Hi, 'Potential Employer'-
I saw ur Asst. position available in The Boston Globe & wanted 2 let u know that i am def. interested in applying!! :) I would luv 2 send u my resume & cover letter… & am ready 2 come in 4 an interview asap. I have included my contact info. below. Plz let me know if u have ne questions.
-Thanx!
Jane Doe
janieloveseverybody@zoobuh.com

Can anyone spot something wrong (to say the least) about the pre-cover-letter email above? Or rather, spot the multiple errors? And no, this isn’t a photo-hunt game, no prizes… my apologies. If you were in the shoes of Mr./Mrs. 'Potential Employer' up there, would you ever in a million years hire this gal, Jane Doe? I think not. And unfortunately, it may not be because she lacks the smarts, ambition, or enthusiasm for her future role in the workplace – but more likely because she has been caught in the evil web of CASUAL communication. And oh how sticky it can be!

This problem seems to exist because of some of the many wonderful (?) advances in technology that we enjoy today: emails, text messages, and online social “networking” sites – such as Facebook and MySpace (it’s a hard-knock life, Gen Y). The problem also seems to exist because of pure laziness on behalf of the students and candidates applying… and quite simply, bad manners.

Sarah E. Needleman, of The Wall Street Journal discusses these exact issues in her article: Thx for the IView! I Wud ♥ to Work 4 U!! ;).

She reports how:

"An increasing number of job hunters are just too casual when it comes to communicating about career opportunities in cyberspace and on mobile devices. Thank yous on paper aren't necessary, but some applicants are writing emails that contain shorthand language and decorative symbols, while others are sending hasty and poorly thought-out messages to and from mobile devices. Incidents typically involve college students and recent graduates, and recruiters say such faux pas can be instant candidacy killers because they hint at immaturity and questionable judgment."

Nancy R. Mitchell, founder of The Etiquette Advocate lists twelve practical steps to follow for EZ Email Etiquette – part of her bi-weekly column on our website.

So I beg you, please put down your cell phones, close out any websites other than your email service and the one of the company that you are applying to (for research purposes), and write a complete sentence for crying out loud. Remember, you are not writing to your “BFF”, you are writing to your potential employer (if you keep your game-face on). *wink*

And call me old-fashioned, but am I the only one who sends hand-written thank you notes anymore? Perhaps that’s a question for another day.

Photo by: eron_gpsfs