How To Write Yourself Out Of A Job

A few days ago my agency hosted a really interesting class on the importance of employee evaluations.  While some parts of the course were kind of dry, I was fascinated by the importance that the instructor placed on proper writing, and one particular point that she emphasized really stuck with me.

Like most employee evaluations, ours has a specific section marked “Employee Response,” where a person can comment on their manager’s feedback.  Our teacher stressed that so many people have written angry rebuttals to their not-so-hot performance reviews that this Employee Response section has been dubbed “The Suicide Box,” since so many careers have been ended by an unprofessional response to criticism.  I’m not sure if that was an exaggeration or not, but it did hammer home the importance of having a thick skin, and of maintaining a professional demeanor at all times.

Even as a prospective employee of the federal government, you’re going to face some critical feedback at some time or another.  Whether it’s being passed over for a job or just not receiving the information you need from a Human Resources Technician, there are bound to be some frustrating moments.  And since email is the government’s preferred means of communication, this means you’ll have to be on your best written behavior at all times.

Never forget that emails can be forwarded around the world in a matter of seconds, and that things you write will be accessible forever.   An email that sounds angry or frustrated isn’t likely to get the results you really need anyway, and it’ll probably only close doors for you in the future.  On a slightly less important note, the same rule applies for spelling and grammar mistakes.  If you’re trying to present yourself as a model employee who can hit the ground running on day one, you definitely won’t paint that picture by sending a messy email that’s full of misspelled words.

As a defensive measure, I always recommend taking at least a 30-minute waiting period before replying to emails of any kind.  Read the sender’s message over two or three times, to ensure that you understand exactly what they’re saying.  When you type your own response, make sure to read it through thoroughly before you hit send.  Think about how your message will look in a day, a month, or even a year, or anytime when it’s being read completely out of context.

Remember, poor writing (or overly emotional writing) can present you as someone who’s not quite ready for the professional world.  The only way to get better at your writing is to practice, so I recommend picking up a copy of Email:  A Write It Well Guide by Janis Fisher Chan.  And as a last resort, if you still find yourself having difficulty getting your message across, don’t be afraid to go old school and just pick up a telephone!