Spell Check

Back in 2005 when Rick was in HR he received a lot of resumes.
He never ceased to be shocked at all the misspelled words or the wrong words used in a sentence. (ex: deer sir instead of dear sir)

He knows I can't spell for shit. He also knows that spell check will tell me they have no idea what I am trying to spell because I am so far off.  When I was sending out resumes, cover letters, or doing my job and needed to have my presentations read with another set of eyes he was my go to guy.  You would never believe how many times I yell to him, "how do you spell.....?"  I understand all those people who would send their resumes off with spelling errors because I have the same issue. The only difference is I have other people look my work over before sending. (unlike my blog where you all just read it with the errors right there for all to see!)

There were days when he would bring home a resume to show me the things that made him angry.  One girl had her email listed as yourbabysmama@xyz.com on her resume.
Another gal's resume listed her email as kinkysexkathy@xyz.com.
These young women were looking for corporate jobs and they weren't smart enough to get a different email at yahoo or gmail just for their job search?

One of my favorites was from a man who wrote his cover letter as though he was responding to Match.com. He actually listed how he liked walks on the beach and good red wine etc.  FOR A JOB!!  No, not a job to be a sommelier either.
Sadly Rick had a file of resumes like this that he kept just for humor.

One day he called my office to read to me the latest cover letter and resume that made him mad. He was genuinely appalled.  I suggested that perhaps this young woman who was applying for an entry level job needed help not ridicule.  It obviously was her first job out of college unlike some of the others. 

He responded flippantly with, "I have circled all her errors should I send it to her?" 

I said, "Actually yes, with a note that says you want to help her. She won't get a job if no one tells her this Rick.  Maybe she just needs some help"  

Of course he feels if they have gone through 4 years or more of college they should know this.
Yes, well if sense were really common more people would have it was my retort to him.
There was no logic for this phenomenon it just was and he had to learn how to deal with it.
He felt each year the people got worse in every aspect.

I understood his frustration. He got so many resumes that were poorly written or cover letters with the most common of words misspelled or used in correctly. He was frustrated that when people came in for interviews they were cocky, had entitlement issues as well as dressing inappropriately. (that went for men and women) One person actually said to him after his tour of the company that he couldn't work at this company because they only had coffee and not an espresso machine in the lunchroom. Rick thought he was joking and laughed. He was not joking. He got up and left.

So back to crazy girl with the red circles and comments Rick made on her resume.
What did he decide to do?  He calmed down and thought about it. Then he called her. 
He tells her that her cover letter and resume needed work and the reasons why he makes this statement. He tells her he wants to help her and why this must be hindering her job search.  He asked her if anyone had called her for any interviews. She said no one has called her back and she was getting frustrated. He sent her back her resume with all the circles and comments and they went over it together. She thanked him for helping her see why she wasn't getting called for any of the jobs she had applied for. Then she cried.  She told him it was from being thankful that he took the time to help her not because she was pissed at him or upset in any way. He told her that she will be fine if she makes the changes because her skill sets were most certainly marketable. In the mean time he filled the position at his company.

Three weeks later she called Rick to tell him that she sent out her new resumes and cover letters and that 3 companies called her. After her interviews she was offered 2 of the 3 jobs.
She thanked Rick over and over again for taking the time to help her.

To think he was so angry he was just going to send her back her resume with red circles and comments with no kind words of encouragement. Once he calmed down I believe he did the right thing.  

This below reminded me of that situation.  This would be something he would do.
Rick would be inclined to antagonize this person and enjoy every minute of it.
I would shake my head and think it was terribly mean. But I admit on this one I would laugh!