This is why I find working/job hunting so hard!

[Phanelope]

somebody posted a job on Facebook and I asked what hours? Which seems like a reasonable thing to want to know. And people started commenting saying it’s not how to approach an employer. Apparently it was rude and blunt. People are so weird. Anyway now I feel like crap and want to hide in my hole.

Maybe this is what people mean when they say “read between the lines”. Expecting something but not being explicit about what it is they expect.

 

[tducey]

You didn't do anything wrong but maybe in the future you could ask the company for their email and ask different questions like the one you asked on Facebook. Just a thought.

 

[Phanelope]

Is it rude to want to know the hours because you should just work any hours? Or is it rude to ask over Facebook? Or was it because I should address them more formally. Like say hello and thank you at the end?

 

[WittyAspie]

Posting exactly what you wrote on Facebook would be the best way for us to evaluate the statement.

 

[Phanelope]

“What hours?”

 

[Progster]

I'm lacking some context here... was it an employer posting a job vacancy, or a friend posting a job vacancy? If you were responding directly to an employer whom you don't know, "What hours?" is too abrupt and informal. You should say somethig like "Could you please tell me what the hours are?"

 

[Cactus]

I agree with "Progster." If you're corresponding with a potential employer, it should always be in a formal business style. The application/resume, phone conversations, interviews, are instances where you should "put on your best face." I dislike the process because both parties are acting. That is why interviews are such a poor predictor of a candidate's success on the job.

 

[Phanelope]

Noted. I always thought of Facebook as informal.

 

[Mr Allen]

You did nothing wrong, Facebook is full of morons who will question everything you do.

Also, if you don't want strangers commenting on your stuff, set your profile to friends only.

 

[Progster]

Noted. I always thought of Facebook as informal.

I agree, I wouldn't expect a formal job vacancy announcement to be posted on Facebook.

 

[Phanelope]

There was another job today asking for website content writers. I googled it and thought it was something I could do with a bit of training, even though I have no formal qualifications. I tried to word my enquiry about training in a formal manner and it just seemed wrong. So I deleted it. People always make me second guess myself and I end up so anxious I just don’t even want to try.

 

[Progster]

There was another job today asking for website content writers. I googled it and thought it was something I could do with a bit of training, even though I have no formal qualifications. I tried to word my enquiry about training in a formal manner and it just seemed wrong. So I deleted it. People always make me second guess myself and I end up so anxious I just don’t even want to try.

Is this a Facebook group or page dedicated to job vacancies? You could see what kind of questions others are asking, and model your question on those.

 

[Phanelope]

Is this a Facebook group or page dedicated to job vacancies? You could see what kind of questions others are asking, and model your question on those.

It’s a group, and other people are asking in an informal way too, but for some reason I was targeted.

 

[owlet]

I've seen other people ask the same question on other job listings on Facebook and they've never been called up on it - in fact, I've seen the person who posted the job listing reply to them informally like it wasn't a problem. Sometimes people get worked up over things like that for seemingly no reason. I mean, what does it matter to them if you were blunt? It's none of their business (unless they want to go ahead and get you a job). Try not to let it get to you.

 

[Progster]

It’s a group, and other people are asking in an informal way too, but for some reason I was targeted.

Oh, in that case, there was no reason for it, probably people being unnecessarily fastidious.