How to Succeed in Business May Actually Take Trying

This week at work, we've been busy interviewing candidates to replace an associate in our department. Our team is kind of a mess right now in terms of interpersonal dynamics, and the challenge of a group interview where we all pretend we're happy together is akin to a very dysfunctional family at holiday dinner. In a word: uncomfortable.

Regardless, we must fill this position, so I have met a handful of applicants in the past week and now understand why our country has such a high unemployment rate right now. Sorry, that was insensitive, but I couldn't resist. But if the guy I spent 30 minutes with earlier today is any indication, joblessness is compelling people to apply for positions for which  they are clearly unqualified. Like this dude, who has a PR background, but no demonstrated interest in non-profits or advocacy organizations, let alone the kind composed mainly of earthy types who live to "fight the system." This was evident in his dodge of every question relating to his grasp of our policy issues and his preference of instead delivering grand speeches about the "need to defend the little guy."

Dude, I don't care about the many promotions you received as a journalist and what a hard-hitting newsman you once were. If you can't be bothered to at least brush up on some of the larger topics that my organization fights for, I fear for your commitment to coming through with concrete deliverables. Moreover, the testosterone that oozed out of your every pore suggested to me that I may have met you a long time ago at a frat party, where you may have been crushing beer cans on your head. Not a good fit for us. I suggest in the future that you, and others out there reading this who might benefit from a very obvious job-hunting tip, STUDY next time you interview. 

Over and out.

Comments

[Jamie]

On the other hand, the recession has produced candidates for IT positions who actually speak English. You still have to weed through a thousand resumes/interviews to figure out which ones those are, but when times were good, you didn't expect to find such a thing at all.

[HP]

Great! Perhaps they'll impart their mastery of the language to the other professionals of your IT dept. Snap! Just kidding. I'm more concerned with some of the peeps elsewhere. Kidding again. Or am I?

[Foggy Dew]

I just hired someone a couple of months ago and it was the most brutal process. For what was basically a step above an entry-level position, I had some guy who was a GS-15 apply. Seriously, my boss' boss' boss is a GS-15, not one of my PR specialists. Also, to all the job seekers out there, this is a buyer's market, you ain't gonna be making nearly what you were making at the job you got laid off from. Companies know this, take it into account when they ask you your salary requirements. Bite the bullet, get the job, maybe get a raise after a couple of months of kick-ass work.