Are sandwich letters a bad thing? You know sandwich letters, you’ve received one before, everyone has. They’re an impersonal form of rejection. Think back to that job you didn’t get an interview for, a break up, a scholarship you didn’t get. Did you receive any of this news via a letter? If so, that was a sandwich letter. Remember, three paragraphs and a signature.
The first paragraph thanks you for your interest, and states how impressive your qualities are. This makes you feel pretty good about yourself.
The second, which usually begins with however, unfortunately, regretfully, lets you know somebody was better. Let’s you know you are a loser.
The final paragraph thanks you again for your interest, possibly mentions that you will be kept on hold (your resume, or even worse…if it doesn’t work out with the person I am leaving you for, I will give you a call) and then signs off. Best regards. All best.
If this is not a personal rejection letter, I sometimes contemplate calling the person who sent the letter (usually an admin person who signs “FOR” their superior) and saying,
“Hi, its me. Tess”.
“Sorry? Do I know you?” they might reply. (Or if they are smarmy/polite/overambitious they might pretend to know me before admitting they don’t).
“Don’t you remember me?” I would say, hurt evident in my voice. “You sent me your best regards. Doesn’t that mean anything?”
Completely a stupid thing to do, but it might make me feel better to waste part of their day.
Adding insult to injury is that some smug companies are getting to the point where the first and second paragraph are combined. “Although we were impressed with your….the committee is pursuing applicants whose…”. What? There’s no bit where I can feel good about myself? We’re now an open faced sandwich letter society? My ego wasn’t even worth a paragraph on a form letter??
What is the point of sandwich letters? To make the sender look caring? WE KNOW YOU DON’T CARE. Those rejection letters are form letters. A data entry clerk enters your name and voila! Your letdown is now personalized. In the case of breakups, is it because your now ex wants a clean break, no stalking and the return of their Eagles Greatest Hits cd returned as soon as possible. So they can feel they handled the situation with dignity.
Firstly, in the case of a breakup, a sandwich or any form of breakup letter is an insult. The only case a letter can be justified is distance, when a snail mail Dear John is way preferable to an email (for those of you who are keeping track). Unthinkable is that the rejection letter is sent by mail because like the companies, the now ex is sending the letters out to several “formers”.
My suggestion to anyone sending a rejection letter: it saves time and, I might add, the environment for you to just send a blank envelope. Everyone knows the thin envelope is a PFO.
Then again, and sorry environment, crumpling up the offensive letter and tossing it into the bin, lighting it on fire, etc, is a good way of getting rid of aggression.
Do I dislike sandwich letters? Yes. Do I understand that they can’t hire everyone? Absolutely, I watched The Apprentice. Would I prefer a phone call? Actually, no.
But I am a carb addict, so let’s keep the three paragraphs in the sandwich letter, ok?
