Email Etiquette

In the corporate world, words are all we have. We build our reputations, deal our businesses, and suck up to bosses with words sent out through emails, and hence, email etiquette is of utmost importance.

However, one particular recent email I received really pissed me off so badly, I cannot stop talking about it. Brief background information: A particular superior is trying to damage control before damage is done, but apparently, her damage control caused more damage than the situation might potentially cause.

"As the first job, it doesn’t really matter what you do, it is a process of learning and learning to know what you are good at and what you like more, and it is also a process, I quote Jack Ma, “make mistake” that you can afford."

First and foremost, it has every matter what we do as our first job. This is the entrance into the corporate world for us, and most (if not, all) of us landed ourselves in this job based on passion. By directly chucking our passion aside, and "forcing" us to accept what is given to us before it is even given simply shows how much we are worth in their eyes. It is an entirely a different scenario if you tell us to accept what we are given after the posting is given, but the fact that you are preempting us that we are not going to get what we like, shows you aren't even going to consider our preferences in the first place.

And i'm pretty sure the process of learning is deeply ingrained in every one of us. We do not need an outsider to remind us of that. In the event we do get something undesirable, I will definitely force myself to outshine the rest and not crumble and fall. You are clearly underestimating the eleven of us. Also, to make mistakes we can afford should have been done during this 5 months of training. I don't think any employer would be so generous to be accepting of mistakes made after being in an organisation for 6 months.

"You might get something that you don’t really like, but if you put your full commitment to try, I am sure you will gain a lot out of it, and you might start to like it.  The key word, take ownership, put in your full commitment!"

It's a career, not a game, obviously we are going to put in all our efforts to ensure we do well and get our well-deserved promotion right? Why should we put our salaries at risk just because we don't like what we are doing? We still have to earn money to put food into our mouths. And who are you to be sure? What do you have to guarantee that thinking? What if I do not gain anything? Are you going to give me a car or something? Last but not least, obviously I will take ownership if I wanna do well in it, hence that is a totally redundant repetitive line.

In conclusion, the whole email angers me because it insults my intelligence, shows how brainless a higher management could be, and shows how worthless we are to them. I am so angry I don't even think I make sense here.

And quoting Sam Smith, "I know I'm not the only one." (to feel this way, that is.)