Initially, emojis were developed as symbolic representations of human emotions. From love to hatred, users can find an expression for any feeling. Emojis also substitute body language and voice. These tiny cute faces have become an integral part of our life, but the question is whether it is appropriate to use them in work communications. Earlier, it was unacceptable to insert emojis in formal texts, but things are changing.
How Does One’s Age Impact the Usage of Emojis?
Researchers at the University of Amsterdam discovered that using emojis at work makes employees less productive and appear less intelligent. If you pay for professional writing services, you may notice that they never insert emojis into their documents. Academic and scientific writing does not allow those symbols.
Career Resumes would never use emojis in a resume or cover letter.
Another study was done for users of SurveyMonkey. They had to pass a short poll, displaying their attitude towards emojis and stickers. More than 500 office workers took part in the survey. So, can emojis lead to positive results at work?
An even split is a result. That is because of the difference in ages. While older generations do not use emojis, Gen-Z and millennials cannot imagine their life without these cuties. Forty-six percent of young adolescents support the idea of using emojis at work.
They say:
- Emojis make complicated tasks look simpler;
- Thanks to the funny faces, the process of work looks more fun and even attractive;
- They create a friendlier atmosphere and make everyone feel like buddies;
- They do not impact productivity.
However, not everyone knows how to apply smilies correctly. If you turn to experts from sites like BestCustomWriting.com, they can explain when it is the right time to use emojis.
Employees aged 45 and older have a different opinion. Only 14% support the idea of using smiles for communication in the workplace. The rest of the older respondents say that:
- Emojis don’t correspond to the image of a specialist;
- They are highly unprofessional;
- Other communication methods might be much more effective.
This group believes that work is not fun.
Benefits of Using Emojis in Work Communication
It’s hard to deny that an emoji can save plenty of time and characters. Let’s have a closer look at some obvious advantages.
It’s all about honesty.
Emojis assist you with getting closer to your mates and clients as they reflect your sincere emotions. Customers tend to trust support agents that do not act like robots. They want to be treated as special so that emojis may help.
Personalized approach.
It’s necessary to add a personal touch to communicate with every client. Emojis work best for people under 40. They are acquainted with them, and some use them in almost every message. It’s great to speak the same language as your customer. Moreover, it can be one of the ways to find common speech with the potential employer. You may attract new clients and build on relationships with the older ones – it’s just important to pick the right emoji as the wrong one may ruin the image.
Highlight significant parts.
Emojis are meant to grab the attention of both your colleagues and clients. If you wish to make some parts of your text stand out, you may either use bold or italics or emojis. The last option catches an eye best of all. By emphasizing the vital message this way, you may enhance your brand image. Some companies even add smilies to their logos, mottos, etc.
Verdict on Emojis
There is no single answer. Emojis may help or ruin your career – it depends on how and when you use them. Thus, think carefully when these symbols are appropriate.
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About the Author: Jane Travis, HR specialist, and blogger
“HR manager with vast blogging experience. Jane has been sharing the best recruiting and retention practices for years. She is willing to share hints that assisted her at different career stages.”
