I'm currently a student applying and networking with a lot of different firms. I know that the faster you reply the better, but I don't really want to be stuck to my screen the entire time looking at my email. What is the reasonable expectation for a response to an email? 24 hours? 3 hours?
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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some guidelines for managing email responses effectively:
Immediate Tasks: If an email task takes only 5-10 minutes, handle it immediately if it fits into your schedule. This helps prevent forgetting about it or delaying it unnecessarily.
Routine Checks: Maintain a routine of checking your email every 15 minutes or so while working on larger tasks. This keeps you efficient and ensures you don't miss important communications.
Reasonable Response Time: While you don't need to be glued to your screen, a reasonable expectation for responding to emails is within 24 hours. This shows promptness without overwhelming yourself.
Organized Approach: Stay organized by keeping track of your outgoing emails and maintaining a list. This helps you follow up appropriately and ensures no communication is missed.
By following these practices, you can manage your email responses effectively without being constantly tied to your screen.
Sources: Cold emails - what makes you answer?, Ways of Underperformance - and how to avoid them (Part 1), Finding New Jobs, Want to get me on the phone? Here's how - a networking overview., Is Cold Emailing rude?
For networking, I don't know, a day or two. I don't really put too much stock in response times because they're only fucking themselves if my schedule fills up or changes.
Be reasonable about it.
You don't have an email app on your phone?
Yeah I have email on my phone but I'm just sometimes out with my friends for long periods of time. I don't want to be that one guy stuck to his phone while we're out hiking or something. I also do a lot of biking, running, etc, so I can't really be super prompt and by the minute on the days that I'm out.
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