Write an Email: Greeting and Introduction

In this video, you will write the first part of an email asking someone to be your reference.

You will write a greeting and introduction to the email.

Although you may want to ask someone about a reference in person, it’s not always possible to do so.

In that case, you can communicate your request in an email.

Even if you are able to speak with someone in person, it's helpful to follow up with an email to remind them about your request.

They may be very busy and will appreciate the reminder.

Your email should be polite, concise, and suited to your audience.

Use complete sentences, proper grammar, and correct spelling to give your message a professional tone.

To begin, open your Gmail account and compose a new email.

Enter the email address of your reference in the “To” field.

You can copy and paste the address from the table you created.

Add a subject line.

The subject line communica tes the main point or purpose of your message.

Begin your message with a greeting.

The greeting you choose should fit the person you are addressing.

Using a formal title like Ms., Mr., Doctor, or Coach shows respect for the person you are writing to.

Next, introduce yourself by reminding your reference of your relationship to them.

For example, they may have been your teacher, employer or coach.

You may not communicate with your reference regularly, or they may supervise a large number of students or employees.

Your reminder will help them recall your connection to them.

Then, share why you are reaching out to that person.

Maybe they inspired or mentored you, or helped you in some other way.

Now that you’ve introduced yourself and reminded your reference of your connection to them, move on to the next video to complete your email.

Now, it’s your turn: Open a new email, Add a recipient and subject, And write a greeting and introduction.