in real life once.

If OP meant independent recruiter (who will profit off your placement), then there is no need to be formal ever. You are their client.

Right but I think the OP means recruiter from the firm, not a staffing agency recruiter/headhunter

[rpupkin]

I disagree. I say last name. Mr. or Ms. At least in the very beginning be as formal and respectful as you can. You can go on a first name basis if you ever get to talk to that person in real life once.

If OP meant independent recruiter (who will profit off your placement), then there is no need to be formal ever. You are their client.

Right but I think the OP means recruiter from the firm, not a staffing agency recruiter/headhunter

"First name" is still the right answer.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Yes, I meant recruiter from a firm. I'm a law student.

[ek5dn]

OP here. Yes, I meant recruiter from a firm. I'm a law student.

Yep, first name. OP (why anon?) has clearly shown he/she knows proper etiquette to the recruiter by calling the recruiter Ms./Mr. X in the initial email.

[PeanutsNJam]

My first cold email to a recruiter is Mr./Ms. If they respond and sign their first name, I use that. I've occasionally had people respond and sign as "Ms. X", so I continue using that. It was weird and an exception though.

[Desert Fox]

Did you all miss the part where the recruiter used the students first name and signed with her first name. The objectively right answer is first name.

[rpupkin]

Did you all miss the part where the recruiter used the students first name and signed with her first name. The objectively right answer is first name.

Yep. Folks think that "it's never wrong to err on the side of formality," but that's not true. If someone is addressing you by your first name and signing with their first name, and if you keep addressing them as "Mr./Ms.," you're going to seem weird.

[JenDarby]

Did you all miss the part where the recruiter used the students first name and signed with her first name. The objectively right answer is first name.

Yep. Folks think that "it's never wrong to err on the side of formality," but that's not true. If someone is addressing you by your first name and signing with their first name, and if you keep addressing them as "Mr./Ms.," you're going to seem weird.

[Hikikomorist]

If they sign off with first and last?

[tyroneslothrop1]

If they sign off with first and last?

Find out his or her middle name and address them using all three.

[Yeezus Wept]

If they sign off with first and last?

ur joking right

[Anonymous User]

What if they just sign using their initials (all of them)? Still weird to say "Mr./Ms. ___," or would it be weirder to use first name (assuming you know the first name)?

[Anonymous User]

If they sign off with first and last?

ur joking right

Interested in this as well. This happened to me three times...

[Avian]

What if they just sign using their initials (all of them)? Still weird to say "Mr./Ms. ___," or would it be weirder to use first name (assuming you know the first name)?

I would still use their first name because there are a lot of people who use their initials in their email signature but don't actually go by them in real life.

[BNA]

You use Mr./Ms. until a superior tells you otherwise. Hands down. Period. There are formal rules of etiquette and this one is cut and dry.

[Mr. Fancy]

You use Mr./Ms. until a superior tells you otherwise. Hands down. Period. There are formal rules of etiquette and this one is cut and dry.

This is awful advice

[JenDarby]

You use Mr./Ms. until a superior tells you otherwise. Hands down. Period. There are formal rules of etiquette and this one is cut and dry.

a recruiter is not your superior. they're a professional car salesperson chasing commissions

[BNA]

You use Mr./Ms. until a superior tells you otherwise. Hands down. Period. There are formal rules of etiquette and this one is cut and dry.

This is awful advice

Fucking millennials...

[Effingham]

You use Mr./Ms. until a superior tells you otherwise. Hands down. Period. There are formal rules of etiquette and this one is cut and dry.

This is awful advice

Fucking millennials...

1. Millennials are the generation born between roughly 1982 to late 90's/2000. I only say that because often the people most vocal about millennials are millennials themselves.

2. As etiquette evolves, so should you. This rule is simply not cut and dry anymore, even if it was thirty years ago.

[A. Nony Mouse]

You use Mr./Ms. until a superior tells you otherwise. Hands down. Period. There are formal rules of etiquette and this one is cut and dry.

This is awful advice

Fucking millennials...

I'm absolutely not a millenial and I think it's awful advice, too. Nothing makes you look more like a little kid than using Mr./Ms. in the wrong context.