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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ditch the lot of them!

50 replies

kenobi · 14/12/2010 14:54

I am currently wading my way through 180 applications for a job at my company. Have ditched ones with spelling mistakes (it's for a proof reader) and lack of experience.

AIBU to ditch the ones that say 'I know my talents will be a great asset at your company'? It makes me want to wag a finger at them and say "I'LL be the judge of that, young lady/man!"
And also all the ones which tell me how much this job will help THEIR career, as in 'This role will be the perfect opportunity to enhance my subbing skills.'

Or am I being an old misery guts?

OP posts:
minibmw2010 · 14/12/2010 14:56

Nope, if you have to wade through that many, the first to go after spelling mistakes has to be grammer surely?

bubbleOseven · 14/12/2010 14:57

YABU and an old misery guts.

Cyclebump · 14/12/2010 14:58

I work in a similar industry and a lot of graduates are told to put that kind of guff on their applications to 'show confidence in themselves'. Sigh. Pity it just makes them look nobular.

FullaDoll · 14/12/2010 14:58

I am looking for a proof reading job! I used to work in medical publishing and my editing skills are fantastic. I would be asset to your company, unfortunately I live in Dubai...

And no, YANBU.

OTheHugeManatee · 14/12/2010 14:59

Oh god, I sent off a proofreader job application with a typo in it once. I still blush at the memory.

I think you should ditch any applications that don't come with a video, like this

MardyQuickFollowThatStar · 14/12/2010 15:03

They've been watching The Apprentice too much.

YANBU over the spelling mistakes. If it's a borderline decision, maybe let a bit of nobbery through - you can always knock that out of them when they're working for you.

Sarsaparilllla · 14/12/2010 15:05

YANBU, people should make more of an effort if they really expect to get an interview, I'd ditch anything with a spelling/grammar mistake in straight off

TheCrackFox · 14/12/2010 15:07

Are there really spelling mistakes? For a job as a proof reader?

Original poster
kenobi · 14/12/2010 15:09

Cyclebump - it's so prevalent I was beginning to wonder if there was something like that going on...

So Fulladoll where do you see yourself in five years time?

OManatee Yes, I did the same a while back - in the very first line of my cover letter. 'Four year's experience' not four years' experience'. Still makes me writhe.

PMSL over that video. Ooooh I would have called him in for an interview just to see the whites of his eyes!

bubble0seven - I wag my special waggy finger at you tooooo!

OP posts:
BaronessBomburst · 14/12/2010 15:11

When asked my motivation for applying for a job recently, I wrote 'because I have a mortgage to pay.' I got the interview but then it turned out they were only hiring people under 25. I'm nearly 39 FFS! I was quite annoyed with them for wasting my time and petrol.

YANBU. You've got to whittle them down somehow.

DaemonBarber · 14/12/2010 15:11

Shuffle them together them throw half of them in the bin...

You don't want to employ unlucky people, do you?

Original poster
kenobi · 14/12/2010 15:15

The Crack Fox A bunch of Americanisms ('specialties' and 'gotten') and grocers apostrophes mostly ('see the URL's at the top of the page') but still not good enough.

DaemonBarber - Grin

How about this one - barking or cute?
"I saw your ad on xxxx this afternoon and had to rub my eyes to check that what I was seeing was real - your vacancy is my dream job.'

OP posts:
motherinferior · 14/12/2010 15:15

God no.

I always used to ditch the ones who informed me they had 'superb communication skills'. Anyone who puts it like that hasn't, IMO. Dreadful clunky phrase. And I was in charge Grin

RJRabbit · 14/12/2010 15:21

Baroness - what special reason did this employer have for ignoring the laws on ageism?

Yulephemia · 14/12/2010 15:22

Who the heck is allowed to only hire people under 25 these days? Xmas Shock

I would not reject an application out of hand if the applicant went on to say how their talents would be an asset to my company, but if it's just a glib statement I would bin them.

harassedinhertinselpants · 14/12/2010 15:23

"How about this one - barking or cute?
"I saw your ad on xxxx this afternoon and had to rub my eyes to check that what I was seeing was real - your vacancy is my dream job.'"

Barking!!

I have to do similar and trawl the piles of application forms from time to time, it makes me want to cry. Mostly is for skilled jobs in our factory (welder, wire-person or similar) but the level of spelling and some of the handwriting is dire!

Proof reading would be my dream job

Original poster
kenobi · 14/12/2010 15:23

Oh god - this one's put her dates as 'June 2009 2 Dec 2010'. And little hearts as bullet points...

Rabbit - very good point - what was going on with those fools, Baroness?

OP posts:
Cyclebump · 14/12/2010 15:25

Oooh, it's always worth looking for those 'hoping it will lead to a career in writing'. Generally, this means they have failed to get a writing job and are using a proofreading job as a stop gap.

Yulephemia · 14/12/2010 15:25

lol @ my dream job - do they really imagine that anyone would want a wanker like that working with them?

MadamDeathstare · 14/12/2010 15:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
kenobi · 14/12/2010 15:31

Harrassed It's a tourism mag so the job also involves travel writing and reviews of museums/galleries/restaurants etc Wink.

Deathstare - Classic!

Actually, don't tell MN towers as I can't afford the media fees, but I need a couple of families with kids between the ages of 4-12 to do reviews of London stuff for our kids' issue (my DD is a baby so she's no use). Any of you fancy doing something? It'd be things like going to the theatre or the Tower of London for free and writing about it. A degree of literacy and writing ability is required, as well as trust in your DCs to not go bonkers, but that's it... PMing me would probably be best.

OP posts:
clairefromsteps · 14/12/2010 15:36

DaemonBarber - you sound like my DH's old boss. Just got all the applications in a big pile and chucked 90% of them in the bin.

DH was one of the 'lucky' ones (inverted commas because the boss turned out to be a collossal knobcheese).

DaemonBarber · 14/12/2010 15:42

collossal knobcheese

Yep, sounds like me ;)

Original poster
kenobi · 14/12/2010 15:46

The mental image of 'colossal knobcheese' is making me shudder...

Cyclebump - we actually had someone interview with us for a listings editor job and ask if she would be able to do feature writing instead as 'she was more interested in that.'
Love, don't waste my time and yours.

OP posts:
BlackBag · 14/12/2010 15:52

My friend had on his CV

'I enjoy playing badminton weakly.'

Not quite the robust, go-getting attitude he was hoping to express.

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