February 1st
Dear Mr. Chatham,The Spirit division likes to see good marks in Ghoul Studies; I had an O at OWL level but I think they'll take an E just as readily. Being division looks for History of Magic (since many of the beings were actually there for many of the events, and goblins can take offense quite easily if you aren't aware of what they've been through as a people), and if you want to work in the goblin liaison office, gobbledegook is a great benefit but not a requirement (I learned it while I was working there, though I'm still not fluent). Beasts, of course, likes to see Care of Magical Creatures, though there's more requirements if you want to work in one of the specialty offices in Beasts like the Dragon Restraint or Werewolf Capture offices.
If you're a fifth year now, my advice would be to intern with one of the offices this summer. It won't really matter about your OWLs, since you won't have them yet, and that way if you do fail something but you've already been doing good work, you'll still have a chance of being able to stay on after the internship. And if you decide you don't like it, you can try something else afterwards.
Is your schooling situation a matter of finances, or would you simply prefer to leave after OWLs? I think there is some benefit to having NEWTs if you want to make a career of it (they might care about that sort of thing for promotions), but if you can't get them you can certainly still work here, and if your work is good enough I think they'll still consider you for promotion.
I like it most of the time. I really enjoy talking to ghosts (Hogwarts has some of the best ones), and I do a good deal of that, but I hadn't exactly realized how many of the spirits I dealt with would be angry. So that can get a little draining. Overall, though, it's a good job. I think it's a better place for me than Beasts and Beings — ghosts don't accidentally kill you, so it's a sight safer.
F. Greengrass
Set by Lady!