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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how some students expect to get jobs!

135 replies

A1980 · 11/12/2011 20:32

I'm putting my flame resistant jacket on here and my padded jacket (to deal with knives)!

But, following on from the thread about how the "hell" some people get into university and the current employment crisis for young people, most bizarre experience.

I am an associate solicitor as a good well known law firm. Someone I vaguely know (youngster, aged about 20 who lives near me) asked me if they could put me in touch with their friend who is a law student and looking for some experience. I don't mind at all, you have to start somewhere and happily handed over my details with absoultely no promises (as it's not up to me to hire, the decision rests with department heads but I an certainly put in a good word with something to go on). I said to tell his friend that I would need a good CV from him and to know what he's looking for.

What I got baffled me. Bear in mind I am:

  1. A stranger
  2. He knows I am a solicitor
  3. He is looking to gain expereince by getting in contact with me.

I got an email from him. It started "Hi ya Aleson" [I think he meant Alison]. That is already way too informal IMO. Then the body of the email has virtually no puncuation and consists of about 2 sentences even though it's several lines long. It refers to his "mate" giving him my details. Then it goes on to say he has no clue waht area of law I practice in but wants to arrange something with me for experience.

There is absolutely no information whatsoever about him and what he wants. No CV attached. In short sod all about him.

When I used contacts or made enquiries as a student, my emails and letters were as follows:

"Dear Mr / Ms, I was given your details by XYZ regarding the possibility of arranging work experience at your firm. Please find attached my CV for your kind perusal. I am currently a student at XYZ and will graduate in XYZ. I am interested in XYZ areas of law, etc, etc. I have had the following experience: [list it and the dates.] I look forward to hearing from you, Kind regards, XYZ"

The above you can't go wrong with and that's what I would expect.

Please tell me, is this standard these days or AIBU and unkind? I fail to see how his email is meant to impress anyone and have me or anyone else think him serious coontender for experience in a firm of solicitor.

OP posts:
winterfox · 11/12/2011 20:33

er maybe email him that response back rather than post here

winterfox · 11/12/2011 20:34

or i suppose you want to gloat about the yoof of today and how shite they are

HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight · 11/12/2011 20:35

Yes, I would certainly email that back to him!

Very important for him to learn.

Sassee · 11/12/2011 20:36

It's a letter more like yours that got me my training contract. They were like gold dust 9 years ago, I feel for the graduates today but they'll need to up their game!

Tortu · 11/12/2011 20:37

The problem may be with your friend. You don't know what information they gave him or if they even passed on your message correctly.

Sassee · 11/12/2011 20:37

And probably kinder to tell him, perhaps the message wasn't passed on to him.

It will benefit him in the long run, the pain of all those rejection letters still haunts me!

Original poster
A1980 · 11/12/2011 20:39

or i suppose you want to gloat about the yoof of today and how shite they are

Not at all. We taken on work expereince students all the time and there truly are some exceptional candidates who take great care in their search for work. But this one surpised me.

OP posts:
HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight · 11/12/2011 20:39

It's not about slagging off the youth of today, but it's important that they understand how to behave appropriately and professionally. And an email like that is neither appropriate nor professional.

How will they learn if they aren't taught?

LaurieFairyCake · 11/12/2011 20:40

That's a terrible email. I would write back and be very explicit about where he had gone wrong - he might be a bit stung but it will help him.

Original poster
A1980 · 11/12/2011 20:41

It's a letter more like yours that got me my training contract. They were like gold dust 9 years ago, I feel for the graduates today but they'll need to up their game!

I feel for them too. They're are virtually non existent now. It's almost impossible with a 2:2 now.

OP posts:
Marasmeabsolu · 11/12/2011 20:41

oh come on Winterfox!

I do get quite a lot of these emails too - and there are quite a few positions where I am which I cannot fill, because no one decent comes forward.
Whether this is just a general lack of awareness of the need to be professional, or stupidness, who knows...

winterfox · 11/12/2011 20:41

yes of course it's important, hence replying to them via email with all the advice in the op, rather than posting on the entire www for all to see

Original poster
A1980 · 11/12/2011 20:42

The problem may be with your friend. You don't know what information they gave him or if they even passed on your message correctly.

That's beside the point. He was aware that he was contacting a solicitor regarding work experience whatever he was told by his friend. The tone of the email is the problem.

OP posts:
Marasmeabsolu · 11/12/2011 20:43

[ i would say lack of awareness... very little emphasis on professional skills]

oflip · 11/12/2011 20:43

I agree A1980.
The students we have have mobile phones out every 2 minutes, are late, are over familiar and cant be arsed to learn.
Frustrating as this is defo not how i performed in view of the fact that i could have been applying for a job on that dept when qualified...or interviewed by the very staff i was working with.

PastGrace · 11/12/2011 20:43

YANBU about the tone of the email.

YABU to expect him to know which bit of law he wants to go into. That's sort of what he would use the work experience for, initially at least. I'm a law student, and lots of my friends said they were "interested in x area" just to avoid sending the sort of email you're complaining about, and the end result is that they didn't get a chance to see any other areas of the company. It's hard to speak up and say you'd like more variety when the company are already doing you a favour. It was unprofessional, but he's only going to learn if you stick to your word and offer to help.

If you want to help, email him back and gently explain what you would expect to see in his email (either with a view to sending you another one, or for future reference). You can just copy and paste your post, so it won't take any more of your time up, and it will be a massive help to him.

The job market is terrifying for us students at the moment. It's no use partners saying "I walked in with no CV and started off photocopying - I was just lucky I got a break". That isn't going to happen to us now, and we rely on people in your position offering help. You were kind to offer to help, but it would be unkind to just decide that it's not worth bothering about now since, like I say, the time you've spent posting on MN can just become your reply to him Xmas Smile

CupOfGoodCheer · 11/12/2011 20:44

dreadful email. Time for some constructive criticism I think!

winterfox · 11/12/2011 20:45

so now you are going to post their response all over the internet

really if it's your profession and they are up and coming, why would you do that?

oflip · 11/12/2011 20:46

As a potential employer, i would not touch this indivual based on this very poor first impression.
sorry, but i would not.

Original poster
A1980 · 11/12/2011 20:47

yes of course it's important, hence replying to them via email with all the advice in the op, rather than posting on the entire www for all to see

Winterfox, I don't know why this is irking you so much. You have created a mumsnet profile to post on the entire www for all to see. You are also an AIBU where people frequently air their personal problems for the entire www to see. If you're upset by my post and peopel airing stuff on www, why are you on this site?

OP posts:
troisgarcons · 11/12/2011 20:48

Im going to alter this slightly buta Y11 student asked me to look at his CV - the body of it was written by someone else but it was suitable for the college place he was after.

I did however point out that an email contact address of Harrysmokesdope@ blah blah wasnt really ideal (and his name wasnt Harry either!)

Possibly the best I received on a job application, in the contact details was Katiiebitchtroll@ yada yada.com (yes two 'i's ....) I did actually know the girl and advised her to resubmit it with a proper email address and I'd delete the first application.

Amyone who addresses me as Dear Trois - who I dont know - in an email gets automatically deleted.

keynesian · 11/12/2011 20:50

winterfox As employability is now one the aims of universities, I'd be very surprised if the student had not received advice and guidance from university regarding CVs, application letters and how to go about finding work experience.

Unfortunately not all students attend/listen/read/think it applies to them...

Original poster
A1980 · 11/12/2011 20:50

YABU to expect him to know which bit of law he wants to go into.

Yes but as a student you know what subjects you enjoy the most. I wasn't expecting him to know what he wants to do but a little background info helps. Anything to go on.

OP posts:
Sassee · 11/12/2011 20:52

Agreed A1980

I didn't know what particular niche I wanted but I knew there was no way I could spend my life doing commercial law, conveyancing etc etc

Backtobedlam · 11/12/2011 20:52

YANBU-that email really is horrendous. I think anyone studying at university should be able to send a basic email asking for information in a professional way. I still believe their are some great undergraduates out there, but some seem to be lacking in common sense. Definately pass on your comments to this student, it will make a huge difference to him in the future.

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