a letter to the editor


To whom it may concern,

I have to say, I had mixed feelings about your article, “Thx for the IView! I Wud to Work 4 U!! ;)”, I definitely didn’t agree with what was said, but nonetheless, I just wanted to thank you for writing it. Your piece really shows the truth and the ‘behind the scenes’ thinking process that employers go through. That being said, I cant say I feel particularly encouraged after reading.  

Who in their right mind is going to try to get a job in such a toxic climate like the one depicted in your article? I really had no idea as to the extent of why job hirers choose, or don’t choose the applicants they have, and that when it comes to it, job hirers were so picky and old fashioned! I suppose that, yes, employers should be careful in their choices, out of hundreds of applicants and only one position available, pickiness goes without saying. However, the basis of these cuts are outrageous!

I simply don’t agree that ‘text speak’ or a too casual tone, should be considered “instant candidacy killers” or that it implies “immaturity and questionable judgment”. This idea honestly blows my mind. Its 2008, not 1953! Employers should not only cease to belittle those of us who use so-called ‘text speak’ in the workplace but encourage us to do so! It shows you’re your employee is caught up with the times! It shows that they are aware of trends and they know what the people want. It isn’t the 50s anymore,  the world and workplace should keep up with all of the rapid changes in jargon that comes with the overall technological revolution of our time!

Also, what with this criticism of the supposed “on the fly mentality” when it comes to thank you notes? This idea that a job-hunter "should sit down at their computer in a thoughtful way and do it, not while they're on their way somewhere". Why does the hiring manager deserve this? Why does the hiring manager think they need my time and heartfelt sentiments? Where is the, oh so desired, professionalism in that? I simply cannot agree to this. The idea of thank you notes itself are such an old fashioned custom that should honestly die out or, if anything, evolve with the fast paced tempo of our modern lifestyle.  

Another thing that you mentioned in your article is the aversion that employers have to friend a candidate on social networking sites. I just simply don’t understand this, they are called social-networking sites for a reason. What do they expect candidates to do? This really just stems from a deeper issue of societies reluctance to change, in this case the way networking is done now is different from the way it was done 10-15 years ago. As I’ve stated before, this is old fashioned and ultimately hinders progress.

If anything, ‘text speak’ is just another cycle in our evolution of language. If the way we used our language never changed then we would all be using thous and thee and mayhaps.

Who wants that?

Let language evolve people! Honestly, this whole problem just shows the inherent flaw in capitalism. We are so power hungry that we think its normal that people are expected to lose themselves and blend into the masses and ultimately numb themselves, in order to be taken seriously by a few self-proclaimed ‘experts’ in workplace professionalism. The workplace should encourage individuality and modernity and an overall sense of progress and bridging over differences and your article shows the apparent truth to it. I’m not job hunting right now and frankly I am never planning on it.

From,



Sofia Khan

Highschool student

Comments