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Christopher McRoy
17,295 PointsI'm applying for a Web Designer position, is it a bad idea to point out a typo on the employer's website?
The job post is specifically asking for someone with excellent attention to detail. After viewing their website for a minute, I noticed a sentence is missing a word. I thought I could let them know of the error, while also proving my attention to detail.
Is it a bad idea to tell them in the application Cover Letter? Should I save it for if I get an interview? I'm concerned that pointing it out on the Cover Letter may be too forward. I'm also concerned that, being 1 out of 90 who have applied, I won't even be offered an interview.
Anyone have any experience with something like this?
3 Answers
Nick Yoho
6,957 PointsHard to say, it would definitely catch them off guard and could make you more memorable, but I would be careful how you phrase it.
Kevin Korte
28,149 PointsHow are you getting your resume/cover letter to them? If it's in person or by email, that may be a great opportunity to mention it. It does show you looked at the site, attention to detail, and you're right, they may have done it intentionally.
I'd bring it up either way. If they get mad they're not who you want to work for. Them interviewing you is as much as you interviewing them, to see if you like their culture.
You're smart in thinking the cover letter may be too forward, that why I asked in what means you're using to get it to them. But either way, I'd say something.
Christopher McRoy
17,295 PointsThe application is through a job posting site (Indeed.com), so the cover letter is submitted online with my resume, which I'm guessing is done through email.
You make a very good point, and it's something I didn't consider. To get mad at me for pointing out their mistakes - that would be pretty childish and unprofessional. And you're right, that's not someone I would want to work for.
I'll mention it in the cover letter and see what happens. I guess I won't be any worse off if I never hear back from them. I'll be sure to update with the results if they ever follow up!
Kevin Korte
28,149 PointsOhh, okay, yeah in that case I'd mention it. You could even state - your site is done very well, I couldn't tell if this was done intentionally to see who is detailed enough to go through the posting and notice the error as part of the application process.
This assumes they did this intentionally, and is a way to bring it to their attention in a way that is not inflammatory. But yeah, if they respond negatively to it either way, they just did you a favor.
When every I'm job interviewing, I am always looking for reasons to NOT work for who I applied for. I'm interviewing them as much as they're interviewing me - after all you are selling hours of your life to them, it should be to someone you actually enjoy working for.
But please keep us updated either way - and good luck!
Christopher McRoy
17,295 PointsIt's been about two weeks since I applied to the company. I did mention the error on their website in my application cover letter. Here are the final results of the scenario:
The company called me yesterday. I had missed the call, but they left a message. They said the position had already been filled, but they wanted to add another one to the team and wanted to know if I'd be interested. They also said thank you for pointing out the error on their website, and that it was a great find.
So I called them back, we were on the phone for about 30 minutes. It basically turned out to be an interview, and he asked me to come in the next day to talk more about the position. So I went in early this morning and after talking for another 30 minutes or so (mostly just getting to know each other), he offered me the job.
On a side note, they said it was great that I was willing to point out the mistake - too many people are afraid of telling someone about errors or about ways they can improve things. Also, the job posting for the position was removed from the job site, so there were no new applications going through for this second position. I can't say how many people he had called before me (if any at all) but I can say that mentioning the error had singled me out and definitely made me more memorable. Was it the only reason I got the job? No, of course I'd like to think I had something to do with it as well, but I certainly believe it helped me get my foot in the door.
Nick Yoho
6,957 PointsCongrats man! Great to hear!
Kevin Korte
28,149 PointsAwesome man, congrats on the new job!
Christopher McRoy
17,295 PointsChristopher McRoy
17,295 PointsThat was my thought as well - at the very least, they ought to remember me.
On a side note, the location of the error seems almost too coincidental or ironic to be an accident. The typo is on their Careers/ Open Positions page, under the Web Designer position (the same one I'm applying for), in a sentence that specifically talks about how typography and proper wording is important. I mean what are the odds? The rest of the site seems so well-written.