While at University:
Dear lecturer,
4 years into my degree programme and I still do not
understand what you are talking about. However I can see the end in sight so I will try to endure. Please just
try not to give me any other “F”s so I don't have an extra year as a whole new
world awaits me in the corporate world where I can act important, wear smart dresses
and tailored suits in return for a fat pay check. I am sure all you have been
teaching has no application in real world so I do not really need to listen to
your boring lectures. The world awaits me.
After graduation:
Dear recruiter,
I graduated from university about 3 years ago with not so
good grades from an equally not so good university. I completed my NYSC as demanded by my country but whilst in my place
of primary assignment, no one would teach me anything or let me use equipment or work tools.
Everything was too important and confidential to be shared and everyone was too
busy to care about me. So I was relegated to making photocopies, carrying files
around from table to table or buying food for my superiors at work. Suffice to
say it was one year of my life wasted. Now
I am on the job market with no skills, no experience, half baked
qualifications and no creativity or innovation to create wealth through means
other than paid employment. How do I get
a job when all these odds are stacked against my favor?
Then you get lucky:
Dear Boss,
I have been in this same position for 5 years without a
promotion or salary raise doing the same mundane task day in day out? No one told me it would be like this. This
whole corporate world is not as cranked up as I thought. Most days I feel like a
fraud as I go to work for I know my role is not so important but I guess it
beats being on the job market again. It is bad enough I wasted so much time
between graduation and now and at this rate, I would still be working when
using my Zimmer frame. I do not even see how this role fits into the big
picture yet I have to leave home at 5.30pm to get to work before 8pm and then
close after you have finished fraternizing with your clients during work hours and
you return with impossible deadlines which must be completed before I head
home. You call it networking, I call it faffing around. I want to quit but if I do, I know my chances
of getting another job are slim to none seeing that there is a multitude of
“Job seekers” out there so unfortunately I have to put up with this dead end
job . I am already doing most of your work as it is all under the guise of
'delegation'. Please free me.
Then finally promotion comes:
Dear colleague,
I am well aware of your backstabbing and politics. Late
nights at the chairman's house, attending every function, politicking and “politricking”, playing dirty
just to get ahead. You spend all your time coming up with schemes on how to
fault my strategy or ideas just to get
ahead. Be warned, there is only room for one at the top.
Sounds
familiar? Most of us have some if not
all of these emotions at some point in life. Is it then right to say it may
have nothing to do with your job , boss or the economy but everything to do
with your attitude and approach to life?
But what if your letters read like this:
While at University:
Dear lecturer,
I find the whole theory of molecules quite challenging but I
am keen to understand it. It would be a shame to spend 4 years and leave
without making sense of this. Can you refer me to books or other materials I
can read up to better aid my understanding of these complex topics? Or better
still let me Google it and see what comes up. I may find videos that will help
me visualize this and then I can come back with questions. I would also like to
know the top performers in class so I can go to them for explanations . Truth
is, I may not know how practicable these courses are in terms of real life
applications, but since no knowledge is wasted, I hope to make the best of this
season of structured learning.
After graduation:
Dear recruiter,
I graduated from university and I am currently unemployed but
hopeful for the future. In my time away from work, I have used the chance to
learn a new skill, done some free online courses and I have also volunteered at
a start up company helping out with customer services and admin stuff so I can
learn about the work place. While I do not have all the relevant skills for
this job, I can assure you I am quite teachable and hungry for an opportunity. I am reliable, have
a positive attitude to life and I am the kind of person who you can train, coach or mentor for the future.
Give me a chance to add value to myself and to the organisation.
Then you get lucky:
Dear Boss,
I have been in this same position for 5 years without a
promotion or salary raise. In my time here I have contributed to the growth of
the department's revenue and improved
operational excellence by reducing turnaround time for deliverables and clients.
I have worked on several successful projects and I was pivotal in completion of
project Arise within timescale and budget. My efforts resulting in increase in
scope of work resulting in more revenue. for the company.
I have also completed my certification exams and sponsored
myself on several role and industry
related trainings. I therefore believe I am most suitable for the next level,
challenges and responsibilities within the organisation and I would like to be
considered for it. I am happy to do it in an acting capacity for a probationary
period to demonstrate I am most suitable for this role.
Then finally promotion comes:
Dear colleague,
I am a strong advocate of collaboration not competition. It
builds successful teams and businesses. I am happy to assist you with
challenges you are facing as my core competence is in relationship management while
I can leverage on your strong financial background. Together we can be
formidable and be the A team. Can we
meet over lunch and discuss in more details how we can collaborate for success? See you on top!
Remember what differentiates you from another
person in the same predicament is how you react to a situation. It's all about
your perspective. You can determine a positive outcome through a positive
outlook. Be in charge, keep positive,
have faith, see the glass as half full, do
what you can and always hope for the best. Cheers to 2013.
