When I was walking home today, I heard a sound that always takes me back to my childhood.
Instantly I am transported back into the body of a scrawny pale red-headed girl with an easy smile that seemed out of place under intense brown eyes. The sound would creep into the red brick of our suburban house, past the blue shutters on the windows, and the wood door. Sometimes it would drift around the house all together and sneak into the backyard where I may have been swinging or telling stories. Sometimes it would drift to me playing in my room or in the back of the house. At first it would cause a head tilt - a questioning of if the sound was actually there or only imagined. As it slowly grew in volume, thoughts would be confirmed. I would scramble to my feet, which were probably bare, and stuff my hands into my pockets. I would run, trying to find the first parent I could to beg for change. After the appropriate amount of quarters, dimes, and nickles were counted into my small reaching hand, I would clutch my fingers around the shining round pieces and bolt off. You never knew if it would come down our cul-de-sac, or just sit at the top of the road for a bit. Skinny legs with knobby scarred knees would pump, as I burst out of the house towards the sound. A large, colorful truck that the other kids were already streaming towards as well. Then it would be time to come to a decision - a rocket pop? A push-pop? No, today it would be a Good Humor Chip 'n' Dale Fudge Bar. I would push the coins into the hand of the vender, who would grin at me and hand me my treat. In the burning Kentucky heat, a good majority of it would be melted on my hand half-way through eating - but it didn't matter. My friends and I would sit around, faces covered with blue syrup, fudge, and a variety of other sticky residues - which would be quickly transferred to whatever clothing we were wearing. And then it was time to be off again - to bike races, sprinkler runs, or water gun fights.
Oh, summer.
Now if it was only 20 or 30 degrees warmer in Chicago....
So, for a long time I thought that the hype over non-professional emails was just that - something blown out of proportion that really wasn't as big of a problem as people were making it out to be.
But, as I have spent a lot of time applying for internships I am finding that it is not hype. It is true. People do NOT know how to write professional emails! Even people who have masters and doctoral degrees apparently do not know how to write a professional email.
If I write and ask you if you have any positions open, the appropriate response is not "nope sorry" - I'm not even kidding, I had someone with a doctoral degree give me that response. Now I'm sure this is a very, very intelligent person who wrote me this email. I mean, they wouldn't have their doctorate if they weren't smart. But...come on. You don't respond to someone like that! If I was talking to you in person, would you respond in that manner? No. That would be very rude. Appropriate response? "I'm sorry but at the current time we do not have any positions open for Master's level students. If anything changes, I will keep you in mind." Short, but polite and professional.
Now mind you, all of my emails have been very professional. I have always been careful about writing professional emails. I typically re-read my emails several times to make sure it sounds good. But occasionally, something sneaks past. I sent one out about two weeks ago that had a spelling error - instead of writing "contact hours" I wrote "content hours." Honestly, in my opinion, not that big of a mistake. I had accidentally overlooked it because I was sending out a ton of emails that day, and just wanted to get it out there. I had the person respond with an ENTIRE paragraph telling me, in essence, how stupid I was for having a spelling error and not using spell check (never mind the fact that spell check wouldn't have picked up on that sort of mistake...). That she would never hire someone who could make such an error, and that I was never going to make it very far in life - you know, because if I can't learn to spell in grad school, when am I going to?
Well. If you aren't going to learn to be professional AS a professional....you're future ain't looking so hot either honey. I responded back (in a very diplomatic and professional manner) that I was very upset that she would make such a judgment on my character and future based off a one word mistake - and that I would hope as a counselor she would be more accepting of mistakes in humans. You know, since we all make them and everything.
Now you know, if I had made several mistakes, or if I had sent a resume full of mistakes I would understand. But this was not the case. But it was interesting to see that reaction in contrast to the other emails I have gotten from professionals that were misspelled, lacked punctuation or any sentence structure, etc. I guess not all of us can be bothered to write a full sentence or use capitalization or punctuation when responding to someone in a professional capacity. But hey, at least I wasn't telling these people how they were going to fail at life because they can't use a semicolon.
So...world at large, my message is this: Be professional. All because you are on the other side of a monitor and we can't see each other doesn't mean that we aren't both real human beings with feelings and thoughts. We need to continue to VALUE communication. From talking to typing, we need to learn to be respectful - especially to those who are respectful to us. Golden rule kids....abide by it. If someone is rude to you, then maybe you have a bit more leeway to be rude back. Still not a free ticket, but slightly more understandable. But, if someone is very professional with you, you should give them the same courtesy. Oh...and this little book wouldn't hurt any of us. And for professionals there is always this one. Grammar and the ability to communicate well is not something we are born with (this I know - I've read and helped with the research!) but it is surely something that we can learn and improve upon. I'm not saying I am perfect at it by ANY means - but I always had the desire to be an English teacher....so I can't suppress this sometimes.
Anyway...be professional with people. Especially if they are offering you FREE LABOR.
Which brings me to another point - why is it so hard for me to find somewhere that wants me to intern? I'm basically saying, hey teach me a little something and I will work for you part time for FREE. FREEEEEE! I'm willing to do the same amount of work you should pay upwards $10 an hour for....FOR FREE.
Please? Anyone? Anyone?
