Husband sent cringy email to recruiter. If you’re a recruiter would this put you off?

[Winterleaves1]

My husband is a qualified doctor but not eligible to work in the U.K. at the moment as he has exams to complete specific to the U.K.
While he’s studying for his exams I work in clinical trials and found a job that would be perfect for him. He’s Indian and has good English but doesn’t know how to word job applications so I helped him with the application. It took two hours as it was really long and I wanted to make sure it was spot on. I submitted the application for him. I have no connection with the employer at all. I just work in a similar field.
He came back to me and said the job application has an email for an informal chat or to ask any questions. He said he would email to introduce himself and let the manager know he is interested in the position.
Now I know in some countries this may be seen as proactive and increase your chances but I know from my managers opinion it’s been seen as annoying and socially awkward. It has definitely put them off and generally made them think the applicant didn’t understand British culture and wouldn’t fit in well within the team. Bit harsh but I’m just going by what their reaction has been when someone has done this.
They’ve also said the email should only be used for questions as the managers are busy and may have many applications where they are the manager and need their inbox clear. It’s also just not a ‘done thing’ here. I explained all this to him and told him it could negatively affect his chances of getting the job.
Well today I’m reading emails on our joint email account and he’s sent this email
‘Dear miss xxxxx,
i am writing to let you know I am very interested in your position and have completed the application. I think my skills and experience matches job well. Please consider my application’.
I know that this manager is married but no title was given so ‘miss’ was inappropriate. Also his grammar and English wasn’t the best in the email.

I’m really annoyed because the application was really strong and while he may not have got an interview I’d have at least felt that we’d given it our best shot. I feel this cringy email has really ruined his chance at an interview and will be viewed negatively.
If it was just this one application I could forget about it but it seems that he refuses to take my advice and I am sure he will continue sending an email to managers for all jobs he applies for moving forwards.
I know I sound really mean. I promise I’m not, just trying to help him as o know he wants to be in work.
So AIBU to think this email has affected his chances? If you are responsible for recruiting would this put you off? I’m hoping I’m overthinking.

I work in a similar sector and do a lot of recruitment, and this would have no bearing on the application, assuming it was good. I would only be irritated at the email if it accompanied a ridiculous application from an unqualified candidate.

I really wouldn’t stress. Except for the “miss” which would piss me off.

My experience of the more competitive nhs doctor roles is that a departmental visit and meeting is expected pre application, and certainly pre interview. But also that jobs are only formally advertised after such meetings have already taken place.

By your description, I thought he had made a pass at the recruiter or asked for her phone number or something!

I don't think it will make or break his application. They may think he is keen. Which may be no bad thing for a doctor.

But they wouldn’t be able to tell which application is from the person who sent the email

I am with OP here; the email comes across as really pushy and immediate red flag for a recruiter. Certain people feel the need to state the obvious (I am right for role (OK) but if you weren't right for the right why did you apply?) but completely ignore normal channels. these chats are for exactly as described to ask questions during the application process

This^
obviously it’s a cultural thing so I would expect your DH to appreciate your experience and at least consider you advice. Atm his approach looks a bit childish to me.

DH is involved in recruitment from time to time. He said that this sort of email would put him a bit off as language issues might affect applicant’s performance but he would invite for the interview if records were good.

I'd say British culture at the moment is " desperate for qualified doctors" and any decent recruiter should be able to see past the cultural differences.

I think if it's for an NHS role it will barely register. They will have plenty of applications and a very set process to follow.

I am hiring atm. Someone send me a similar email via linkedin. To be fair it made me go find their CV among many and i didn't find it annoying. An email that takes 5 seconds to read is hardly a great inconvenience. I think you are worked up as you put a lot of effort into this application, but as a result you are taking over a little.

It’s not for a qualified doctor role. I’d agree in recruitment of doctors it would be more normal as many doctors are not British and probably do the same.
It’s for a clinical trails job.

Did he assume her gender 🫢🫢🤣

It does read quite childlike.
I would expect my students to email me something similar when we practice applying for jobs.

But I was always told if they have an email address to email them and express your interest as it makes you stand out from the other applications that are sent (especially ones that can be done with just a few clicks).

As a former recruiter the email would have been fine, if he hadn’t called me Miss. That would have got my back right up as it indicates he’s done no research.

Also the typos would potentially be an issue depending on the job he’s applying for.

Sorry, I did miss that it's for a clinical trials job.

I suppose he feels a bit patronised. He should put that aside though, and take your help.

I think it is fine. The ones I don’t like are when they use text speak.

It's fine

I know you want your DH to get a job but I think you have to back off and let him handle it his way. They need to recruit him as a person (not just for his skills) and they aren't seeing what he's like, they are seeing what you think they want. It's tempting to do this with my adult children - but you have to let them be them and stop taking over the process for him! His responses will be at odds with how he'll be in the workplace if you are choreographing them.

I here regularly; to me it reads different culture/not British culture native so it is not bothersome.

You do sound very unkind of your husband, though.

*hire

But that’s perfect - you get a really qualified person in for at least a two year period (as you say that’s how long it takes to take the new qualifications?). Surely anyone in that position would snap your DH up immediately even if he jumped up on their desk and started doing the Macarena?

OP - "They’ve also said the email should only be used for questions as the managers are busy and may have many applications where they are the manager and need their inbox clear. It’s also just not a ‘done thing’ here."

Total BS - they would be delighted to hear from qualified and proactive candidates.

You worry that managers need to keep their inboxes clear?

Your the cringey one, OP.

If it’s the NHS-in any job I’ve ever had on the NHS, I’ve always phoned the recruiter and said I was interested in the job and asked to visit beforehand. It’s never been a negative thing as I’ve been offered every job I’ve applied for. Not a doctor but AHP.

Not the point of your thread, but who on earth has a 'joint email account' these days?

Where I work we recruit a lot of international applicants and we often get, and ignore, this type of email. I know it’s just a cultural difference so it makes no difference to me. I’d have thought most nhs managers recruit international staff regularly and would feel similarly.

Unfortunately your managers who said it puts them off are displaying massive cultural bias and possibly racism. They’re likely to miss out on good candidates because of it.

Are you always quite so disparaging of women clearly going out of their way to help their husbands, but feeling upset that their husbands have ignored their advice?