I recently got blasted by a young woman who got married not to long ago and emailed me looking for a job or paying internship.

 

Now mind you my site very clearly asked to email resumes and cover letters to my physical address.

 

And that emails and calls would be ignored….

 

Therein lies the trouble….

 

I put that there because I really hate sending those “cookie cutter responses” – I find them really impersonal and more importantly they just open up a dialogue which usually means investing in spending more unproductive time.

 

But as a courtesy I sent her a standard response explaining that I am not hiring, and how difficult it is to break into the industry – because she was referred by a fellow wedding professional…

 

I honestly wish I had time to personally respond to everyone looking for an internship or job without a ‘cookie cutter response” –

 

It’s one of the things that had to go…I pride myself on personally responding to every couple interested in potentially hiring me, I offer them an hour of my time to get to know each other and discuss how I can be of service to them, AND I personally interview and meet with every wedding professional who I might potentially refer to.

 

Now how would a potential intern or job seeker feel if I had another intern respond with their personally written email…

 

Now this young woman after receiving my email blasted me for not calling to talk to her, or getting to know her, and not taking the time to find out what her experience was, and just responding with a ‘cookie cutter email”.

 

OK – here comes the evil part.

 

If you can’t follow directions which ask you to send a cover letter and resume to my studio, NO I have NO Interest in learning anything more about you…

 

And YES I have the right to speak that way on my blog… she said that she was mortified about the way I addressed the issue of emails from prospective interns or employees– She’s a people person…and I was wrong in the way I posted on my site…

 

You’re not a prospective employee if I’ve told you I’m not hiring…

 

Sorry – bottom line – you can’t follow simple directions, and you snap out a nasty response – you stand no chance of ever working with one of my clients….
They deserve someone who hears what they have to say and follows directions.

 

And my polite response is NOTHING compared to the attitude you may encounter from some wedding professionals who have had a previous bad experience with a wedding planner and won’t give you time of day…or a really angry MOB - 

 

While I try to be polite and always answer questions from bride…even those who have no interest in hiring me…

 

I really don’t have time for people who can’t follow directions and yet feel entitled just because they “want to be a wedding planner…”

 

PS – I currently mentor approximately 85 wedding consultants in the greater Philadelphia region who are members of the Association of Bridal Consultants… They deserve my time; they put a lot of work into getting an education, interning, and networking…