As a PhD student, my supervisor never answered my emails.

Then I became a PhD supervisor and realised why

A thread🧵 of my mistakes and how to avoid them
🔹Not being specific

Many of my emails didn't clearly state what I wanted my supervisor to do or the timeline. So he assumed the email was an FYI.

Now I use actionable email subjects
❌"Re: Revised grant"

✅ "Re: Revised grant: approve by COB"

🔹No context

My emails assumed my supervisor remembered all my project details. He didn't, leading to mamy back & forths

Now I give enough context to remind of the last interaction
❌Revised grant attached

✅ Revised grant attached with your feedback from the meeting
🔹TMI

I often wrote long emails and so my supervisor either wasted time reading unnecessary details or skimmed and missed the point.

Now I edit emails ruthlessly.
The shorter, the better
❌"Sorry for the long email"

✅<edited to be a short email>
🔹Not following up

I didn't realise my supervisor recieved 50+ emails a day and therefore emails could be unopened or unanswered for days

Now I send reminders to ensure emails return to the top of the inbox
❌<no action>

✅Re: Revised grant (gentle reminder from Mon)

TL/DR

Email mistakes of PhD students

1. Not specifying what you need
2. Not providing adequate context
3. Not being concise
4. Not following up