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 doubt they would be able to link the email with the application..it probably goes through HR first. Having said that I think in my industry at least making contact with the hiring manager definitely, definitely helps your application to stand out. However, it would make more sense to ask some questions about the job in the email or at least go give some information that isn't contained in the application rather than just saying hi.

And definitely check grammar and spelling. You don't want to stand out for the wrong thing.

It depends what his job entails. If a lot of it is communicating with the public in writing, then his lack of English writing skills would make it a no from me.

Frothing is really rude. He should have used whatever title the person used, no title if they just gave a first and surname.

You are showing your lack of education, Miss in this usage is a contraction of mistress (mistress of the household, school mistress etc..), still in common use in many schools for both married and un-married teachers ("yes miss") and the polite address given by a tradesman or domestic staff member to an un-titled lady both married or un-married.

Its use in India stems from British rule, and it is considered there, as in many other parts of the world to be correct, polite english.

Nothing whatsoever to do with age.

It’s so generic and bland I’m confused how that kind of thing would work anywhere. I imagine though that it’ll just be ignored as it would take some extra work to try match it up with the application.

@OverCCCs

I am over 18, in a position of responsibility. I am not and have never been married
Miss is therefore correct. I am irritated by people who assume Mrs.
Still no one objecting to the use of Miss has said what he should have used

If you think that is needed, you put it in the person spec so people can address it in their application form. If it's not on there you should not be swayed by it. That's equal ops recruiting. This is a particularly sort of recruiting and nothing like the 'your face fits' of yesteryear (or now I'm told by friends who work in business!). Those people from other industries mat not understand nhs recruitment norms.

Given OP has said her DH is applying for a skilled NHS role and is therefore neither a schoolchild in a school, a tradesman, nor a domestic staff member, none of those uses applies.

I, personally, would be offended by the use of “Miss.” I’d accept “Ms.” or the absence of a title.

If it’s a recruiter I think that’s fine. If it’s the person he could be working with if he got the job it’s a bit more cringey I think.

I interviewed someone once and afterwards everyone on the panel got a really over the top email from them thanking them for the opportunity it was so cringe!!!

I did 4 mins before you posted this.

Who said anything about Mrs.? I’d be equally offended by that. Maybe it’s the industry I’m in, but we address one another by first name
in professional emails and this title question has become a non-issue.

If he absolutely felt he had to use a title to be more formal, he had the choice of “Ms.” which is neutral and in 2023 implies nothing about the recipient’s age or marital status.

I find ANY sort of pushiness during the recruitment process (emails like this, following up with a note or email after the interview, basically anything which doesn't follow the stated process and which seems like an attempt to stand out or gain an advantage over other candidates by going outside the process, like the candidate has decided they know best) incredibly off-putting.

@OverCCCs

Thats personal preference.

I very rarely use Ms

Anyone getting 'offended' by being called Miss one time by someone who is very clearly not a national seriously needs to grow up and get over themselves. Seriously what am I reading! Get a life!

i'd assume that email was from someone applying for a very low level job/their first job.
anyone more senior, IF they sent this email, would include something about WHY they are a good fit at least.
this is pointless. it won't win anyone over and could damage his chances.

100% this. for most professional work environments in the UK, you are correct OP. agree with everything/rationale you've posted down to the letter.

i work for a large professional client-facing services firm.

his communication skills need major upgrades.

I’ve been a manager in the NHS (now in a similar non NHS role).
NHS applications are anonymised so they won’t know which applicant sent the email.
if I received it now, from a lower level candidate (equivalent of grade 3 or 4) it wouldn’t put me off at all. I’d actually see it as a sign of genuine interest in the post, which is a definite positive.

If he gets an interview, do encourage him to talk about the skills/ values he has that are relevant to the post he’s applying for though… nothing worse than a candidate stating “I’m a doctor/ dentist” when asked what makes them a good fit for a job that isn’t doctor/ dentist, and a lot of overseas candidates do this! It generally gets a score of 0 on that interview question.

And that’s a completely valid choice. :) But I stand by my belief that OP’s husband was a fool to not listen to her advice that “Miss” can cause offense to many UK women given many of its common definitions/implications here—not India!—in the 21st century. Cultural context is critical and her husband is ignoring that.

I spent the first 3 emails to a recruiter calling her Julie not June, I was mortified.

Then she got her days mixed up and missed out initial chat. We both laughed at our mistakes!

Recruitment managers are people too. Your DH was rude or anything, and I would put money on it they’ve had weirder/worse!

I expected something cringy. That email was not cringy. As a manager, it wouldn't put me off a job applicant at all. It would show that they're eager, interested in the job and making an extra effort to stand out.
As for the miss/Mrs/ms thing... My husband also didn't understand this concept as he also isn't from this country. I'd much rather be mistakenly called Miss than other names.
Yes, his grammar isn't perfect, but that wouldn't put me off him if his qualifications and experience were what I'm looking for. It would just suggest that English isn't his first language or that he may have dyslexia; neither of which would put me off a candidate.

Ermm.. He's Indian. You don't understand that there are different rules of etiquette in different countries? I work in a university and most of the Indian students address me as "Miss". It's seen as good manners.*

Ahhh but this is where it gets interesting as he is applying for a role in the UK and so it would be expected that he is understanding the local approach. It's like me going to India and tackling a job hunt the same way that I would in the UK. It doesn't work that way.

When I came to the UK and needed a job fast I had to figure out quickly how the locals do it. Took me just 3 weeks to pick up a good role

I'm an NHS Manager, applications are sent anonymous to the hiring manager to be shortlisted, there are no names so they would have no idea who sent that email until they have been shortlisted to be invited to an interview.

Nothing to worry about. Wishing him luck.

So many posters missing the point.

The faux pas he made was not doing what the form/job spec asked.

The grammar is another issue.

The job spec said applicants could request an informal discussion.

He's missed that and gone in blowing his own trumpet about how he is right for the role.

He's clearly misread and misunderstood what was asked.

I'm pretty shocked at so many posters not seeing this, or dismissing it as not being important. If an applicant can't read the application form properly, it doesn't bode well.

It beggars belief how many people here are in supposedly managerial roles ( and say it's the NHS) yet can't even work out what application forms/ processed are asking.

Honestly I think it depends on the person. I know some managers would be annoyed by receiving an email, regardless of what it says/grammar mistakes. And I know others that would be pleased that he was taking the initiative.