My job search email address is frequently ending up in spam folders.

Anonymous

November 28,2022 at 9:29PM UTC

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My job search email address is frequently ending up in spam folders. It's a regular Gmail account and I don't understand why this is happening. I only use the account for job searching so I'm worried as this is the fifth time I've heard recruiters saying I ended up in their spam filter a few weeks later.

What I don't understand is that this happens after I'm already corresponding with those team members. I'd understand if I was sending too many emails but it's simply arranging the interview and thank you emails. I'd appreciate your advice!

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AnonymousNovember 28,2022 at 11:02PM UTC
Evaluate the title you are using to ensure it does not appear generic or unsolicited
AnonymousNovember 29,2022 at 12:12AM UTC
Companies have stuff to filter all kinds of addresses - mine suppresses or considers even my customers spam- ask for an alternative contact - okay to text?
AnonymousNovember 29,2022 at 12:59AM UTC
Thank you all and I am using an email address with my first initial and last name @ Gmail but it's ended up in junk. I lost two opportunities due to that action. One, the recruiter didn't receive a message that I wanted to continue to the the next round and the other was a HR to hiring manager advancement. Recruiters are using blocked email addresses and rarely give out phone numbers so I didn't have any recourse or way to reach them. I'm glad to hear it's not only my account. I guess it wasn't meant to be but it's happening more frequently so I wanted to double check. Thank you!
Cyndi RosenblattNovember 29,2022 at 1:02AM UTC
I was thinking along the same lines, and also that there may be a completely unintended/unnoticed negative meaning to part of the email address (e.g. Molly420@gmail.com) where the person who set up the address years ago doesn't realize it's now slang.
Barb HansenNovember 29,2022 at 1:32AM UTC
Most companies have spam filters on their corporate emails that get some of their spam details from a few large "what email domains get flagged as spam" clearing houses and then their in-house or external IT admins can add (or remove) email domains to their company-specific spam controls.
If you have a gmail account that you are not using to drive hundreds of spammy emails each day, then you aren't doing anything wrong.
A corporate recruiter who wanted to get emails from potential candidates should be speaking with their IT/Email Admins to make sure that gmails are not being caught in spam filters (or they should be checking their spam folders daily).
Paulla Fetzek, MSEdNovember 29,2022 at 2:22PM UTC
Sorry to hear this and it's frustrating. Another factor is the fact that some people/spam programs believe accounts Google, Yahoo, or Hotmail are "generic" - and will flag this as spam. Versus, an email from, say, Comcast, Verizon, or SBC Global.
I have an AOL email (which is now free by the way) whenever this happens. But 99% of the time I use my standard yahoo email (which I've had since 1998!) and it works ok.
AnonymousNovember 29,2022 at 5:40PM UTC
Thank you as I was worried that I'm missing out on more opportunities than is being conveyed. It might be time to switch to a different domain if the problems persists.