Teens need to learn some basics about life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a professional for over 20 years and I have never once had to mail a letter for work.

Same.

Maybe because the lowly interns and secretaries are expected to do these tasks

Maybe because it’s 2026 and only antiquated old farts still send letters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a professional for over 20 years and I have never once had to mail a letter for work.

You have one of those jobs where you sit at your computer and send information electronically? A lot of emails have replaced letters but I still get them from certain professions. And I still get thank you cards sent to me from young people. It’s the parents who teach these skills. I guess many don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP again. I didn't give a bad reference. What I said is that it was hard to write a positive one.

I am bothered by the fact that this intern didn't know that what they did was wrong. They didn't ask someone for help, didn't get on youtube, just thought they had accomplished the task and put it in the outgoing mail to be picked up. I guess they though someone could devine where the mail was destined.

This kid is one of many doing similar stuff. I thought I would share because I realized my kids would be viewed similarly unless I did something.

If you go to work for a startup they are going to hate you and find it hard to recommend you because you make phone calls, write letters, and probably send long structured emails. You sound judgy and rigid. It's not the younger people's fault that they weren't taught the same things you were. It's on your company to screen for that if no one can be bothered to create a tutorial or teach someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a professional for over 20 years and I have never once had to mail a letter for work.

You have one of those jobs where you sit at your computer and send information electronically? A lot of emails have replaced letters but I still get them from certain professions. And I still get thank you cards sent to me from young people. It’s the parents who teach these skills. I guess many don’t.

I have one of those jobs that doesn’t require communication through the mail. There are lots of us out here!

My kids say thank you in person, or they call. Notes are totally unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP again. I didn't give a bad reference. What I said is that it was hard to write a positive one.

I am bothered by the fact that this intern didn't know that what they did was wrong. They didn't ask someone for help, didn't get on youtube, just thought they had accomplished the task and put it in the outgoing mail to be picked up. I guess they though someone could devine where the mail was destined.

This kid is one of many doing similar stuff. I thought I would share because I realized my kids would be viewed similarly unless I did something.

If you go to work for a startup they are going to hate you and find it hard to recommend you because you make phone calls, write letters, and probably send long structured emails. You sound judgy and rigid. It's not the younger people's fault that they weren't taught the same things you were. It's on your company to screen for that if no one can be bothered to create a tutorial or teach someone.

DP, but she should be judgy! It's not about thinking letters are a good form of communication, it's about the fact that this kid chose an illogical solution when he didn't know the answer. Regardless of whether he's sent letters before, he's undoubtedly seen an Amazon package and understands how addresses work. The intern PP is right.

[Anonymous]

I’m a lawyer and probably send no more than 5 formal letters a year. It isn’t really how corporate America functions anymore.

[Anonymous]

I've had some initially clueless interns but as long as they show willingness to learn, it's fine. That's why they're interns. If they don't take direction, we move on. I've had some interns who really took to things and ended up being great hires after school.

[Anonymous]

A young adult missed a deadline because we didn't receive a form in time. When it finally arrived, the writing on the envelope was all over the place. Like he had never seen an envelope before. Our address was in the upper left corner. I had a young man ask me over the phone what to write on the envelope and where. The other day a young man on the phone was stressed out because if he's going to have to mail us something, he'd need to go buy a "sticker thing" and that seemed like an insurmountable hurdle.

Yes I've been thinking about this a lot too lately. Mail isn't obsolete yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is weird.

I appreciate op giving a heads up to parents who may not have thought to teach their kids something pretty specific (letter writing) and also general professionalism (your friends might not care if you're occasionally ten minutes late, but your workplace might. If you have a set start time, be in your seat roughly five minutes before that time.)

In my first job I was asked to fax something. I asked the receptionist if she could help me with the machine and she thankfully pointed out some things I could improve on my cover sheet.

I also grew up in a family and culture that was lackadaisical about timeliness. Thankfully my first boss schooled me on that in a firm but kind way.

Yeah, but if you have an intern from and elite college, I’m sure they did not come from a lackadaisical family. You know they arrived to their violin lessons, RSM classes and CS competitions on time

What a weird assumption. I'm pp and went to an elite college and pretty much only hire from elite colleges because my boss, who hired me and signed off on all new staff, is very much a snob when it comes to educational pedigree.

[Anonymous]

My child knows how to send a letter and sent them from camp to me every year for the last few years but honestly - that is a largely obsolete business skill. It’s like complaining someone is coming into your office not knowing how to fax when nobody except for doctors offices still uses them. I am a 49 year old lawyer and I do not remember the last time I had to send a letter and it’s not because mailroom handles them. They were a lot more common when I first started 25 years ago but nowadays they are almost never a thing unless you are in one of a very limited number of professions.

[Anonymous]

Ok, when I worked in the office, I put the letters in envelopes and secretaries were responsible for addressing. If you have an intern, you need to supervise. If the intern didn't know what to do and didn't ask you, you're not a good supervisor. When I had interns, I always made sure they knew what to do. Your interns are very likely complaining behind your back about you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, when I worked in the office, I put the letters in envelopes and secretaries were responsible for addressing. If you have an intern, you need to supervise. If the intern didn't know what to do and didn't ask you, you're not a good supervisor. When I had interns, I always made sure they knew what to do. Your interns are very likely complaining behind your back about you.

So back in the stone age with secretaries?

[Anonymous]

Who knew teens who can ace SATs, start their own companies, and write harrowing survival essays for college applications can be so stymied by mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Lots of parents who don’t get it. Maybe that’s the issue?

I work with your teenagers, and I can say with full confidence that professionalism is an issue. Young people think everyone should accommodate them all the time. No.

These interns are there to work. It sounds like they’re actually creating more work for everyone else. You can’t do that in a workplace.

Bolded is part of training people, fool.

You don’t get it. I bet your kid is very ready for the workplace. A big asset, I’m sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child has been sending letters and post cards since he could write. He knows at 10 if you are on time you are late. He looks adults in the eye and says hello. It is crazy parents and schools don’t teach this. That being said I believe in mentoring but I dread intern season!

+1. I’ve taught my kids everything OP
Is complaining about.