Employer - Work experience request - was I too rude

j.e.j.

gibson123 wrote: »

I received an e-mail today from a student of an FE college today, she said - I am doing Business Admin and IT, and would like work experience. How do I apply?

My reply is download application from website (link given) and follow instructions.

She replied can you just send me an application form please? -

my reply was no sorry we do not have the resources to do this, unless of course there is a good reason (e.g a disability) that prevents you from doing this yourself.

Her reply - There's nothing wrong with me, I don't understand why you don't just send me an application form?

Me - sorry, you have to follow the application process, A business and administration student should find that straight-forward.

Her - That's out of order! Why don't you just do your job? I am only applying for work experience not a job. THANKS!! HAVE A NICE DAY

Me - Sorry - what is out of order is that you are not prepared to follow simple instructions. If you followed the instructions, you would see that you would return the completed application to me for consideration. It is not my job to find you work experience. The impression you have given me so far is that you are lazy and petulant, I suggest you modify your approach before asking another employer for work experience. Good luck with your studies and HAVE A NICE DAY! :mad::mad:

I cannot see the problem in asking an admin person to send out an application form. The applicant may not have access to a printer, etc. I suspect you could have bunged the application form in an envelope and put it in the post tray in less than the time you've both spent bickering via email .

However, she was rude ("why can't you just do your job"), and you were rude in return, so neither of you is in the right, really.

pelirocco

gibson123 wrote: »

Totally agree that communication deteriorated so quickly.

The link I provided sends her to a web-page with the title - student work experience.

You can go to our website and find it independently under "students" " "work experience" "training"

I am quite senior, my e-mail signature shows my seniority, we are an organisation that feel strongly about supporting young people and we freely make our e-mail addresses available to colleges and universities with an invitation for students to contact us if they want help with their studies. We do things like mentor students doing thesis in our subject areas, help get work experience in our departments and generally give career advise etc. This is of course not our core business. This girls application would have been returned to me for consideration and feedback.

I will certainly be contacting the college, I am just annoyed that I responded so negatively.

Dont worry they will experience far worse in the real world if they carry on with the same attitude

pelirocco

j.e.j. wrote: »

I cannot see the problem in asking an admin person to send out an application form. The applicant may not have access to a printer, etc. I suspect you could have bunged the application form in an envelope and put it in the post tray in less than the time you've both spent bickering via email .

However, she was rude ("why can't you just do your job"), and you were rude in return, so neither of you is in the right, really.

You can not baby sit people when it comes to the job market , they were given the link and failed to follow out what they were instructed to do .
I dont think the OP would be too happy at being classed as the 'admin ' person:rotfl:

j.e.j.

I don't know what gibson123's position in the company is! But I still don't think it's worth the petty arguments.

applicant: Can you please send me an application form
gibson123: Ok give me your address
applicant: It's

---

gibson123: Ok, pop it in the post for you.

Done. Why make simple things difficult?

If postage costs are the issue you could ask the applicant to send an s.a.e. Then the ball is in their court.

prowla

So, somebody doing business admin and IT couldn't follow the instructions to download a form.

Hmmm - wonder if that's the right career choice...?

Sambucus_Nigra

Or just a faulty printer?

She did say please!

tonyh66

j.e.j. wrote: »

I don't know what gibson123's position in the company is! But I still don't think it's worth the petty arguments.

applicant: Can you please send me an application form
gibson123: Ok give me your address
applicant: It's

---

gibson123: Ok, pop it in the post for you.

Done. Why make simple things difficult?

If postage costs are the issue you could ask the applicant to send an s.a.e. Then the ball is in their court.

OP wasn't making simple things difficult, how hard is it to follow a link to the form, download it, fill it in and email it?
Sounds like the student is a bit immature and is used to being handed eveything on a plate.

tonyh66

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Or just a faulty printer?

She did say please!

you don't have to print the form, just fill it in and email it back.....

Poppie68

Im with the OP on this one...
Can't see the little upstart getting very far in employment if thats her attitude when applying for work experience. As already mentioned if she can't follow simple instructions by following a link and emailing the application form she will have a shock in the real business world.

LannieDuck

Wow, I'm amazed at her gall. You'd sent her a link to the application form, and she wants you to send her the actual PDF of the form rather than navigating to the page herself? Lazy so-and-so.

I probably wouldn't have bothered responding towards the second half of the conversation, but I would have remembered to reject her application form. If she can't follow simple instructions, she's not going to be much help to a business.