Text Speak' Can Make Or Break Recruitment Chances

A youth skills charity in Bolton has said
that the intrusion of 'text speak' into youngsters' written abilities is
putting up recruitment hurdles for them that are proving more and more difficult to knock
down. 



Peter Gibson, from the Rathbone charity, said that the lack of formality and
the sloppy use of language on CVs and cover letters created by many of the
young people they work with prove to be barriers to recruitment with many employers. 



Gibson said good basic written English and communication skills are still of
paramount importance when it comes to gaining any job, and being unable to
demonstrate these is a major problem. He called on schools and training bodies
to do more about it.



Many young people have received very little guidance on the difference
between speaking to their friends and communicating to people they don't know
and need to impress, said Gibson, This isn't an indictment on the
young people, but rather the lack of preparation they have received.



Examples of the sins he has seen committed by the young people he
works with include the use of text speak like LOL (Laugh Out Loud) in common
conversation, a lack of formal greetings in written communication, and
inappropriate, unprofessional email addresses.