REASON: There are many ways to address someone: first name, nick name, Mr./Mrs./Ms./ Dr. with last name, Sr. / Ma’am, etc. What someone wants to be called can depend on culture, background, and preferences. Rather than put the candidate in the position of guessing and having to be corrected – let them know up front how to address you. The simple “please call me…” will put the candidate at ease and give them a sense of familiarity. Even better, return the favor and ask them how they would like to be addressed, which shows respect and interest. As a bonus, by establishing this up front, neither you or the candidate will run the risk of mispronouncing names, inadvertently coming across as too formal, informal, or disrespectful, or assuming the wrong pronoun.
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