How we work today

I was very amused by Ron McGowan's letter about academics' lack of experience of the modern workplace ("Wisdom à la mode: launch the go-getters", 23 June).

His account of modern graduates "trying to make their living from contract, temporary and part-time employment with few, if any, benefits" describes what has been a common and readily recognisable early career experience for many young academics in the UK for several decades. Perhaps they do things differently in Vancouver.

Robert Hampson, Professor of modern literature, Royal Holloway, University of London