Inundated with poorly written CVs

Dear Editor,

To most people, language is simply a form of communication used to convey what one must. To some, it is an art form, used to communicate stories and feelings. To a small group of people, however, it is the basis of their entire livelihood and perhaps even the jobs of many others. That small group of people include the “suits”.

Recently, thanks to an overzealous head hunter spreading misinformation in a WhatsApp group, I was the recipient of more than 200 job applications from law students across the country. It took me a while to look through the CVs. It was after reading through these 200 emails that I realized how the style of writing has changed over the years.

Emails were sent with only attachments, some were addressed to the wrong firm while others were addressed to the wrong person. Several had spelling mistakes, syntax errors and other grammatical blunders. If our professors read these emails, they would be horrified at the lack of communication skills. How difficult could it be to write two simple paragraphs, attach a CV and ensure it is addressed to the right individual and right law firm? How long does it take to proofread a short email that will likely create the biggest impression about you especially given that lawyers are required to have excellent language skills?

Let’s face it though. Over time, the style and method of communication have changed, and with it, the way we write. So, where do we draw the line? How casual or formal can we be in our emails? Does each email need to be at its flowery best? Here is my list of top five things to check when sending an email.