How low would you sink?

[wishfulthinking]

Where I work there is a position coming up that I really really really want. [Anyway, today someone asked me whether I had applied yet, and I said I had completed my first draft [there is about 10 selection criteria that you spend a page answering each ie mini essay on why you should get this job].

Anyway, the guy who decides who gets the job was standing right behind us at the photocopier. He came over to me after this conversation and handed me a bunch of documents and said could I give a photocopy him a copy and send the originals to head office. Which is really strange, as it isn't something I usually do. And it turns out they are applications for the job I want.

So:

A. would you not bother to look. It's fate either way. Or you are not that kind of person.
B. Have a quick look when nobody is watching.
C. Memorise it word for word and think how you could use some of it in your application [worded differently of course].
D. Photocopy it and take it home for reference.

Opps, I sort of hit the copy button twice, and rather than waste the paper...

What have other people done?

 

[destinie21]

I'd go throught the regular channels whatever they may be, who knows if this is just a fluke or if it's some sort of ethical test. Just do whats right and if the job's for you you'll get it

 

[tolyk]

I'd go throught the regular channels whatever they may be, who knows if this is just a fluke or if it's some sort of ethical test. Just do whats right and if the job's for you you'll get it

Exactly, you never know if they are testing your ethics. It isn't worth risking is it. So, just be the good, hard working person you are, and go about it through the normal means, and I'm sure it will all work out.

 

[Clare Quilty]

The risk-avoidant rarely rise to the top. Were I in your position and I didn't have a dependent child, who's to say that any application other than mine would ever make it to the head office?

 

[shereads]

I've had more than my share of jobs and have learned a few things that would have been useful back when I had ambition. They are:

1) The best line on a cover letter enclosed with someone's resume: "I wanted to be a writer in the worst way. That's why I'm currently working for..."



2) No matter how appealing a job might seem compared to the one you have now, everything changes once you're in the hot seat. The things you can really rely on eventually become your criteria for what distinguishes a good job from a lousy job.

~ Free parking
~ Reasonably pleasant commute
~ Air conditioning
~ No wierd smell permeating the office
~ You don't have to wear a costume
~ You're not required to do anything that might bother your conscience or send you to jail

Everything else is an illusion.

 

[destinie21]

I've had more than my share of jobs and have learned a few things that would have been useful back when I had ambition. They are:

1) The best line on a cover letter enclosed with someone's resume: "I wanted to be a writer in the worst way. That's why I'm currently working for..."



2) No matter how appealing a job might seem compared to the one you have now, everything changes once you're in the hot seat. The things you can really rely on eventually become your criteria for what distinguishes a good job from a lousy job.

~ Free parking
~ Reasonably pleasant commute
~ Air conditioning
~ No wierd smell permeating the office
~ You don't have to wear a costume
~ You're not required to do anything that might bother your conscience or send you to jail

Everything else is an illusion.

a costume???

 

[shereads]

a costume???

Yes, that became one of my "non-negotiable career advancement demands" the 14th or 15th morning when I passed the Bagel Barn Cow-or-Dalmatian. This poor thing used to have to stand on the corner of a major downtown street for an hour or two every morning, rain or shine, waving at cars and wearing a matted, nasty fake-fur costume. A cow, or a dog with spots. Hard to tell. Still not clear on what either animal had to do with bagels.

When we were plummeting toward another office closure and things were bad, I used to cheer myself up by thinking about the Bagel Barn Cow-or-Dalmatian. I decided that as long as I'm not wearing a stinky wet fur costume, life is good.

I think it's important to think realistically about what you are or aren't willing to put up with to pay the mortgage. I showed you my list. It's pretty simple...I forgot to add, "No scuba diving to inspect the inside of the sewer pipe that runs under Biscayne Bay," and "No spreading of hot roof tar during July-August."

I have my standards. They're just extremely reasonable.

 

[destinie21]

Yes, that became one of my "non-negotiable demands" the 14th or 15th morning when I passed the Bagel Barn Cow-or-Dalmatian. This poor thing used to have to stand on the corner of a major downtown street for an hour or two every morning, rain or shine, waving at cars and wearing a matted, nasty fake-fur costume. A cow, or a dog with spots. Hard to tell.

When we were plummeting toward another office closure and things were bad, I used to cheer myself up by thinking about the Bagel Bar Cow-or-Dalmatian. I decided that as long as I'm not wearing a stinky wet fur costume, life is good.

I think it's important to think realistically about what you are or aren't willing to put up with to pay the mortgage. I showed you my list. It's pretty simple...I forgot to add, "No scuba diving to inspect inside of the sewer pipe that runs under Biscayne Bay," and "No spreading of hot roof tar during July-August."

I have my standards. They're just extremely reasonable.

Lol you're priceless. check your pm's

 

[shereads]

I think my point got buried in my nostalgia for the nearly-forgotten days when success in the corporate world seemed like a worthwhile goal.

My point was this:

Whatever this position is that you want so badly, it's temporary.

What you did to get it will be with you for forever. It's not how low you're willing to sink, but who you'll find down there, and how much you admire them.

 

[doormouse]

Well, I'd say by now you've made your decision, otherwise your boss would be wondering just how long it takes you to photocopy a few applications and take them where ever.

He/she obviously trusted you enough to be trusted doing the job, so I'd say a few flirtatious smiles and a well written essay to the remaining criteria and you have a good show.

Good luck!!

 

[Weird Harold]

So:

A. would you not bother to look. It's fate either way. Or you are not that kind of person.
B. Have a quick look when nobody is watching.
C. Memorise it word for word and think how you could use some of it in your application [worded differently of course].
D. Photocopy it and take it home for reference.

I'd probably look at them, but more to see who the competition is than what their arguments were. I certainly wouldn't copy any of their arguments.

I'm just arrogant and self-confident enough that who the competition is wouldn't relly make any difference in how I presented my case or whether I expected to win out over them -- Whatever that job is, I'm obviously the best qualified for it, so who the other applicants are and what they say about themselves isn't important.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: How low would you sink?

I'd probably look at them, but more to see who the competition is than what their arguments were. I certainly wouldn't copy any of their arguments.

I'm just arrogant and self-confident enough that who the competition is wouldn't relly make any difference in how I presented my case or whether I expected to win out over them -- Whatever that job is, I'm obviously the best qualified for it, so who the other applicants are and what they say about themselves isn't important.

WH.. me too. i would only want to know who was 'in the running' but i wouldnt copy their resumes or anything.. just glancing and hoping that it wouldnt be a horrid karmic mistake.

 

[Ann Vremont]

sure, I'd look

Now, as far as losing all but my app on the way...that would be too blatant and counterproductive (why hire you for the new position if you can't manage mailing a few apps)... maybe losing the app most likely to be hired?

Seriously doubt he was trying to test your ethics...maybe he was unofficially trying to give you a leg up?


Ann
http://www.e-cubus.com/nowherestreet.htm

 

[DirtyJJ]

I'd go throught the regular channels whatever they may be, who knows if this is just a fluke or if it's some sort of ethical test. Just do whats right and if the job's for you you'll get it

I agree with destinie - the most I might do is peek to see who else is applying, and even that I would only do if I didn't have to look obvious. If I used the situation to give myself an advatage, and then got the job, I would wonder if I really earned it. Not that there is anything wrong with giving yourself a break now and then, and like Clare said you need to take risks to rise up sometimes... but I personally like to play it straight and see what happens. If it's meant to be, it will happen.
JJ

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Exactly, you never know if they are testing your ethics. It isn't worth risking is it. So, just be the good, hard working person you are, and go about it through the normal means, and I'm sure it will all work out.

Business?! Testing your ethics?!

Kind of like blind people testing your depth perception.

Where I used to a work--Fortune 500 and all that--people used to go through your desk on the sly and report in to the managers. It was a well-known way of getting ahead.

---dr.M.