Paula, they both work. 😉

(Nothing like spotting a typo four days too late: PRIDE. I was wondering if the overly-eager respondents had any pride.)

Randy, you’ve seen the bulk of the more ridiculous things while moderating the LinkedIn forum. I think the most frustrating for me is the sense I get (and I see you do, too) that some of these people need to be led by the hand to the job, then want to be hired without question.

Meanwhile, another writer is following directions and getting the job. Funny how that works.

Oh Krista, you hit on my peeve, too! I saw it a few times just over the weekend. It’s right THERE. First sentence, title, etc. If you don’t read, you’re not presenting yourself very well to a potential client, right?

I saw it on a weekend conference chat — people asking questions. The answers were right there on the screen. I mean, literally it was in plain sight and the presenter was talking about the very answer they were seeking. Yikes.

I feel like in general people’s ability (or willingness) to read information right in front of them is going down the toilet. Off topic but almost every day I also see FB ads selling something and people will start asking questions that are answered in the damn title. Boys clothes 7-8 $50. What size are these? Price? LOL

Paula, I’ve seen instances in which the job poster provides a link to the full job listing–and then they get peppered with questions from people who clearly couldn’t be bothered to read the listing.

Can I work remote? (The job description specifically states it’s on-site.)
You didn’t provide rate information. (The full job posting does.)
What style guide is required? (Guess where you could find that detail?)
And so on.

All these people are doing is branding themselves as freelancers who need to be spoon-fed, who need their hands held, who have zero initiative–who are, in short, poor prospects. And all because they couldn’t be bothered to click on a link that would have answered all their questions. I don’t get it–but I do know that they make it easier for me to compete for those positions!

Gabriella, YES! On all counts. A while back, I received a press release about a source who I could have pitched to one of my editors IF the source’s company was involved in certain areas of work, which was not clear from the pitch I received. So I sent an email asking for clarification and stating specifically that the company would need to be actively involved in (not just planning to get involved in) A, B, and C–and that if the company met those criteria, I could query my editor on a potential story. The publicist, rather than answering my questions, sent an email to her client and me in which she told the client I wanted to interview him for a profile of his company that would appear on (name of media site) and asking him what dates would be convenient to schedule an interview.

As for names: Mine is androgynous, and my parents went with the traditionally male spelling, so all my life I’ve gotten mail/email incorrectly addressed to me as Mr., and I hate that but it is what it is. But last week, I replied to a Mr. email and signed with Ms. to correct the error, and the person (a source I need for a story) proceeded to use Mrs. in subsequent email.

Cluelessness abounds…

Bingo! Once again, Paula, you hit the nail squarely on the head. And I doubt in most cases if these same writers even know what the job entails.

When I see those replies, I read “I’m desperate” instead of “I’m willing to have a conversation to see if we’re a good fit.”

And Gabriella, I’ve had those PR replies too. The sources they offer up are rarely a good match to whatever query I posted.

LOL We are preaching to our own choir today, you and I. 🙂

So, Gabriel ;), why haven’t you changed your name to accommodate that woman? I mean really, talk about being inflexible. LOL I feel your pain. I once told a dude what my name was and his response was “No it’s not, it’s …it says right here your name is….”

That’s when you know they’re not your client — when they argue what’s obviously not true.

Good PR people are tough to find, aren’t they? You’re right — the good ones will read and respond in kind. The bad ones will send you a cosmetic surgeon when you asked for a security expert. Oy.