Random Thoughts On Recruiting - The Death Of E-Mail? Laughable.

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve heard more about the death of e-mail and even saw an article where a local professor is eliminating e-mail altogether. Years ago I heard about the death of e-mail and it is as laughable a concept now as it was then.

Simply put, e-mail is the greatest invention of our time. Sure it’s use is changing with other tools for connection becoming more mainstream, and that is a good thing. I have believed for some time that social media is reducing spam and waste in e-mail. The jokes that people send around and the casual banter belongs on social media. I am seeing more value in social media now than I ever have and I just love Google +. However, in looking at my communication on social networks and on e-mail I find that they are totally separate.

My number one Network, or Circle, or Friend List is not connected with me on Google +, Facebook, or Twitter for the most part. I connect with my number one Network by phone and e-mail. Much of our communication is by e-mail because it is so incredibly efficient. Real business is done in person, by phone, and by e-mail. For the professor that has decided that he doesn’t need e-mail, I’m sure that will last until he gets an important e-mail that he doesn’t respond to. Sure he can take care of this by creating an auto response saying I no longer use e-mail so please connect with me on Facebook, or one that says you have to call me at whatever phone number. That’s a lot to try and set-up and make people deal with just so you can blow off the most efficient tool of our time.

E-mail is productive and perfect in that it allows you to communicate quickly with permanence. I don’t have to pull you out of a meeting to get something important to you and no time is wasted. You can answer as soon as you can and if you don’t delete it you have the perfect reminder to take care of it. Replying to old e-mails is the perfect reminder to the recipient of what subject we are on. You can handle more conversations and topics at one time on e-mail than you can with any other tool. The other tools are great and they will change how we use e-mail for the better. But don’t kid yourself. E-mail is here to stay.

Todd Kmiec

Todd Kmiec and Associates

www.toddkmiec.com

todd@toddkmiec.com

Comment by Andrew Hally on July 25, 2011 at 11:08am: I agree that email serves a critical role and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Twitter and Facebook do different things. What would be cool is a more integrated client/user interface that brought these, plus SMS, together so you could more seamlessly navigate conversations and content between then.

Comment by Tony Palm on July 25, 2011 at 1:00pm: Life without email is beyond my ability to comprehend; except when trying to communicate with my 4 children (ages 29 - 19).

The oldest is good with e/m, the middle 2 not so much, and the youngest is totally out of it. So if I find myself in need to communicate something en masse, I am reduced to text messaging. And between my +40 year old eyes and stubby fingers, I curse their lack of willingness to follow the rest of the civilized world and use email!

Opps, was this not a rant on kids????

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on July 25, 2011 at 1:50pm: Tony that's hilarious... when my 19 yr old son called me yesterday I almost fainted. It's nearly always text or facebook messaging, depending on where he's at. Right now he's at basic training for the AF so I guess he finally needed to hear mom's voice. :)

Back to the original point though - I don't know where I would be w/out e-mail. It's the only way I can keep some kind of track of what I'm talking about with my candidates and hiring managers!

Comment by Tony Palm on July 25, 2011 at 1:58pm: Amy,

As a 20 year veteran of the US Navy, I can assure you with unqualified confidence, HE ABSOLUTELY MISSED YOUR VOICE! If there is a better reason to call mom, I don’t know what it is.

Send him my regards for his service and may I also thank you for raising a son who is willing to sacrifice so much for our freedom.