Is language dying?
By mmiller26
@mmiller26 (1930)
Canada
April 18, 2007 8:47pm CST
I have my own business, and occasionally I advertise online, looking for new employees to join my crew. And I'm finding that a majority of the people responding to my advertisement have absolutely no concept of language. Everything they're sending me in in text messaging format! And it's driving me crazy.
For those of you who are employers, would you seriously consider someone who sends you an email that reads: "I am intersted in ur job wat dose it pay? I am looking 4 job"
Oh my God! Since when did this become acceptable?
Another one emailed me with the email address "thug_420_45". Do any of these people consider image at all when applying for a job? I don't have a problem with people smoking pot, so the 420 thing doesn't bother me. But coupled with thug and 45, and it's just a real turn-off.
What do you guys think?
5 people like this
11 responses
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
19 Apr 07
Would you believe that someone sent me his resume with a half-naked photo (a guy)? Given that what I was offering wasn't looks or bod related, I just find it hilarious.
If you are mailing our your resume, you better write it well in the language. If you are holding a thug email, try getting a new one. :P
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
Now THAT is funny! I wonder what goes on in people's heads that they think this behavior is actually acceptable. Umm..you wouldn't happen to still have the photo, would you? I could send you my email address. (ha ha ha)
As for the guy with the thug email, he actually did change his email address and send me another email asking if he could have the job!
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
19 Apr 07
I still have the photo but I can't send it to you. It has to do with professionalism and integrity. :P
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
In case the (ha ha ha) didn't tip you off, I was kidding! I would never ask someone to do that.
@gemini1960 (1161)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
some people really cant speak well or write corect english , especially those countries who dont speak and does not incorporate english on the subjects in school.
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
20 Apr 07
That isn't what we're talking about. I have no problem with someone from another country or whose first language isn't english speaking or writing poorly in english. My problem is those who do speak english well butchering the language by typing in "netspeak" or text messaging-type language in a professional setting where that type of communication has no place.
@feris0604 (303)
• Malaysia
19 Apr 07
Whenever I begin my new training session with my new batch of trainees, I will teach them about the resume, interviews, etc. However, much as I want to praise them, I just can't. Most of them are still very attached to their abbreviation usage. One of the wrote in his job application letter... "... u think i qualifly or not? pls tell me ASAP cos i can apply other jobs...."
I pressure these trainees to edit and redit their letters so as to give their prospect employers a better imge of themselves. Yet, the end result? To them their letters are always perfect and don't understand why I made such a big fuss about it!
I'm a language instructor too and feel very sad that the use of language has been degraded to such!
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
I often lament the decline of the public education system. It's sad that kids who can barely communicate coherently are allowed to graduate and go on to college. It makes me wonder what it's going to be like in 30 years. Hopefully we won't all just be grunting at each other!!
I know to some who read this it sounds like I'm being a fuddy-duddy or something. I'm 27. But I take pride in sounding intelligent and I feel that people take me more seriously when I can communicate my thoughts eloquently. I expect the same from everyone else and am utterly baffled at this new trend. My 5 year old can write sentences better than a lot of people applying for these jobs, and he's just learning to read!
@emisle (3822)
• Ireland
19 Apr 07
There is no way I would EVER apply for a job using text language, it's just plain stupid! And I wouldn't be too impressed with someone who did that to me. These days first impressions can count for so much when it comes to getting a job and I wouldn't want to hire someone who hasn't displayed an adequate level of grammar.
1 person likes this
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
You're right. And I'm not hiring this person solely based on that. He might be a bright person. He might be entirely capable of handling the job. Heck, he might be the best worker out there. But this first impression was a negative one and for that I'm not willing to waste my time giving him a chance at it. I did however email him back to let him know why he wasn't getting the job, so hopefully he'll get his act together for the next job he applies for. The sad thing is that his application is not the first I've had to reply to in such a manner.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
19 Apr 07
I see this all the time. There are teenagers graduating from high school who cannot spell or form sentences correctly. This kids are being accepted into college. I would not hire a person like that. You will just clash and be very frustrated.
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
You're right. I often wonder about the state of education and how kids can be allowed to slip through when they can't put basic thoughts down on paper. If the kids wanted to communicate with each other like this, that'd be fine. But it has no place in a professional setting. When I see people writing like this, I immediately question their intelligence. They might actually be candidates for MENSA, but I'm still going to think they're not worth hiring because of an inability to communicate.
@raven9595 (101)
• United States
19 Apr 07
Yes, just look at the grammer and spelling on this site....
1 person likes this
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
I know. I've seen it and it bothers me here too. Especially when people say "u r so kewl" or use "dat" instead of that. It's laziness, pure and simple. I forgive grammar and spelling a lot here because I realize that english is a second or third language for a lot of people. But for others...I don't know if they think it looks cool or if they just don't know how to type and think that d-a-t is easier than t-h-a-t ...But it really is stupid. And when you consider that MyLot pays for quality discussions and they're full of chatspeak, I'm sure a lot of people are missing out on earnings for not taking the time to spell something properly.
@altair_dip (807)
• India
19 Apr 07
It is a real turn off..the language is different in the internet world..
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
And on the internet in a chatroom or something, this type of communication is fine. Annoying, but fine. But it has no place in a professional setting. The fact that job applicants don't understand that makes me wonder what they're learning in schools.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
19 Apr 07
I hate txt spk and cannot begin to understand why people use it when they are writing letters or emails. It really bugs me so much, particularly when you realise that this is the downward spiral to illiteracy. If they can't be bothered to use language properly, then they can't be bothered to do a job properly. Harsh but true I'm afraid.
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
I agree that it's a downward spiral. That's why I'm worried about the literacy of future generations if this trend continues. As it is, a lot of schools are no longer teaching kids how to write in script because everyone types these days instead of writing things out longhand.
@rodeotexas (1153)
• United States
19 Apr 07
Honestly if it was me I would not hire them. If you want a job you should present yourself in that form. Do no write in text or im format. You should use proper english/language and spell correctly.
1 person likes this
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. I did not hire this person. Instead, I took the time to email him back and gave him some constructive criticism in hopes that next time he applies for a job, he'll use a more appropriate email address and make his request for an interview at least semi-coherent.
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
19 Apr 07
I guess I've never understood people typing in shorthand. I can understand the occasional "lol" and such, but generally when I communicate, I type everything out. I used to chat a LOT and I still never resorted to that kind of laziness. I think what bothers me is how common it's becoming. People are using this kind of chatspeak so commonly that people are forgetting how to communicate appropriately in other settings. You'll even see it here. How many times do you see someone respond to a question with a comment like "how r u doing? dat is so kewl", and other things like that? It drives me nuts.
@ladylapulapu (81)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
i will not agreed on him also i dont want to work with that kind of pathetic person
