How formal should your emails to colleagues be?

Just finished my freshman year and have an internship coming up at a boutique. I’m just wondering how formal/casual your emails to colleagues are. I don’t want to be rude, but I also don’t want to be unnatural.

19 Comments
 

I'm not sure about the answer of your question, but how did you get an internship for the summer after freshman year? Are you from a target?

 

I would just be professional. Avoid being robotic-formal, but also don't be relaxed to the point of using abbreviations like "btw."

Remember that you are the intern. You are trying to impress your team with professionalism and communication/email skills. Being too loose may come off as inappropriate in my opinion.

"Love doesn't exist, that's what I'm trying to tell you guys. And I'm not picking on love, 'cause I don't think friendship exists either" - Owen Wilson
 

You’re overthinking it

Just copy what they do. Some people in the team are usually more chill than others. Start off being formal then respond in the way which the other one emails

 

Here is how to write every e-mail ever:

Name,

[Body of e-mail using complete sentences, punctuation, no abbreviations. Acronyms are fine if they are obvious (like EBITDA, FYI). Get to the point succinctly. Use bullets if helpful. Don’t do that weird “Hope you are well” or “how’s it going?” shit.]

Thank you, [Your Name]

 

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