job applicant correspondence

From: X
Sent: 23 February 2006 12:12
To: Nicholas Whyte
Subject: Application

Director Mr. N. WHYTE,
 
Please find attached my continued interest in your work: CV incl. letter.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
X



From: “Nicholas Whyte”
To: X
Subject: RE: Application
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 18:23:02 +0100

Dear X
 
Thank you for your email.
 
You don’t appear to have any expertise (or indeed interest) in international politics in the area where we work, so I think I must recommend that you try elsewhere.
 
Sincerely,
 
Nicholas Whyte



From: X
Sent: 24 February 2006 10:21
To: Nicholas Whyte
Subject: RE: Application

Mr. N. WHYTE,

Indeed it has been very difficult to find an entrance/platform into the field of international relations/politics/diplomacy, but it is my main interest and subject. Often they require several years of work experience etc. and therefore it seems to be impossible to start somewhere, and often it is about unpaid traineeships.

Thank you anyhow for the attention.

Yours sincerely,

X



From: “Nicholas Whyte”
To: X
Subject: RE: Application
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 11:18:04 +0100

Dear X,
 
I am sorry for my brusque previous reply. On reviewing your previous letter, I note that you did in fact mention your interest in international relations, in half a sentence about two-thirds of the way into it.
 
I am going to give you two important pieces of advice.
 
1) I looked at what you had written to me and assumed that you were just sending applications at random to people in Brussels, and perhaps you had some more personal reason for wanting to be here. I guess from your second email that in fact you want to apply for one of our internships here. If so, you should have been very specific about that; it was not at all clear from your letter.
 
2) Indeed it is difficult to get started in international relations. One first step, which I strongly recommend, is that you should try and get a place on an international election observation mission through [your country’s] foreign ministry, either via the OSCE or the United Nations. It is an easy way to get short-term experience in the field and work out if this is the sort of life that you want. The fact that you have helped out with elections in [your own country] will surely count in your favour.
 
Based on your CV, I’m afraid that right now you would not be a serious candidate even for an unpaid position here. I am attaching the CV’s of those who have worked with me as interns in the past, since I started in this position almost four years ago. They will give you some idea of how to present your qualifications and interest better.
 
Sincerely,
 
Nicholas Whyte



From: X
Sent: 24 February 2006 11:52
To: Nicholas Whyte
Subject: RE: Application

Thank you very much for this. And indeed I tried of course to get short-term contracts via [her country’s government and foreign aid organisations] several years ago, but they require experience and referees. The answer in [her country] is always the same – that it is very difficult.

I did also try, for several years now, all the TA (technical assistance) offices in Brussels, and here the situation is the same, they insist on 5-10 years of experience.

In fact, I had an unpaid offer from you in 1997/98, [my current employers] Brussels office. However, it was not possible to finance an unpaid traineeship.

Yours sincerely and thanks again.,

X



From: X
Sent: 24 February 2006 16:39
To: Nicholas Whyte
Subject: RE: Application/ Brussels, Paris, New York, [home city], London……………….

And of course, no there are NO personal reasons for wanting to be in Brussels. I have been searching both in Brussels and [my country] as well as in other places around the world. It has more to do with the CONTENT, RELEVANCE and SUBSTANCE of the work, and not the city. Assumptions ???



From: “Nicholas Whyte”
To: X
Subject: RE: Application/ Brussels, Paris, New York, [home city], London……………….
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:37:59 +0100

X,
 
Don’t get me wrong, I am simply saying that your application did not make it look as if the nature of the work was particularly important to you. If you have been trying without success for several years to get into this line, maybe there is a fundamental problem with the way you have been approaching it. I don’t know what you have sent to others, I can only comment on what you sent to me. Take my advice or not as you like.
 
Sincerely,
 
Nicholas Whyte



From: X
Sent: 24 February 2006 18:53
To: Nicholas Whyte
Subject: RE:

Mr. Director N. WHYTE,

Thank you, however, I do not believe a word of it…..I have another work going on.

Have a nice week-end !

X



From: “Nicholas Whyte” <nwhyte@crisisgroup.org>
To: X
Subject: RE:
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 19:12:02 +0100

Well, if that’s your attitude, I’m not surprised you have found it difficult to break into this line of work.



From: X
Sent: 24 February 2006 19:32
To: Nicholas Whyte
Subject: RE:

OK fine and dandy !!

Good Luck !!

One thought on “job applicant correspondence

Comments are closed.