Would this bother you? Do you think it's rude or inappropriate?
By jesssp
@jesssp (2712)
Canada
October 20, 2009 3:20pm CST
A little while ago a kid came into our business to drop off a resume. He didn't take it to the front, he just dropped it off in a different department. Instead of just putting the resume on the manager's desk like the person who took it should have, them and several other employees stood around reading it and making fun of it! And this is a retail business, there are usually customers around.
That really bothers me. I thought it was such an invasion of the kid's privacy. He comes in looking for a job and people stand around laughing about the spelling and grammar mistakes on his resume, calling him an idiot? How would that make you feel?
I know that I've noticed mistakes on resumes too but since I'm a manager resumes actually are my business, they aren't the business of other employees. This kid is obviously trying to get a job and obviously didn't have someone to help him with his resume, and while I do think it's unprofessional to have errors in your resume at least the kid was trying to get a job. He wasn't looking to get made fun of behind his back.
What are your thoughts on this?
8 people like this
35 responses
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
21 Oct 09
I think that sort of behavior is definitely rude. They showed their own ignorance by displaying that behavior in a more or less public place.
If you are their supervisor, I hope you chastised them for it, or reported it to the person who could.
I probably would have been less than impressed with his resume if it were that bad, but you're right, at least he tried. The others had no business handling the resume at all.
1 person likes this
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
22 Oct 09
Unfortunately it's not my place to step in and even if I did say something to the GM nothing would happen (he's really not much for punishment). I know that having a resume like that probably isn't going to get you to the top of the list but he was just a kid and was only looking to push a broom so I think he should definitely get some slack.
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
20 Oct 09
I agree with you. That was really horrible. I live in an area with some seriously spoiled kids who get everything handed to them. The kid you are talking about has a head start on understanding what this life is about and he shouldn't have been picked on like that. My advice, if you still have them, go back through the resumes of all the employees involved in the behavior and find their mistakes. Then, take them aside privately and point them out to them. Ask them how they would feel if their mistakes were brought to like to be made fun of in front of all of their co-workers. I would imagine they would feel some humility and learn a lesson afterward. And, if some of them had perfect resumes without any mistakes, I am sure they have made mistakes during their employment, perhaps remind them of the mistakes they have made and apply the same question as above. Either way, I would suggest you don't let them get away with the behavior they were exhibiting.
1 person likes this
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
21 Oct 09
Unfortunately none of it is really my place, I'm pretty much just an observer. I am going to mention it to another manager though. One thing that really stood out in my mind was that one of the people laughing is overweight and used to work at a fast food place. How would they feel if someone got their hands on their resume and said something like 'haha, this fatty used to work at ____!' I'm sure that would make them feel pretty bad, and it's the same thing they did to this kid.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
21 Oct 09
I agree that is private and personal information on there. It is not something that everyone in the company should be looking at and it is insenstive to make fun of someone like that who is trying to get a job. Since you are calling him a kid I am assuming he is rather young, and I hope in time he will learn how to create a more appropriate resume. A resume is not something that should be seen by any one other than those who are making decisions about hiring or those who directly assist them.
1 person likes this
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
21 Oct 09
It is true that a resume with a lot of glaring errors is going to affect your chances of getting hired. But this kid (he was definitely under 20, probably 17-18) most likely didn't have the resources to get help with it. You're right, they shouldn't have seen it, the person who took it should have put it face down on the boss's desk without so much as reading his name.
@kitty42 (3923)
• United States
20 Oct 09
[b]Hello my friend 
That was really unprofessional, although he was not there at the time, its really not fun to make fun of people trying to do something positive for themselves, we all needed help one time or another when it came to our resumes they need to put themselves in his shoes and remember what it was like for them when they started out, that would have bothered me alot, I would probably have said they should not do that, some people just do not think.
Thanks for sharing.[/b]
That was really unprofessional, although he was not there at the time, its really not fun to make fun of people trying to do something positive for themselves, we all needed help one time or another when it came to our resumes they need to put themselves in his shoes and remember what it was like for them when they started out, that would have bothered me alot, I would probably have said they should not do that, some people just do not think.
Thanks for sharing.[/b]1 person likes this
@Zenstrive (237)
• Indonesia
21 Oct 09
As a manager you should give warnings or even fire the guys who laughed at his resume. That'll teach them a lesson. That being said, as a manager you should have good connection with other departements so that whenever a wrong document gets sent to wrong place it can be put to the right place right away.
1 person likes this
@horsesrule (1957)
• United States
21 Oct 09
I have to agree that it is inappropriate as well as rude. I've always hated it when employees stand around talking to other employees when I'm a customer. Especially when they are talking bad about someone or something. I know we're all human but there is a time and place.
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
22 Oct 09
You're exactly right. I know I've been guilty of doing things similar to this but I would never do it right out in public as an employee. I know how much I hate going into a business and listening to the people who are supposed to be working there chat about whatever, but for them to be flat out bad mouthing someone is so much worse.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
22 Oct 09
Gossiping or ridiculing any customer or potential employee behind his back is not only rude but it is bad for your business. I have been in places where I've heard the employees bashing their boss or another co-worker that obviously is not present. I have also heard them talking about a customer that annoys them for some reason or other. For me it is a turn-off. They don't have a clue to who I am. I could be their victim's mom, daughter, best friend....they don't know. I did hear a group of employees talking about their boss and unbeknown to them, I was good friends with the woman. Her son was in and out of this store and It could have been he who overheard all this negative nonsense. Beyond being a turn-off, it would not be a place that I would want to work myself. As a manager, you should have a meeting with the staff and make them of aware that their behavior is not acceptable.
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
22 Oct 09
I'm relatively sure there were no customers around at the time, which doesn't make it right but makes it a little less terrible. I know exactly what you mean, if I go into a business and hear employees saying things like that then it is a turn off. And if they're saying things like that about a customer then that could very well make me stop going there as I'm a customer too, they could just as easily been talking about me. You're also right about never knowing who's listening. We live in a smaller town, those employees don't know who might know this kid!
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
22 Oct 09
I am a spiteful person and the first thing I would have done is quietly give this kid an interview. We all make mistakes and for people to stand around and publicly humiliate him, and without him around, just shows what a bunch of "selfish losers" you have working with you. None of us are perfect and people should realize that and deal with situations like that appropriately. You said "kid" as if he was young, and that being said, take him under your wing and make the best out of that situation. People are ignorant and rude these days and have very little respect for anyone, including themselves. I saw this on a church post board one time " You must be little to belittle." Makes a lot of sense don't it?
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
22 Oct 09
'Selfish losers' - you hit the nail on the head.
I have nothing to do with hiring for that position but if I did I wouldn't hire him just because of what those 'selfish losers' did. It would still have to be based on references, experience and an interview just like everyone else.
@mykaylala (214)
• United States
20 Oct 09
I think the kid shouldn't have handed it to any one, besides the manager in the first place. I also believe that the employee's who were laughing and invading his privacy should have been written up! They have a job, so there old enough to know that they should not look at confidential information. They could have at least been discrete about it! Even if they're only getting paid min. wage and working as an associate, a little professionalism goes a long way! I really feel sorry for him being mocked behind his back like that and the worse thing is, he will probably send that resume to a lot of other employers and with errors on it probably wont be hired!
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
21 Oct 09
I agree with you, he should definitely have handed it directly to the manager or to the front desk at the very least, he shouldn't have just given it to the first person he saw. But he was young and probably not very experienced when it comes to this sort of thing. I'm sure he didn't expect it to result in a group of employees having a knee slapper at his expense.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
21 Oct 09
Once upon a time I was a supervisor and we used to give a paragraph writing test. One person who was already working for the company as a temp had taken the test and her grammar was absolutely atrocious. She was a college student too, which rather surprised me. We hired her mainly based on a recommendation from the manager she was working for. I, too, would have been appalled if people had been reading her paragraph and making fun (not that I would have left it where anybody could get at it). But I did let her know that there was a need for improvement there.
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
22 Oct 09
I agree. If I was in the hiring position for what this kid applied for I would give him some resume writing tips and resources, whether I hired him or not. Everyone needs a little guidance sometimes with some things and there's no shame in that, and it's certainly no reason to belittle someone.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Oct 09
I do have to admit that once when I was working at a Pizza place, the manager left a stack of applications in plain sight. I picked them up and looked through them. Some of them hardly had any information on them! Like some did not list an address or phone number. Some left almost every section blank. I didn't really laugh at them, I more or less rolled my eyes and thought to myself "Are you really that stupid? Can't you realize you won't get a job if you don't fill out ALL the information?"
But that was a long time ago, I was in the back of the store not in an area viewed by customers, and I was alone, I didn't share any information with any other employees.
I do believe it's disrespectful to read someone else's resume if you're not the one hiring them. It's even worse to share it with others and make fun of that person behind their back.. especially if that person does eventually get hired and ends up working right along side you? What if one of the people tells him that they were all laughing at his resume? It won't be a very good work environment then, will it?
1 person likes this
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
21 Oct 09
I've read resumes before and I've definitely noticed the mistakes but I wouldn't stand around, essentially in public, and make fun of someone I have never even met. I'm by no means little miss PC but there are lines I just wouldn't cross and this is one of them. I could see myself maybe making a comment to one other person in private but not right out in the open like that.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
20 Oct 09
This story just confirms what I have thought for some time now - there is very little respect around these days. Everyone seems to think they have a right to know everything about everyone, even complete strangers. We seem to have lost the ability to distinguish between what we need to know and what is really none of our business. The media must take some of the blame for this, but as adults, we seem to be lowering our own standards. I fear for our future, I really do.
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
21 Oct 09
I fear for it too. My place of business is especially bad because there are virtually no managers to tell people what is and isn't acceptable. However I think this is the sort of thing where common sense should have stepped in but clearly didn't. You're right, very little respect indeed.
@lottalove (1)
• United States
21 Oct 09
Actually I am very disturbed by this. And let me just explain why.... This young man came into a bussiness place with a resume in hopes to find a job, he didnt do anything to anyone other then to hand an application to an employee. Hell this might of been the first place he tried or maybe the first time trying to apply for a position. And since when did you have to know how to spell to sell clothes. I think that everyone of the employees that was involved in making fun of this young man be written up / suspended . And I would HIRE this young man. Despite the mistakes on his resume. Show these other workers they are NOT BETTER then this young man that was out TRYING to get a job. I hope that you make the right decission in this matter. And dont leave the employees with out any type of decipline, as they will thinks its just ok to make fun of people!!!!
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
22 Oct 09
Well, in all fairness a resume full of mistakes and errors is not always excusable just because spelling doesn't matter in the job you're applying for. In this case the issue is the employees acting unprofessionally rather than the actual resume.
I have no authority when it comes to hiring for what he was applying for (he was just looking for a clean up job) but I don't think it would be correct to hire him just because of this. It would still have to be based on references, an interview and, yes, his resume.
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
20 Oct 09
Isn't that just so sad?
How cruel people can be today and like you said, he was only looking for a job. At LEAST he was out there looking and not staying at home watching tv which I'm sure no one else thought of. I hope these people don't raise THEIR kids with such disrespect to other human beings.
It's a rough world out there and I've been looking for work for months. I give him credit and respect and I hope someone will give him a break and let him work.
Those people should be ashamed of themselves but I think Karma will take care of that someday.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
20 Oct 09
I think it says a lot about your employees--as in, maybe you should hire that kid, who at least had the gumption to bring in a resume and is probably more resourceful than the jerks making fun of it.
There are many people who have given up looking for jobs, others who are just looking for a handout. At least that kid wants to work. I hope you hire him and I hope you'll have a session with your employees about common human decency. Or you could sit there with each of their resumes and start paging through and laughing!
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
21 Oct 09
I don't think they will hire him just because we aren't looking. And in reality things like a terrible resume do affect someone's chances of getting hired; but in the kids defense he wasn't applying to be a rocket scientist, he was just looking to push a broom. I think a lot of it has to do with one person in particular, the instigator in this case, who is unhappy with themselves so makes a point of trashing other people whenever they get the chance. Draws attention away from their flaws for a minute I guess.
@reckon21 (3479)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
i do sympathize with the kid because he was being insulted and laugh at with those feeling hypocrite people...who they think they are some kind of too intelligent person who can not do any mistake...are they playing God. People are different and does not give you the right to ridicule a resume.
I do like your attitude because you are not like your co workers who are too good for their own self. You have a considerate heart and you understand why some people were not really good when it comes to make a resume. keep it up.
@dvirtualist (399)
• Philippines
18 Apr 10
I do admit sometimes I do laugh when someone makes mistake. But Resume is a private thing, only the person who is intended to read the resume should see what is written there. And employees who makes fun about the kids resume should be reprimanded, since you're the manager, why don't you teach them some respect. This is a kid, trying to find a job! I really feel sorry about what they did to him.
@much2say (56057)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Apr 10
That's so mean! I must admit though that I have been part of the hiring process many times, and I had my share of being mean about applicants behind their backs. Like one time this "kid" came into our work place for an interview and he was totally overdressed in serious business attire which was so unnecessary . . . or another time a guy who was supposedly came in to proofread had a bunch of silly errors on his resume. In hindsight, yes, it was rude of me to do that . . . I sure wouldn't want people making me the laughing stock when I am serious about getting a job there.
@tarsonm (27)
• United States
20 Oct 09
I blame the education system in America. I also have seen this happen many of times. I had worked for a telephone survey company in which I trained and took resumes from potential employees. I was forced by my manager to make the people read a survey in front of employees in which most people laughed at their misfortunes of messing up words. I did not like to put people on the spot like that but, it was my duty to make people read for the job. No matter if it is embarassing or not. My acting manager also kept a file of all potential employees on her desk and employees had adequate time to read through the file and make fun of and or dispose of papers if they wanted to. Talk about a professional business at work. Only in America.
