Teach your kids to apply for a job - now already
Teach your kids how to apply for a job - now already
I almost …. I was at a loss of words, in awe, amazed, amused and not in a good way.
Today I got this application letter from a postgraduate university student , in the Western Cape who just completed his studies and practical year .: 5 years post matric.
“Hi Guys
My Name is ...
I am a ... Graduate from the ... and i am currently doing my internship with ...
I am sending this email as to find out if their is any chance that you could have a look at my CV and if you could let me know if their is any chance that you might have space for one more …
I think i can add some value to … help the practice grow as i am gaining valueble experience in my internship year and i am very goal driven and motivated! All i need is an opportunity.
Please have a look at my CV and get back to me i will really appreciate it
Stay Blessed”
Being the person that I am my first thoughts were
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WOW- this guy really cannot spell - his attention to detail must be very low on the priority list.
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I’m a casual person but I don’t think too many professional females would like to be informally called “Hi Guys”. It does not look like there was any research done as to where he was applying, who is in charge and secondly one would expect a more formal greeting for a professional career application. So my thoughts were that he won't act professionally around my clients either.
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I didn't open his CV (Obviously).
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I thought about the “Starfish” principle and decided to reply to him…
My email: (this was sent after hours around 6.20pm)
“Dear ...
Please use spell and grammar check before you send out an application as it speaks louder than your CV.”
His reply: 6.28pm
If you could please point out where I have made these Spelling Errors?
…..
His second email 6.35pm
“As i thought “
As this was not a WhatsApp or Skype chat with a friend of mine I was not watching my phone like a hawk waiting for him to come back to me -ever- the case written off in my mind. And then when I returned to my phone at 7 pm I got an “As I thought”.
I could not actually believe that I was reading this email and that I went through the trouble of trying to advise/help/inform him in the first place. I thought about ignoring it but then the motherly instinct to “help” kicked in again and I replied:
“i = I
their = there
valueble = valuable
I’ll send you my account :)”
(yes with a smiley face)
and got this reply:
“You weird...
….
You seem Like a very hostile human being, Cheer up, its almost the weekend
Have a good week and God Bless your sole “
My soles so blessed that I feel like using them to do tramp dancing! (Yes, I wasn't writing him a love letter and my responses to the point ...but is that the point?)
All call- All Call! Parents- please teach your kids to read and write… and some basic tact would go a long way. I stand amazed that this guy has gone through school, university an honors degree as well as an internship and either no one helped him with writing a cover letter or he did not bother listening to the advice. Either way, with job security being at a low I asked some Mommy Mallers for advice on who can help kids with CV writing, reading, vocabulary and more. Being able to write and act politely may seem old school but it still goes a long way and may determine which side of the statistics our kids end up on.
Here is an unpaid link to raising little readers and
Kathy who can assist with CV cover letter writing- I will add more in the future.
Regards
QueenBee
ps- Parents in professional occupations - what would your reaction to the cover letter be? In comments please..
Kathy from Learning Kat Remedial - https://www.facebook.com/LearningKatRemedial
