Bad Letter Assignment

Professional and Technical Writing

Bad News Letter Assignment

Choose one of the following scenarios and compose your Bad News letter.

Scenario #1: Unsuccessful Candidates:

Your unit recently interviewed three candidates for the position of team assistant in your unit. All the candidates were well qualified for the position. Your supervisor mentioned to you that it was difficult for the selection committee to choose the best candidate.

Now that one of the candidates has been hired, the supervisor has asked you to draft letters to each of the other two explaining that they will not be hired. (You will need to invent one or more reasons. Use your imagination.) There may be short-term positions available within the next two months, and your supervisor mentioned this might be a good alternative for the unsuccessful candidates.

Compose your Bad News letter to one of the candidates to deliver the news of their unsuccessful candidacy.

Scenario #2: A Difficult Vendor:

Just last week, your unit sponsored a client workshop at a local hotel. You coordinated the logistics. Thirty-five people attended — some local staff, some clients or partners, and some staff from another location.

Throughout the two days of the workshop, the event faced many problems: necessary equipment was missing or did not work (be specific); lunch on the second day was an hour late; coffee and tea were cold on the first morning; and event staff spoke rudely to you and to at least one of the participants, who complained bitterly to you. You spoke with the event manager at the hotel repeatedly during the workshop to express your concerns and to try to get everything working right.

You have discussed the situation with your supervisor and everyone agrees that the Bank should not pay the full fee to the hotel. Your supervisor has asked you to prepare a letter for her/his signature, which will be sent in response to the invoice from the hotel.

Plan a Bad News letter to your contact at the hotel, explaining why the Bank is not paying in full and suggesting future steps.