Luddite Alert!
Posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 4:37 pm
photo credit: Graela
Here’s something odd. Not the job, which sounds like a great one for the right person. Part of me has always thought it might be nice to work at a college. Good benefits, decent hours, fewer (you’d think) crazy people. Plus, Pratt would probably be creative, no? And maybe you could snag some free classes!
But what’s weird is how they want you to apply. If you scroll down, you find this:
Online applications will not be accepted for this position. Please submit a resume, a cover letter that includes salary history and expectations, and the names and contact information for three professional references to:
Executive Director
Office of Public Relations and Communications
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
How does a potential employer benefit by you having to mail in a paper copy of your resume rather than emailing? Despite the dedication and diligence of our postal friends, it’s going to take at least 2-3 days to get there, so it’s certainly not about saving time or promoting efficiency. Are they having a paper shortage? A widespread printer failure? Or do they just hate trees?
Or maybe they only want people who can splurge for the stamp & envelope money, and who are willing to leave the comfortable confines of their apartments to actually go mail something. Is it a test to winnow out the poor and agoraphobic? A counterintuitive new Internet-era method to eliminate those who aren’t truly invested?
Because, honestly, I was all for applying until I got to that part, largely because it made me think that the boss over there must be some ancient curmudgeon (See Andy Rooney) who still uses a quill or maybe an IBM Selectric. And since I’m all up in Twitter’s face these days, that might not be a good match.
quill! hahahaha.