An Actual Email conversation with a Job Applicant

I received a resume that listed the following as experience. (The Bold for emphasis is my own)

SKILLS:_** Computer:* Microsoft
Word, Power point, Excel, Outlook,

Database Systems,
Internet applications and QuickBooks
Other: *5+ years of
professional office experience


· Self Motivated
· Committed to performing quality work
· Strong initiative, Quick learner

*_EXPERIENCE: _** *_New York City-Broad of Education _

Click to expand...

The resume looked ok but she wasnt what I wanted. Regardless I felt it would help her if I told her about the typo but I didnt want to insult her so I hinted at the typo as follows:

Hi:
Some constructive comments on your resume.
You might want to change your first Job Listing.
Sincerely,
HR.

Her response to me was:

Hi. I really don't think there is any problem with my first job
listing!!!
At least it is the honest (TRUTH!!!). How many applicants do you know
that can say that!!!

Click to expand...

Seeing that my hints at her typo were not sufficient, I emailed her the following:

You were with the Broad of Education?

Her response?

Yes! As stated on my resume. The reason why my employment ended there was due to the fact that the assignment was over. They hired alot of temps in the beginging of the school year, anticipating that the phones were going to be ringing off the hook with concerned parent about their children being picked up on time.

Once the children settled in, there was not need for that many reps to work the phones.

Click to expand...

Finally, I realized that it wasnt a typo. Just good old fashion Ignorance...My response:

"The word is BOARD, not BROAD. BROAD is a derogatory term for WOMAN."

I haven't heard from her yet.

anybody who types "!!!" in professional correspondence (especially at the end of a question) should not only not be hired, but should actually be fired from their current job.

Originally Posted by Joel_Cairo

Click to expand...

anybody who types "!!!" in professional correspondence (especially at the end of a question) should not only not be hired, but should actually be fired from their current job.



I blame public education...and text messaging. Due u? I R write on dis.

The grammar issues don't bother me all that much.. The position was a menial one
(Pulling merchandise for web order fulfillment).

I can look away from sentences like this which dont make sense unless you include the word truth which is excluded form the original sentence by use of the parenthesis.

At least it is the honest (TRUTH!!!). How many applicants do you know
that can say that!!!

Click to expand...

But the word Broad for Board? C'mon.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Click to expand...

Due u? I R write on dis.

tru tru

Sure there was an error in spelling and she is obviously pretty green, however I think your responses were very unprofessional. One email pointing out that she wasn't a suitable applicant and letting her know her error would have been more than sufficient. You just come over a little petty and pedantic..

You work in HR and you wrote

Originally Posted by FIHTies

Click to expand...

The word is BOARD, not BROAD. BROAD is a derogatory term for WOMAN.
??

Are you serious? That's really unprofessional.

Sure, she is dumb for not double-checking her resume for typos but you played yourself like a chump when you didn't just tell her why she should "change her first job listing" in the first place, like it's some kind of game.

Was her name Audrey by any chance?

Originally Posted by j

Click to expand...

Was her name Audrey by any chance?

Since people generally only look at the first and last letter of a word to determine its meaning, (especially when they are reading over something that they've already written and believe they know the meaning of) it's understandable that she could scan over this word and not see the typo. It wouldn't come up in spell check either, which is what she's probably keyed into to notice spelling errors. I don't think you can jump to the conclusion that she doesn't know the difference between board and broad.

Originally Posted by lithium180

Click to expand...

Since people generally only look at the first and last letter of a word to determine its meaning, (especially when they are reading over something that they've already written and believe they know the meaning of) it's understandable that she could scan over this word and not see the typo. It wouldn't come up in spell check either, which is what she's probably keyed into to notice spelling errors. I don't think you can jump to the conclusion that she doesn't know the difference between board and broad.

No, but you can jump to the conclusion that she doesn't pay attention to detail, most likely a deterrent to not hire someone.

Typical dumb board.

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Click to expand...

No, but you can jump to the conclusion that she doesn't pay attention to detail, most likely a deterrent to not hire someone.
I have been working part-time for a publisher for years. I supervise a collection, but I also help with some of the actual finishing job (small publisher, everybody lends a hand).

Anyway, over the years, I have had to read many manuscripts for typo and spelling, among other problems. Those are texts written by professors and brilliant people. They have been checked already once or twice by the guy editing the book. And yet you would not believe how many mistakes I still find. Worse, I have no doubt there are quite a few left after I have read it.

I can tell you I am never criticizing somebody for bad spell checking again.

oh god that exchange was painful

Originally Posted by m_wave

Click to expand...

Sure there was an error in spelling and she is obviously pretty green, however I think your responses were very unprofessional. One email pointing out that she wasn't a suitable applicant and letting her know her error would have been more than sufficient. You just come over a little petty and pedantic..

Originally Posted by yerfdog

Click to expand...

You work in HR and you wrote ?? Are you serious? That's really unprofessional. Sure, she is dumb for not double-checking her resume for typos but you played yourself like a chump when you didn't just tell her why she should "change her first job listing" in the first place, like it's some kind of game.
Of course, I knew it was my fault which is why I posted this here. I was wondering if you could see it too. Next time something like this comes along I will be sure to tell them right off that they are imbeciles. Its interesting because I have never hired anyone based on a resume alone, but the one possible foot in the door, the one thing that I have to judge you by is your resume. It should be checked over 5 times and then given to someone to proof as well, because a resume isn't a reason to hire someone but it is a reason to reject someone.