Follow Up Thank You Email With Wrong Name
So I was trying to follow up after an information session and I met way too many people and collected way too many business cards. I was just too tired so I decided to just copy paste a generic "thank you" email to everyone and just when I clicked SEND, I realized that all the names are adjusted at the top but in the body of the email, I refer to them as "James" HAHA.
After laughing my ass off for a full 5 minutes, my question now is what do I do now? Should I send an apology email or something? Or do you think maybe they'll at least get a laugh out of this?
what to say when you email someone's name wrong
This is a major mistake that should not be taken lightly. In the end, attention to detail is extremely important in this financial services industry making such a careless error can have an impact on your career. If all these people were at the same firm - then they will likely all know that you sent around the exact same email which looks reckless.
Tips About Proofreading Networking Emails
Moving forward - you should not include the name of the recruiter in the body of your form email and you should also make small adjustments to your form email so that it is not exactly the same for each recipient.
Additionally, you should be sure to read your email at least 3 times. First reading should be right after you write it. Second time you should read it out loud slowly. Then you should look away and work on something different for a bit. Then come back and read your email again one more time before sending.
In regards to the OP's original issue - our users have various thoughts on how to handle the situation moving forward. Some feel that sending a follow up apology will only draw attention to it and in the end many recruiters / professionals don't really read thank you emails from candidates. However, for the ones that do - sending a follow up may be wise to recognize the mistake. Either way - you won't come out looking rosy to that particular professional.
Our users shared their thoughts below.
I did the same thing with a boutique bank last year but it was only one email. I sent an immediate follow up and got no response. You have to make a bet on whether or not they will even notice; an apology might draw their attention to something they never noticed.
Just be more careful from next time and read your emails 10 times before hitting that SEND button.
I would acknowledge it asap before they address it.
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Let me save you some time and sum up the responses you're gonna get on this:
1) Follow up with an apology e-mail ASAP, or they're gonna think you've got poor attention to detail 2) They already think you've got poor attention to detail and you're fucked; don't bother 3) Nobody gives a shit; don't bother
TL;DR you're rolling a die any way you slice it. Personally, I'd probably be all w/e, but I'm pretty sure there are several posters here who would be a little less forgiving...
You forgot the part where OP is a lazy idiot.
rofl, aren't all those recruiters gonna feel super special? honestly, i'd probably just send an email saying "sorry, i messed up, still hire me though" because to me, it's better to admit the mistake and move on. but as stated above, you'll probably get a lot of apocalyptic "you're doomed!" posts as well.
don't draw attention to it. they will notice but no one will remember in due time
you're done. Now just focus on James.
if you're tired after an info session, maybe you should reconsider banking...
I would acknowledge it asap before they address it.
Haha this is funny, I just got a response from a VP who said I was very "unprofessional". Should I just ignore him? I mean even if I send an apology letter it's not like it's gonna change anything right? LOL
Reply with this
I don't really see what is funny about instantaneously, thoroughly and likely irreversibly fucking your chances at so many places, but hey, I guess we all deal with grief in different ways.
I did the same thing with a boutique bank last year but it was only one email. I sent an immediate follow up and got no response. You have to make a bet on whether or not they will even notice; an apology might draw their attention to something they never noticed.
Bottom line is youre fucking retarded
I sent an apology letter to each of them, it might be a bit late but can you see if my apology letter is okay?
Dear ______,
I realized that I misspelled your name, I am so sorry James is actually my grandfather who passed away a couple days ago due to cancer and I still have no gotten over this tragic event. I promise this type of mistake will not happen again.
Regards, monkeyleverage
What's sent is sent, would not draw anymore attention to it.
you misspelled 'not gotten'. Also, your grammar makes me weep. Why are you sorry that James is your grandfather? how do you fuck up a sorry I fucked up the last email?
I wouldn't sweat it. By reading your reaction here, it's doubtful you would have gotten an offer anyway.
Pretty sure he's kidding about the follow up. At least I hope...
Dude you're a fucking idiot... why do you think your stupidity is funny? Good luck.
OP, please let us know when you get into banking.
Not a big deal. At least you can count of James appreciating the email as long as the rest of the message was well written.
Get shit on, son. You're an embarrassment.
obvious troll....can't believe he was so successful too. Shame on you guys for falling for it
Shit happens. Move on.
Mistake in email (Originally Posted: 06/24/2014)
Lets say I was emailing a contact and accidentally put the name of a direct competitor rather than his company name in the email, what would you do? Would you email him again, mention the mistake and make up an excuse?
When you say contact, do you mean an old contact, or a new contact? In either case, do not email again and point it out. If new contact, do not expect an email back. If old contact, hopefully he's cool and shrugs it off. Regardless, do not email back and point it out.
Very new contact. This was the first time I emailed him.
I'd consider that a lost cause. Maybe try again in a couple months and hope he forgot about the first email.
He is a high school alumni though and usually emails are pretty relaxed
What about emailing him with a different email address. He is very senior so he probably has not read it yet?
It seems like you're kinda stuck on this one alumnus... If he is a BSD then try again in a month or two, if he isn't then go ahead and just treat it as a learning experience. I've made similar mistakes in the past and it took a while but it really trains your attention to detail.
ok ill try again later.Im gonna wait 3-4 weeks. Yeah its good training.
don't sweat it, agree with other posters in that you shouldn't reference it, use a different email address, and wait at least a month before doing it. if appropriate, I'd follow with a phone call
You will not believe my good luck. I have just received an email from hotmail saying that the email I sent to that contact literally hours ago has been delayed :) Is their anyway I can stop it from being sent permanently ? Shall I quickly send him an email again?
My friend, get some street smarts! Why on earth do you ask THIS community how to stop the email?
I suspect you're SOL. Advice above is appropriate.
As luck would have it, I received a notification just now that the email permanently did not send haha. so happy lol
You know, out of the 14 people I sent it to, 5 of them (including James) replied and either they did not notice it, or did not give a damn. So here is a big F U to all those who doubted me L.O.L
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