What to choose as a 'serious' e-mail address... (And a fonts questions.)

[hmpf]

1.) I need a 'professional-sounding' e-mail address. Problem: I have a very, very common first *and* last name, and no second or third name that I could insert in between, so all the really logical and 'professional' versions of my name are already taken. So... do I put my year of birth in there somewhere? But that immediately marks me as quite old for a person just entering professional life. Granted, they're going to see how old I am as soon as they look at my C.V., but, still - should I really put that info in my e-mail addy? But what else could I put in there? All the 'innocuous' numbers I can think of are taken already, too. (I think, in fact, that my birth year is already taken also.)

2.) Any fonts you could recommend that are both 'professional' *and* have some 'personality', i.e. that will make my C.V. etc. look like I actually know a bit about design? (Ironically, I *do* know a bit about design, but not really that much about the kind of design needed to create great application papers. Esp. not about fonts. Turns out that all the fonts that I instinctively like mark me as hopelessly boring, conventional, old-fashioned etc. in the eyes of the design-savy. In other words, I always go for the classics. Also, I tend to like expensive fonts, apparently - so I'd also like to get some recommendations for fonts that I won't have to pay hundreds of euros for. *g* (I *am* willing to pay *something*, btw - font designers need to live, too.)

Most prospective employers probably aren't going to judge the font I use that closely, but some might (seeing as how I'm officially a sort-of-professional designer, and might apply for positions involving that skill set.)

Comments

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I have no idea on fonts, but if I had to pick an email, I'd probably just make up a middle initial? Or even name? Personally I think putting a year after your name would make it look a bit...I dunno "YouTube" usernamey. But that could just be me.

If it ever came up, like, "Oh, you forgot to put your middle name on the form!" you could just explain, "Oh, it's just a family name I use as a middle name because my name is so common," or something which could even be like...a cute story icebreaker if it did come up?

If you didn't want to do that, though I guess...you could include your location? Like the city you're in?

I mean, I'd probably try and register "thereal[yourname]" or "thebest[yourname]" but that might not look that professional. ;)

I do confess, there are times it's good to have a name that's probably "unique in the universe". (I still think it's weird that everyone ever thought my surname was weird until I went to Germany. Which you know, makes sense, what with it being German and all, but still, I was entertained that the only time it's ever not been a hassle was when I was in a country where I couldn't understand anything anyone said...)

[jazzymegster.livejournal.com]

Personally I think putting a year after your name would make it look a bit...I dunno "YouTube" usernamey. But that could just be me.

Seconding that. Also I just hate numbers in usernames anyway, but that's just me. But seeing you post this has made me think I could do with a decent sounding email address, too. Sadly I can't think of any other options.

Regarding fonts though, your best bet is to go with something like Arial - it's simple and plain and easy to read (and it's what my CV is written in).

[elliejane.livejournal.com]

Thirding the "against putting numbers in"!

[elliejane.livejournal.com]

As regards the email address a friend of mine uses their name and the word online. For hypothetical example:

karensmithonline@aol.com

Another suggestion I've seen used is prefixng your name with "e" for "email". For example:

ekarensmith@aol.com

Or perhaps you could insert an underscore between the two names?

Regarding the font issue, I am veering towards the relatively simple myself. I've been told a couple of times that employers like to have easily readable cvs, so I wouldn't suggest something exotic. My own cv is in Verdana (similar to arial). Another one I tend to write cover letters in is Trebuchet. Mind you I've been out of work since before Christmas so maybe I am doing it all wrong!

[jazzymegster.livejournal.com]

Nah, that sounds all right to me (ha ha, like I know, I've been out of work longer), but that's what they tend to advise at job centres and "back to work" courses and the like.

There's a joke about trebuchet there, but my brain's not letting it happen...*sigh*

Just to clarify...

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

I am looking for a simple font, of course. But the well-known classics that come with everybody's word processing software apparently all have a reputation of being 'boring', so I need something that's simple yet also, somehow, original. And not too expensive.

Currently I'm thinking about Officina Sans... http://www.fontshop.de/fontlisting.htm?id=&submit=Details%20anzeigen&familyId=13010 - Which would be 24 euros for just the plain version, 48 if I also want bold or italic, and 72 euros if I want bold *and* italic in addition to the plain version. This actually makes it one of the cheaper professional fonts... *sigh*

BTW, I think cover letter and CV should be in the same typeface. Also, I've been told they should both be printed on paper with a (somewhat) professionally designed letterhead, ideally (I suppose) in the same typeface as the actual text of the cover letter and CV.

Incidentally, Trebuchet is just about the only font out of the (very few) fonts that came with my freeware word processing software that I like... but I'm not sure I like it well enough to use it for my CV and so on. Arial I don't particularly like, and Verdana, which is my favourite of the Microsoft Office fonts (and is the font I'm using for my website) is not available with OpenOffice (and also, like all the other standard fonts, 'boring' in the eyes of most design professionals. Apparently. *sigh*)

Regarding the e-mail issue, I've finally settled for appending my hometown to my name. It's clunky, but it's the best solution I could think of (short of a name change. *g*)

And here's Avenir:

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

http://www.fonts.com/DE/MondoSearchResults.htm?st=12&kid=Avenir&pg=1

Sadly, also 'boring', apparently, but I *still* really like it.

Re: Just to clarify...

[jazzymegster.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. I know nothing about what fonts are considered, so...eh. But those two fonts are really nice, actually. But a lot of the plain fonts, I can't tell the difference between (like all books look to be written in mostly the same three fonts to me).

Good point about the CV and covering letter, although I tend to handwrite my letters since I only have a laptop and no permanent desk set up.

I'm pretty sure I've got Verdana among my fonts collection if you want a copy?

(Sorry, you're really answering to Ellie and I've kind of hijacked).