How not to get a job.

[woodwardo]

Ok so after posting my help wanted ad in the loacal paper, I've gotten quite a few resumes and some good and some really really bad.

I shouldn't have done anything but I couldn't resist. Here's the story...

I post a help wanted ad for a graphic designer for a small advertising agency.

I get a CD from (well I'll call him) "Larry" -
It's addressed to a Ms. Wilson (not to me - Woody) and is for a Marketing/Communications position at a food company. He goes on in the cover letter telling me how food is one of his "three biggest passions" along with marketing and design.

So to be nice (along with the fact that it was a really slow morning) I send him a heads up email:

Hi Larry,
The resume and cover letter you sent to me looks to be for Marketing and Communication Manager position with a Ms. Wilson at XXXX XXXXX Foods. The graphic design position we are hiring for requires attention to detail and a mistake like sending the wrong file can be detrimental. Therefor you will not be considered for the graphic designer position.
Best of luck,

Woody

Ok that wasn't too harsh.. or was it?
He replies:

Thanks for the e-mail Woody.* Sorry about the mix up I was running out of the house to the hospital. Your comments are a* little harsh man. If circumstances such as this provide you with such drastic problems I am glad to not be considered. Again thanks for your time.*

Larry

Oh so I guess sending the wrong file should be totally acceptable, what have I been thinking? You mean I could have been just sending my printers & clients any old file this whole time?

Amazed, I replied again:

Larry,
Sorry if I came off a little harsh, that was not my intention. My intention was to inform you of your mistake and in the event that you haven't yet sent Ms. Wilson's CD - maybe you could double check that one to ensure it was the correct file. I'm sure you can understand how sending the wrong file when pushing an extremely tight deadline CAN be a very drastic problem. If not, then again, you are not the right person for the job.

Woody

And that kids, is exactly what not to do when persuing your next job. Heck I bet if the guy would have been a little appologetic and resolved the problem with a great explanation I would've had him in for an interview. Well maybe not...

[morea]

yikes. Thank goodness you found out early. Sometimes those attitudes don't come out until after someone is hired - and then it can be all you can do to get rid of them!

[woodwardo]

So you don't think I was being a jerk?
My g/f said it was mean.
:(

[Kool]

LMAO that's pretty funny. :D

[greyghost]

No, I don't think it was harsh at all. You want a job? Cross your t's and dot your i's. Don't make big mistakes like that.

[woodwardo]

And finally he agrees....
So I did good I guess. I think I'll stop now.

Woody,
Thanks again for your reply, and yes I do understand the consequences of sending the wrong file. I have been doing freelance design for awhile now. Your e-mail did make me double check, and thankfully the right copy went to Ms. Wilson. Good luck finding someone. I'm sure in these times it won't be too difficult. Thanks again.

-Larry

[Keyare]

lol

[morea]

no, I don't think it was mean. Especially if he has worked freelance - you get a LOT worse than that from clients!

[Patrick Shannon]

Ooooh ooooh, I have one.

Here is something sent by someone applying for my position (copied and pasted)....

"Hi Kwick kopy
This is ***********
I just talked on the phone
I am a graphic designer freelance for a graphic company
here is my cover letter, resume and portfolio in PDF format
hope to receve from you a call"

Charming. Something else I've noticed that people do is use OBVIOUS cover letter "templates." On one of the emails, the template areas contained those "quote lines" that appear on a forwarded email. Also, one of the lines said something to the effect of "myself combined with the creative vision of Kwik Kopy Printing." Creative vision here is typesetting business cards and using clipart.

[Kool]

LMAO, good one Patrick.

My favorite was when a potential candidate faxed me their resume and it was done with reverse white type on a black background. I couldn't read a word, total mess. I couldn't even make out the persons name & number to call them and tell them it was no good.

[Eraser Nubbin]

I don't think that was harsh at all, I think that you did the guy a favour. He probably got a little defensive because he got caught with his pants down on this one.

[defjoe]

I blame this on the "it's owed to me" attitude of our younger humans. the spoiled attittude and then they called call out on something they get all defensive cause they don't know how to deal with a little hard ship.

[wienerdog]

Man, that's hillarious. You'd think he'd been appreciative of you pointing out he sent the resume to the wrong person. I'd have been shocked someone even took the time to tell me, instead of just tossing it away.

[benjo]

I think you were a little harsh. A simple heads up you F'ed up would have been fine but you took the time out to insult him on not getting the position.

But to each his own.

[woodwardo]

Ok. But I really didn't mean to insult him. Well I guess I sort of did after he started spraying about how he didn't want the job if it meant sending out the right file...

[Patrick Shannon]

My opinion is that perhaps "maybe" it was a bit harsh. However, that doesn't mean I think it was inappropriate. This was something he needed to hear, and you have taught him a great lesson.

[reuber1]

If I had been that careless I would expect the same sort of feedback...I don't care if it's harsh or not, I would rather hear the truth instead of the good ol' ambiguous "We appreciate your interest...We regret to inform you however" form letter. Seriously, I want the person looking at my resume/CL/portfolio to tell me the truth.

[jhenn]

I cringed reading these posts! Do any of the involved parties know how to construct a complete sentence properly? I thought I had gained access to a site full of grade school students, but then I realized that it was actually for adults! Hey Woodwardo, your sentence structure is horrid! How do you get along in the work world with those types of glaring, blatant grammatical errors in your writing? No wonder this country is going to hell in a hand basket. The general population is illiterate!

[PrintDriver]

Hey Jhenn-
If you are looking for correct grammar, go to an English major site. Forums aren't for grammar. They are for posting. Usually quickly so the boss doesn't catch you.

What is it with the trolls tonight?

[brendanwor]

Yes, you were being harsh. Did you not notice where he said he was rushing to the hospital? Now, obviously we don't know the exact circumstances, but how would you feel if you were chastised for making a mistake while in the process of rushing out to the hospital because your wife's giving birth, or your brother has been hit by a car, or your mother's had a heart attack etc.? Food for thought.

[Kool]

I cringed reading these posts! Do any of the involved parties know how to construct a complete sentence properly? I thought I had gained access to a site full of grade school students, but then I realized that it was actually for adults! Hey Woodwardo, your sentence structure is horrid! How do you get along in the work world with those types of glaring, blatant grammatical errors in your writing? No wonder this country is going to hell in a hand basket. The general population is illiterate!

First find a well established web forum, then dig up an old thread and on your very first post insult everybody who has posted in it. Pretty trollish behavior if you ask me. Take a look at our code of conduct jhenn if you wish to continue as a member here. Or if you are just trolling, continue in your current vein and we will be happy to show you the door.

Your friendly moderator,
Kool :cool:

[D-Zine]

LOL! Jhenn your post actually made me laugh..and then mumble a little. When you type to people or efriends or whatever - who usues correct grammer? and if you do..how boring I say! When I type...I type like I speak in any normal anyday conversation (with an accent). I'm from the south...so when I type "you're" I type it as "yer". Does that make me illiterate? Umm..no. Thanks for assuming right when you walk through our door. I just like to type with as much as my accent as possible so people get a closer glimps into me. If you don't like us - there are many, many other graphic design forums on the web for you to visit. They just aren't ranked #1 like we are...sorry. We got here somehow. Must me all the illiteracy *shrug*

[Neuro]

Jhenn - Grow up! You aren't going to make any friends that way. Geeze!

[morea]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! <whew>

Wow, way to be judgemental. :rolleyes:

[morea]

Yes, you were being harsh. Did you not notice where he said he was rushing to the hospital? Now, obviously we don't know the exact circumstances, but how would you feel if you were chastised for making a mistake while in the process of rushing out to the hospital because your wife's giving birth, or your brother has been hit by a car, or your mother's had a heart attack etc.? Food for thought.

If YOUR wife were giving birth (or you had some other kind of emergency) would you take the time to email a potential employer before going to the hospital?

Honestly.

[PrintDriver]

Lmfao!

[reuber1]

Is it improper sentence grammar, or does someone simply possess the cranial fortitude of a lobotomy patient to not understand what people are saying through their typed comments on a forum? Did you think we were a bunch of big-wigs posting on a "publicly accessable corporate intranet", and amazed to see that we weren't typing our comments with precise punctuation and error free?

Excuse us all to hell for offending "the" authority of Internet grammar; next time we'll keep it nice and concise and at tenth grade level for you to follow.

[JaCkinbOx]

I thought it was a little harsh coming from both parties in the exchange. The applicant's defensive response wasn't necessary, but neither was the antagonizing lecture about sending the wrong file. That stinks of a power trip, and I would be weary of employers displaying signs of a superiority complex. I would've kept my opinions to myself (as the applicant) and see how it plays out.

Personally, I would excuse the mistake but take it into account as a possible sign of future performance. Assuming that his resumé/portfolio is redeeming, that is. Odds are, he wouldn't have as much to offer as other applicants. Then again, he might've turned out to be the best choice in spite of the error.

Is there a Ms. Wilson in your company, or is she addressed only within the cover letter? You lost me on that part.

[PrintDriver]

That kind of boner wouldn't even get you a call, perfect portfolio or not.
Attention to detail matters and while mistakes can and do happen, there are times when you should be extra careful they don't. This is one of them. With the sheer numbers of designers out there, just the possibility this is a sign of future performance knocks you out of the running.

I've, on occasion, written back to students who send me an email resume if something wasn't quite up to snuff. They've always been appreciative. Or at least polite.

[Ailev]

Thanks for the e-mail Woody.* Sorry about the mix up I was running out of the house to the hospital. Your comments are a* little harsh man. If circumstances such as this provide you with such drastic problems I am glad to not be considered. Again thanks for your time.*

Larry

I think that it was Larry's attitude that really screwed him. Because if he had been appreciative of the fact that you took the time to email him and let him know about his mistake then who knows you may have even called him back for an interview. What I think he should have done is sent you the right resume and apologised and then he would have redeemed himself (even if it was just by 10%)! I don't know if I completely believe that he was rushing to the hospital either, if he was then I think he would have been less defensive.

[Ailev]

jhenn are you Larry?

[reuber1]

jhenn are you Larry?

I was wondering that myself.