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.

You have a joint email account? Who has a joint email account?

I've worked in the NHS for years and informal chats are encouraged, sometimes even informal visits. So you are incorrect in your advice to him. I don't think the email is a big deal to be honest.

People who want to micromanage their OHs, that's who.

The NHS is desparate for staff and calling someone 'miss' is neither here nor there.

The people looking at the actual points on the application arent that interested in what might have been emailed to the manager, all the manager will do is read that email, think 'nothing for me to respond to here' or they might just say thank you for your interest. I doubt they will make much of it

YANBU. I am in the NHS and I wouldn't appreciate this type of message. I'd much rather you contact before putting your application in to discuss the role. It's frustrates me how few people bother to do this.

But it's not likely to affect his chances. We are desperate for staff! Also it's such a massive organisation the chances of the interview panel knowing or remembering about a random e-mail are slight.

There you have it. Plenty say it’s great or not a problem. Some say it would bother them.

He’s better off with a manager that knows and understands his English language and cultural awareness are evolving. If someone is bothered by this email, they are going to be a poor fit as a manager.

She hasnt really got a right to feel 'upset'. What an overreaction. Its his application and he has agency over his choices doesnt he? Or does he?

Also as an aside generally Ive found over the years that lots of people from other countries say miss or madam or sir etc

People who set up informal chats with me seem to get many more interviews, I wouldn't worry.

Sorry, one more thing. Please him encourage him to e-mail to ask for a chat prior to putting the application in future if he doesn't get the role. Contact details should be on the advert, it's there for a reason! It will give him an edge and a lot of NHS interviewers would expect it. We often ask what prep people did prior to interview as an interview question.

Don’t be silly!

Its not like OP tells him what to do and then gets annoyed when he as a grown, educated adult does it slightly different than what she said.

Oh wait…

I think it’s fine

But he's not setting up an informal chat, just saying 'please consider my application'.

In the NHS his application should be scored, I would imagine. His follow up email would not even be considered in the process.

I can not see he has done any harm … or benefit.

I would recommend you leave him to his own style though unless you plan to go to
work with him and monitor his every move!

I agree, advice is just that - advice. It's not binding. If I gave my husband advice and he didn't take it I wouldn't be 'upset'. Very weird.

I get called Miss (first name) all the time by non British candidates and it wouldn't put me off hiring someone.

I'd agree that the email creates a poor impression.

An applicant sending me an email to follow up would not put me off, and I think it is really
normal for candidates who are keen to do this. I would notice the ‘Miss’ and the bad grammar though. I’d like to think it wouldn’t stop an interview if someone has the right qualifications and a strong application though

I think the main issue would be the disparity between the application and the email. It might make it obvious he had help to complete it and it's not all his own words.

Good luck, hope he's successful in securing a position.

I honestly wouldn't mind! If the role required a very high standard of written English then I would be concerned if there were a lot of typos in the message but I'd also reserve judgement until I saw the application.

I'm recruiting for a couple of roles at the moment and an applicant found me on LinkedIn and sent a 'hello' email. I thought it showed initiative. To me it feels as though people are actually interested in the job and aren't just blindly and randomly applying for everything they see.

Yes, it's like when you realise a young person's application was actually filled out by their Mummy.

my main concern is that you wrote his “strong” application for him…therefore the “voice” of the application and the “voice” of the email are different - they could probably tell it’s two different authors. The email likely doesn’t mirror the language used in the application.

I know English isn’t his first language, however his email is shocking for a doctor as it’s so basic and superfluous. It’s like the cover letters people send when they’re applying for 100 jobs a week. Completely generic and not tailored, with no response required.

ultimately though, it’s his career and you can’t control the entire application process for him. He has to take responsibility and learn from his job applications himself. You won’t be there holding his hand when he starts the job. The problem with writing incredible applications for him is that he might not be able to match up to that standard at the interview stage so it might come across that he exaggerated/had help

It’s fine to email the contact on the job ad imo. It’s the done deal in my department. A quick chat to see what they’re looking for, ask (genuine) questions and to build rapport early with the hopes they remember you at interview

It’s odd to ignore Op’s advice though when she’s in a similar field. Plus Op has skin in game as presumably they have a house and bills and need him working especially if she’s pregnant. I’d be upset if I needed to go back after a few weeks not take maternity leave because he was scuppering his chances of paid employment.

That’s different though and I agree find to call for a chat