WDYT - have I scuppered my chances

HurdyGurdy

I have applied for a position with a local Council. One of the essential criteria is "proof read other peoples work".

I have answered this section very positively, but I also pointed out that I have identified several errors in the job/people description. (Nine, in fact, but I didn't say how many I'd noticed!)

I'm wondering if I've made me sound like Smuggy McSmuggerson - or maybe the errors were a "trap" and put there deliberately. But should I have stayed schtum until the interview and mentioned it then?

I really like the sound of the job, so I'd like to at least stand a chance of an interview.

WDYT - have I made a blunder by saying what I did? I've sent the application off now, so can't unsay what I've said

jdturk

don't worry bout it, I would have done the same and if they don't take you because of that then you were probably better of because of it

DVardysShadow

jdturk wrote: »

don't worry bout it, I would have done the same and if they don't take you because of that then you were probably better of because of it

I agree. There has to be some humour in there, and if the employer does not get it, you are better off out of it.

Pete111

Depends.

On the face of it you have amply demonstrated your skills in this important area and this should count in your favour.

However this is the public sector. They have probably marked you down as 'too bright/clever/’likely to make us look bad’ and binned your application….

If it's the former then good luck - you have found a more enlightened bastion of our bloated civil service which may indeed suit you. If it's the latter then, as others have said, better a rejection now than months/years of soul destroying mediocrity, banal public sector verbiage and bureaucracy.

I have worked (fortunately briefly) in this sector - I know of which I speak

Zazen999

Hmmm....difficult one.

I have applied for a few jobs within the HR 'realm' and the application forms/processes are shocking! How can you say 'I can see why you need someone efficient judging by the state of this form/process' without sounding too smug?

Anihilator

I think it depends.

Are they real errors are are they examples of short speak or industry language and you either have shown yourself up as pedantic or out of touch of that industry.

Whilst you may be able to proof read the job probably doesnt want every informal e-mail or such proof read

Tbh no one will know here as it could be anything. you just need to see.

Poppy9

I work LA and don't know of any dept. that would deliberately put in errors on job description to try to catch an applicant out. Errors are made, often due to cutting and pasting of job specs/essential criteria from previous jobs onto the HR system.

What were the errors? Was it the use of words like "there" for "their" or lack of apostrophes etc.?

TBH depending on the job applied for and the rest of your application form I wouldn't worry too much because contrary to popular belief current LA employees are human beings and do have a sense of humour:D

terra_ferma

I doubt it would be done on purpose, LA's recruitment procedures are fairly standard.

I think how they take it would depend on who wrote the document. If the person is the line manager (who would normally write the job description/person's specification) they may not like the idea of employing someone smarter then them (or too cheeky depending on how your put it).
If the mistakes where in the general HR documents (e.g. the application form, the instructions etc) then the manager may take it better (particularly if they had noticed the mistakes themselves, as as proofreading is a requirement).

I think it's a risky thing to do, criticising your prospective employers, you never know how they may take it.

HurdyGurdy

Well . . .

The errors I noticed included the following:

There is a numbered list of duties and there are two no. 16s on the list.
There is an organisation chart, and the job they are recruiting for isn't on the chart.
They have "computer programers" instead of "computer programmes".
They have "enquires" instead of "enquiries".
and
They have "use of an other language" instead of "use of another language".

Sigh - I just hope they can look past any perceived smugness and see the A1 employee they'd be missing out on if they passed me by :rotfl:

Thank you for your input. I will let you know if I get anywhere.

orangeslimes

I have seen a job advert before which asked you to spot the deliberate errors.

Those are really blatant errors so I would guess they must be deliberate. If they weren't the council should be very embarrassed about them

Anihilator

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

Well . . .

The errors I noticed included the following:

There is a numbered list of duties and there are two no. 16s on the list.
There is an organisation chart, and the job they are recruiting for isn't on the chart.
They have "computer programers" instead of "computer programmes".
They have "enquires" instead of "enquiries".
and
They have "use of an other language" instead of "use of another language".

Sigh - I just hope they can look past any perceived smugness and see the A1 employee they'd be missing out on if they passed me by :rotfl:

Thank you for your input. I will let you know if I get anywhere.

Yes you have scuppered their chances if the recruiting manager doesnt have a sense of humour about themselves.

The 2nd one in particular I think scuppers you as it may well be a completely new job or a new name or such and you have made yourself sound like an !!!!.