Odd response

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I am currently getting ready to volunteer at a local zoo in the city that I live in since I am a psychology major and I want to make connections. I had recently received a volunteer orientation last week and I had talked with my volunteer director who said that my background check would only take a few days. However, it has been a week and I had decided to venture out to contact this zoo volunteer department to ask what is going on and what my personal records say. I had sent out two e-mails to a few different addresses and left one message on the volunteer hotline mentioning my situation.

However, I got a very short e-mail that said something like,
"Sorry, Miyah, today is my “Monday” so have a PILE of stuff to get through before Brew. Will get back to you as soon as I can! Thanks for your patience!" (They are busy before this big party at the zoo but still).

So I wrote back and said this:
"To whom this may concern:
I understand your situation completely along with appreciate your communications. I am also willing to work around your schedule with you and getting the ball rolling. At the same time, I feel that with my records recently looked into and all paperwork signed that I cannot accept your reply. So, I would appreciate a more adequate response about my current status...."

Was I overreacting?

Miyah R. Sundermeyer

Hello,

I can't predict the reactions of an administrative office I've never heard of. That said, I don't think your concerns are unreasonable, and the parts of your presentation shown here were well-worded. Just going by these two letters, I don't think you should feel that you've been unreasonable.

I think your concerns are valid, and you haven't said anything untoward, but you may want to consider a more informal approach in the future.

Whether on a conscious or subconscious level, what almost all employers want is someone who will be easy to work with and pleasant to be around.

You should always show a potential employer your best face, and it turns out that what that face is is different from employer to employer.

In your note you expressed an enthusiasm for the position and an anxiousness to get started, which is good, but it may have paid to sound more casual.

Even if you're in a situation where you have multiple options you have to consider in a short period of time, it's best to express that enthusiasm in a way that sounds entirely positive and friendly.

When you put a potential employer in a situation where they're not sure if they can say yes, it's almost always easier for them to say no. Don't give them any encouragement to say no.

"to whom it may concern" is too formal unless you're applying to work at the post office. maybe not even then. If you've been dealing with a specific person, it pays to address them by name.

You're not applying to be a clerk for a supreme court justice. The appropriate level of decorum has to be judged for individual situations, but for a zoo, I'm guessing that something like this may have gone over a little lighter:

"Hey Mr. or Miz Foo, I know you must be really busy with the big party preparations, I completely understand. I'm just really excited about this opportunity and I'd hate to end up accepting a position somewhere else and have it turn out that i could have worked with you.

Really anxious to hear about you, call or txt me any time at 222-333-4444 or send me an email.

Thanks!"