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August 01, 2006
A Tale of Two Emails
Sigh--I spend an awful lot of my time these days helping people out with getting into The Big Idea Industry. Contrary to what my bank account says, it is an exceedingly popular career path--and I meet at least once or twice a week with prospective entrants to the field.
Up until now I've approached the whole thing as a "pay it forward" initiative. I help scores of young (and not so young) people who ultimately want to have my job, and, in return, I build up local credibility and get to keep an eye on the competition.
On the other hand, it's exhausting work--and time that might be better spend actually looking for paid work rather than giving advice to others about how to look for the abovementioned paid work. And sometimes it's downright ridiculous. Here's an example:
Email I got this morning (verbatim, except where indicated by brackets--misspelled words and other problems also noted in bold):
***
From: XXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 11:23 AM
To: XXXXXXXXX
Subject: inernship
To whom it may concern
I read your website and am particularly interested in learning more about Corporare Security Consulting.
I have 4 years of work expereince in [The Big Idea Industry], working with leading consulting firms in developing markets and am applying for an internship.
Please see attached my resume.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
[Careless Person]
***
Now, I get at least a handful of these (and probably a dozen) every week--some poor student who wants an internship, or someone who has just finished their MBA and is looking for work. But it's never been quite this bad. At first I chalked it up to English-as-a-second-language issues, and so I replied:
***
Dear [Careless Person],
Thanks for your interest in [The Big Idea]. Unfortunately, I don't believe that you are a good fit with our organization. If I may offer a suggestion, I would recommend proof-reading your emails before sending them. We not a "Corporate Security Consulting" firm, and there are several spelling errors in your message.
Best wishes,
Ms. Write Again Soon
***
To the point, right? And yet, still kind. But does Careless Person let it drop? Oh no. Several hours later I get THIS response (again, verbatim except for the brackets and "bolded" errors):
***
Dear [Misspelled First Name],
Sorry for the errors. The mail was meant for another organization. However I had checked your website and thought that given my educational background and professional work experience as well as my keen interest in [The Big Idea Industry] and [Related Industry], my profile would match. Its unfortunate that you think otherwise. In future I shall keep your advise in mind. In case you can advise me about another organization where I might be a good fight I would be most grateful.
Thanking you,
Careless-and-Now-Downright-Irritating Person
***
Dude, spell my name correctly. And--even excusing the tricky English grammar (who among us hasn't screwed up the its/it's distinction), "a good fight"? Really now. So I replied:
***
Dear [Careless-and-Now-Downright-Irritating Person],
Thanks for your reply. It’s true that your background and interest are a good fit with [The Big Idea Industry] and [Related Industry] work—however, I remain concerned about your basic writing skills. Your reply below has several grammatical and spelling errors ([Misspelled Name], its/it’s, advise/advice, fight/fit), and attention to details like these are essential for demonstrating competency. No matter how experienced you are in [The Big Idea Industry], strong written English is a prerequisite for working with us—and I would suppose most other organizations. I highly recommend that you carefully proofread all emails search before sending them out.
Best wishes,
Ms. Write Again Soon
***
Sigh--we'll see if I get a further response. On the other hand, after meeting with another "pay it forward" guy this evening, I got this message:
***
Ms. [Write Again Soon],
I will take but a moment of your time to say thank you for meeting me last night. You are dynamite, and I left being ultra-refreshed on marketing oneself. I will go forward using EVERYTHING I can remember from our meeting.
You ROCK!!
Sincerely,
[Guy Who Gets It]
***
Now that's what I like to hear.
Comments
Ultra-refreshed?!? I will have to use that one in the future.
You were entirely professional and reasonable with that careless person. You Do Rock!
Posted by: La at August 2, 2006 06:53 AM
Tee hee. Not bitchy at all. Or, at least not overly bitchy. Then again, you are a bit of a hawk about grammar. Sometimes I'm a bit scared to post, just because I always get something wrong. :) As long as you recognize that we are all prone to small mishaps ['We not a "Corporate Security Consulting" firm'], then you were absolutely correct pointing out the severe problems in that person's messages.
And for the record, some time recently I completely went stupid on it's/its. When I type, I only ever type "its" for some unknown reason (started a few months ago), and MS Word has practically bitch-slapped me because of it. I must have hit my head and lost that part of my language knowledge. *sigh*
Posted by: Mr. Bad Apologies at August 2, 2006 11:57 AM
It is my dream to start a Red Pen Society where grammar-minded individuals are armed with Red Sharpies to correct all glaring errors - such as "Watermelon's" signs in the grocery store. Not unforgiving, since we all mind you, but with the idea of improving grammar for all.
Posted by: Elizabeth at August 2, 2006 12:21 PM
I feel it my duty as a regular WAS reader to point out the following errors in your emails to [Careless Person]: first, in: "We not a "Corporate Security Consulting" firm, and there are several spelling errors in your message," you missed the 'are' after 'we;' and second, in: "I highly recommend that you carefully proofread all emails search before sending them out," it looks like you have left 'search' after 'emails,' I'm guessing after doing some editing.
I very much appreciate your grammar pickiness (sp?) - it's a habit I, myself, picked up in high school. My personal vendetta is against those who do not double-space after a period.
I think it is deliciously ironic that there were errors in your responses, and that [Careless Person] would likely not even notice. It will be even more ironic if I have errors in this post, which is made all the more likely by Murphy's Law.
Posted by: Michelle at August 3, 2006 08:14 AM
Hee hee, it is indeed a delicious irony to have errors in my emails correcting someone else's errors.
My favorite part is that since I am the bigwig of the "Corporare Security Consulting" company I could spell every single word wrong and STILL have the leverage. After many, many years of the roles being reversed, I appreciate the power shift.
Posted by: Ms. Write Again Soon at August 3, 2006 10:09 PM
