Cringe worthy follow up Note

[MrChicagoRN]

I recently interviewed someone for a non-nursing clinical position.

At the end, he was told it would be two weeks before I made a decision. He didn't send a thank you note, but did send me a note this week telling me he was still interested. Unfortunately, his note was basically two run on sentences. The clincher was that the entire note was in lower case! My name, his name, first person reference...everything.

This is a college grad that I was on the fence about hiring after interviewing him. However, the literacy of his note was extremely poor. Why would anyone even send such a poorly written e-mail?

The point is, that follow up notes can be a plus, or a huge negative factor. So, remember that every contact or interaction creates an impression.

Make sure it's a good one.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Lol "sheeple"? The OP stated she was on the fence with the interviewee, I'm sure the e-mail just put the nail in the coffin.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Emails are an informal method of communication, he jotted you a quick line to follow up.

If you truly on the fence post.. an additional interview should be the decider,

not an overreaction to an email.

[Wrench Party]

Well...let's look at it this way. If all other qualifications are roughly equal, and the decision comes down to a well-written

thank you note, and a sloppily written, poorly composed one, who do you think is going to get the job?

As our communication increasingly becomes more electronic in nature, it's a given that any professional should be expected

to have basic grammar and spelling competency (barring a learning disability like dyslexia). I'm assuming this candidate has at the very least, an Associate's degree, to his credit.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Hm, I wonder why that happened. Perhaps he wrote it on a phone or iPad and didn't realize autocap wasn't on? I don't know.

I can't think of an excuse for it, but it always saddens me when people judge people so harshly for something so simple without knowing their life circumstances. The world is simply too hateful - we have too many hoops we force people to jump through and too easily cast them aside if something isn't perfect.

Should mistakenly not capitalizing a few words ruin someones career, perhaps jeopardizing a position they may have been depending on to avoid being evicted or losing power? I do wonder...but perhaps it's because I am the type that prefers to defy convention and not rely on the pasty American way of faux perfection and pleasantries in all that we do.

It isn't judging someone harshly.....it is showing you (and when I say you I mean the collective you not you, you) care and that you are a professional. It conveys a certain lack of respect to the employer to text off a message like they were texting their friend about their date last night. You are texting your potential employer not your friend....act like you want the job. It portrays a lack or caring and respect...initiative.

Back in the day....before all of this casual e-mail and messaging....we were given instructions on how to send a professional letter, do interviews, and conduct ourselves in a professional world. This was before spell check. We had to construct our sentences and proof read for ourselves......it even mattered what mattered what kind of paper we typed it on. If one wants to be considered a professional on has to present themselves like one.

It is also showing that you care. That you care enough to stand out in the crowd. In the world full of Straight A's and perfection, in the electronic world we live in, one needs to pay particular attention to details to stand out in the sea of identical resumes and not be remembered as the one who just couldn't care enough "to send the very best".

Is it being a patsy...no it's showing that you are a professional. My dad (miss you Dad) always said slovenly in dress slovenly in mind.

Is that fair? Maybe not...but it is the reality.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I can't think of an excuse for it, but it always saddens me when people judge people so harshly for something so simple without knowing their life circumstances. The world is simply too hateful - we have too many hoops we force people to jump through and too easily cast them aside if something isn't perfect.

Should mistakenly not capitalizing a few words ruin someones career, perhaps jeopardizing a position they may have been depending on to avoid being evicted or losing power? I do wonder...but perhaps it's because I am the type that prefers to defy convention and not rely on the pasty American way of faux perfection and pleasantries in all that we do.

As a hiring manager, if this is what this applicant's communication looks like ... what is his day-in, day-out nursing documentation going to look like? Is it going to make apparent this same lack of attention to detail? Will this applicant take the same cursory approach to patient care? And would that be the way you would choose someone to care for someone you cared about -- who was in the most dire personal situation that they needed money?

I'll choose the best person for the job, thanks.

[md/vaRN]

Additionally, this person could have had a perfectly written resume...but that's not hard these days, many people have someone else do it for them. So this could actually be the first written coorespondence from this person....AHHHH!!! I wrote a follow-up email to a potential employer. I could have written it from my phone...I didn't because of the potential for easy mistakes. I pulled out the handy dandy laptop, typed up a nice email, checked the spelling and hit sent. I'm a single mom...to much rides on being lazy. "I'm sorry sweetie, mommy can't buy groceries this week, because I didn't care enough to apply myself when trying to get a job". If this person is so destitute, perhaps he should try harder...

[CP2013]

Now see how you people behave? First, when did I ever say anything about taking care not mattering? Obviously we should all take great care in presenting ourselves professionally, so I would thank you to not attempt to extrapolate things from my words that I clearly did not say.

Furthermore, not capitalizing a few letters in an email should not lead one to the harsh judgement of a "lack of motivation to do anything." Human beings are so quick to lay judgement on others while failing to see their own flaws..

But you did mention that this applicant be considered so they can keep their power on? I don't see why that is even worth mentioning when discussing an inability to capitalize words and use proper grammar.

You were essentially saying to ignore this impression of someone because they could really need the job. Very few people apply for jobs for fun, everyone NEEDS to eat, pay bills and live. So all things equal, this applicant has shown his lack of interest and his true colors. There is NO excuse for it.

It is a lack of motivation to pursue this job. If you don't take the time to put your best foot forward, then why should an employer care to hire you?

Remember this is a NON CLINICAL position. So typing was probably an essential job function. If he can't type accurately, what exactly would you want him/her to do on the job??

[thenursemandy]

I saw a post on Facebook from a nurse stating " I'm in dyer need of a preceptor for my NP program ". I just shook my head and thought, no wonder she hasn't found one!

[SlyFoxRN, BSN, RN]

But you did mention that this applicant be considered so they can keep their power on? I don't see why that is even worth mentioning when discussing an inability to capitalize words and use proper grammar.

You were essentially saying to ignore this impression of someone because they could really need the job. Very few people apply for jobs for fun, everyone NEEDS to eat, pay bills and live. So all things equal, this applicant has shown his lack of interest and his true colors. There is NO excuse for it.

It is a lack of motivation to pursue this job. If you don't take the time to put your best foot forward, then why should an employer care to hire you?

Remember this is a NON CLINICAL position. So typing was probably an essential job function. If he can't type accurately, what exactly would you want him/her to do on the job??

No no no, my point in bringing up the power thing is just to give an example of the worst case scenario. Whether he is in dire straits or not is a moot point. I simply take issue with the way human beings, in general, behave. Humans are just very judgmental creatures, and I dislike the way they try so hard to make life as hard as possible for everyone else. Why do humans enjoy creating barriers and red tape for others? We all lambast the beauracracy of everyday life, yet when given the power to change it, we impose those very same restrictions on other. I find it deplorable.

If this guy doesn't seem capable, by all means, consider a different applicant. If, however, this was an isolated incident for someone who is otherwise capable, then simply give him the benefit of the doubt. Human beings are not perfect - we can not be expected to be perfect at all times, even when it comes to job interviews and random thank you emails.

[Z71RN]

albert einstien was nortorious for messy writing filled with poor syntax and spelling mistakes.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Correcting someone and not hiring them are two completely different things. I fail to see the correlation.

My point is, I'm just sick of this stuck up attitude regarding everything humans have to do in life. Was it unprofessional? Of course. Would I ever do something like that? Never, I'm extremely proficient and always use correct grammar and punctuation when I can. Regardless, it always seems like people just throw others to the curb for the simplest of things. If this potential applicant used correct grammar and communicated well during other written communication, why not give the benefit of the doubt?

I realize my opinion is unpopular here - I'm used to my opinion being unpopular as unlike the other "sheeple" I deal with on a daily basis, I like to think outside the box. I refuse to follow convention simply because "that's how everyone else does it." Having never met this potential applicant, I do not know what other flaws/strengths he had, but if I were impressed otherwise I would not stop considering him for a position because of something as silly as failing to capitalize my name.

Why would you hire a person who behaves unprofessionally PRIOR to starting the job? What does that tell you about how they're going to be when they're working for you?

If I was on the receiving end of the email OP describes, I'd delete it and move on to the next person.

[SlyFoxRN, BSN, RN]

Why would you hire a person who behaves unprofessionally PRIOR to starting the job? What does that tell you about how they're going to be when they're working for you?

If I was on the receiving end of the email OP describes, I'd delete it and move on to the next person.

It doesn't tell you anything about how they will act once on the job - it is a one time incident, and until a pattern is established, I do not agree with the human desire to hastily pass judgement.

If I were the hiring manager (and this were a candidate I was impressed with before the email) , I would simply respond to the email and thank them for expressing interest, then ask some random follow up question that I didn't ask in the interview. If they responded professionally, I would assume the previous email was a fluke. If it the grammar was poor a second time, then obviously I would move on if grammar/spelling were a necessary component of the position.

Now, as humans so love to do, carry on berating me with your mob mentality for being a decent person unwilling to resort to snap judgements. Please, the more the merrier - the bandwagon effect is mildly entertaining.