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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

being extremely irritated by job applications 'ritin in txt spk'

52 replies

becstarsky · 16/12/2011 16:49

I'm not BU, by the way. Not at all. The advertisement included the words 'Excellent written and spoken English required', and one of the duties stated was 'Supervising English homework especially spelling'. And I get this:

"Am up 4 the job. Am lovings bks myself. Please calls me for the interview 2day.'

This is just one reply but it is representative of literally hundreds. There were a few whose first language wasn't English and they'd overestimated their own abilities (put 'exsellent English' on their CV) and I don't mind that so much. They don't make the shortlist, but they don't get my judgy pants in a twist either. However there were many replies like the one above from people born and educated in this country. People who have, allegedly, achieved a passing grade at A Level/BTEC... according to their CV Xmas Hmm ... What annoys me even more (ranting now) is that I'm sure some of these people will say 'I've applied for so many jobs and no-one gives me a chance.' As if hitting the 'send' button constitutes applying for a job.

There are plenty of people who are long-term unemployed and who really do try, and get knocked back over and over again. Somehow knowing that makes it worse because it's seems like an insult to those who have tried really hard and still don't get the job. (Of which I also have hundreds of applications)

It's this combination of illiteracy and arrogance that I just find so maddening. Such a waste of time to wade through it all, and they are taking attention away from the ones who have spent time on it. And I feel really bad that the good ones will get rejected in exactly the same way as the useless ones. This is my punishment for (a) posting an ad on gumtree (b) posting an ad before I had made a firm decision as to whether I wanted a nanny or a CM and (c) going back to full time work (guilt trip projection...!)

GAH! And... breathes.

OP posts:
2rebecca · 17/12/2011 11:24

If loads of applications then I agree it just makes sorting them out easier. I don't think there is more poorly written English, it's just the format of the poor English that has changed. Textspeak instead of badly spelled scrawl on a scruffy piece of paper.
Bin... next....

MixedBerries · 17/12/2011 11:27

I do think that's unbelievably stupid of them and, having worked in the careers sector for eight years, know it's increasingly common. BUT
Have you considered that some of them may not want the job but are forced to apply in order to continue receiving their JSA? If you're on JSA you have to prove (that's another story) that you've made positive steps towards looking for work every week. Many people write crap applications on purpose as for, whatever reason, they don't actually want a job or can't find any work they feel is suitable.

MixedBerries · 17/12/2011 11:31

Oh, and of course YANBU. It really annoys me. I think the same when they interview your typical unemployed youth for the news. I can't help thinking that they'd have more chance of getting a job if they could actually speak English properly. (Before anyone says it...I know not all youths are like that by any means but it often seems to be the case amongst those they interview for news features).

moondog · 17/12/2011 11:34

'Am lovings bks myself.'

Christ on a bike.
Does one laugh or cry?

ShellyBoobs · 17/12/2011 11:36

...but it often seems to be the case amongst those they interview for news features

I have a theory on that one.

No one, unless they were particularly thick, would allow themselves to be interviewed for the news by one of those reporters who approach people in the street. Therefore, you always get a particular type of person being prtrayed as the typical for the scenario they're reporting on.

Original poster
becstarsky · 17/12/2011 11:38

I take your point MixedBerries but then... is that acceptable? Is it okay for someone to stay on JSA and put in crap applications on purpose so that they can stay on benefits? If that were the case for some of them then I might judge those people even more harshly.

JSA is for people who DO actually want a job, but despite their best efforts haven't been able to find one, people who have suffered the pain of trying really hard in a job but then been made redundant, people who are striving and trying. They should be supported until they find a job. I actually believe they should be better supported than they currently are - both financially and in terms of advice and training. Being unemployed is indignity enough without suffering hunger and cold as well. Is there a situation where it would be acceptable to claim JSA with no intention of actually getting a job?

OP posts:
2rebecca · 17/12/2011 11:47

Agree with mixed berries about the probable motive behind some of the laughably stupid applications. Shame you can't feed them back to the benefits agency about needing to go on a "how to write a CV and job application letter" compulsary course.

scaevola · 17/12/2011 11:48

"problem with people nowadays is they seem to think everyone communicates on one level"

I think this is an important point.

I despair sometimes of my elder DCs language (and indeed once posted on MN about it when I was feeling at a low ebb after being criticised about what that must mean about him/his friends/our standards).

But I also know that all my DCs can speak and write as adults too. It's not a case of whether or not we have a regional accent, it's a case of whether we an deliver standard English in a clear way (comprehensible accent, legible handwriting, checked typing). That is what is needed for the world of work, and selection of appropriate register for the situation needs to be effortless.

KittyFane · 17/12/2011 11:57

only got as far as giraffe's post :o
Innit.

MixedBerries · 17/12/2011 11:57

No, no. I don't think that's an acceptable course of action generally. Just a thought that it may explain some of the applications.
Although, in rural areas especially, some people do end up having to apply for jobs that they know are unsuitable and that they have no chance of getting purely for the sake of applying for a job, any job. A sad state of affairs and not a situation that helps anyone.

Original poster
becstarsky · 17/12/2011 13:07

I agree MixedBerries. Definitely not a rural area here though (London!) I've decided not to respond to the poor applications. It would take hours and hours even to put together a mailshot to all of them and if they can't be bothered to type the word 'for' rather than '4' then I equally cannot be bothered to draft a reply to them. The ones who made an effort will get a 'sorry, did consider you, we had lots of applications, wishing you all the best for your job search' e-mail.

I do feel better for a good rant!

OP posts:
ScroogeHadAGoodPoint · 17/12/2011 13:37

What I don't understand is how some people with extremely poor written English have such a fluent commant of txtspk.

A friend of mine (English not first language, some level of learning difficulties - so not judging) really struggles to write a coherent sentence, yet can text with ease. Why is that? Does anyone know?

PurplePidjInAPearTree · 17/12/2011 13:39

becstarsky, you are very considerate. My standard of English here is poorer than I would put on an application, yet I sent out dozens of CV's and forms recently and only got a very few responses even of the "ta but no ta" variety.

Reed are the absolute worst for this - I probably had a 1% response to applications through them, and those were all automated emails! Angry

PurplePidjInAPearTree · 17/12/2011 13:40

Scrooge, maybe the pressure is off and the person has more confidence that they're not going to be making a bad impression?

Bossybritches22 · 17/12/2011 13:42

YANBU

Application straight in the bin, along with those who can't be arsed to fill the form in properly & just staple a CV to it saying, "please read attached" Angry

NeedlesCuties · 17/12/2011 13:44

scrooge is it because it doesn't matter if letters are left out and/or replaced by numbers in texts?

Writing a coherent sentence requires ability to use correct grammar and spelt the right words in the right tense.

Texting is a bit of a free for all!

I have some friends for whom English is their first language who still can make my face Xmas Confused by adding letters in their words in texts!!!

I always thought the whole point of txt spk is that it is quicker and uses less characters. I have one or two friends who say things like, "Hiii hun, verrii busi in work 2dayy, must get meetup sumtime soooon."

Ummm, there really is no way I can take that seriously so usually I ignore such texts and wait for them to phone and actually use proper words!

maxpower · 17/12/2011 13:44

that's shocking! what sort of impression do they think they're going to make with a statement like that? yadnbu

2rebecca · 17/12/2011 15:53

Don't they have predictive text? I find that quicker on my phone and if your spelling is crap it takes longer so faster to just text normal English.

Original poster
becstarsky · 19/12/2011 15:46

2rebecca - they weren't sending the applications via text from their phones. These were covering letters sent by e-mail, and the CVs were as bad in some cases.

As Tortu said at least it meant that I could automatically dismiss their application. Glad that the conclusion was that IWNBU! It has taken the edge off the horror of it all.

One last to share with you: "I love childrens. 2 tak ur son wd be gr8 pleasure for me" I wasn't sure whether to be more disturbed by the poor English or the weird tone of that one. "You're not "takking" my son anywhere, sunshine", said DH when he read it! They had an English name and the schools listed on their CV were in the UK. It wasn't a 'second language' thing... So... yikes.

OP posts:
NeedlesCuties · 19/12/2011 15:49

"I love childrens"???

Flip me, I would have thrown that in the bin too.

JosieRosie · 19/12/2011 15:57

i manage a team of peopl whoose Emails are often written like dis no punctuation or paragraphs and Grammar all over the place with randome Capital letters and stuff that should be capitalised like i written in lower case it drives me stark raving Bonkers these people are all Educated to NVQ Level 3 at least and are aged between 25 and 50 there written communication Skills are truly Terrifying

niceguy2 · 19/12/2011 16:06

YANBU

And ffs, when will people realise that when you are say 40....working for 20+ years, the paper round you did at 13 years old isn't really relevent and you can honestly safely drop this to save some space.

Oh and the fact you got your 25m swimming badge....ditto.

To be honest, any txt speak, grammatical or spelling mistakes is an instant reject for me.

icooksocks · 19/12/2011 16:12

Picking up on the JSA theme a little, my hubby is told he has to make a certain amount of aplications each week (whether or not there are any jobs even remotely suitable for him) luckily for us, there are plenty advertising things he is capable of doing (although it would be nice to get a Dear John letter now and again-he must have sent CV's/applications for around 30 jobs in the last 3 weeks and not a single yes/no/up yours)

I can see how some applications would be from people having to apply for a job because the JSA rules tell them too-however surely if they are not qualified/capable of doing the job they would be dismissed without resorting to the use of txt spk.

NeuromanticisedVisionsofXmas · 19/12/2011 16:34

I don't believe you got "literally hundreds" of replies like that, or indeed at all. I think you are hugely exaggererating to make a minor point. Because while the media and the folk linguist point of view will tell you that txtspk is ruining the language and that digital natives can't help but use it even in clearly wrong contexts, the actual evidence suggests otherwise.

MixedBerries · 20/12/2011 11:42

Neuro, I worked in Careers for 8 years until a few months ago and can confirm the OPs post is not a huge exaggeration. I checked 8 to 10 CVs a day.