How not to apply for a job

Breaking into any industry can be hard, especially for young people out there with little or no experience. I would hope, however, that a passing familiarity with the profession one wants to enter would be paired with some innate skill or demonstrated ability to learn about the work. Sadly, this is not always true. Case in point, exhibit A:

Hello,

I have been searching for job opportunities that involve writing. I saw one that was advertised up on Craigslist but I don't have the experience you are looking for that position. It seems that every I look school is required, and while I do plan to go to school for writing I haven't been able to yet. My question to you would be if there were any ground levels that someone who loves proofreading, editing and writing can fill the bill for. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I tried looking at the job section on the site but it wasn't showing up. Jobs in this field are limited and with the requirements set high it makes it near impossible for a someone who has been writing for themselves for a number of years now to find a job without actual experience. So how would I obtain the experience in this case?

Any information would be helpful and I will be grateful to.

Yes, I agree with this job seeker: any information would be helpful. First, information on standard grammar and punctuation. I hear they have whole books about these subjects, not to mention the years one typically spends learning the native tongue. Second, denying the premise that an employer presents, such as "X years of education and/or experience are required," is not the best way to get your foot in the proverbial door.

I'm going to applaud the effort. If one doesn't ask, the answer is almost always no. The universe rarely just gives you something. But, and let me say this as gently as possible, it's important for job seekers to realize that work, like life, is much like a ladder. There are steps. And the first step isn't always a job offer. Sometimes preparation must be done before you even get to the ladder, the offer, the success, or even the application. And by sometimes, I mean always.

So, study hard, stay out of trouble, and practice your passion every way you can.