Today I interviewed two young men for clerical positions that are open in our office. I'm a bit conflicted.
Both have qualities that would make them valuable for our purposes.
One (Kid A) is a kid who is rough around the edges and is attending a technical college to learn about computers. He has never worked in an office. Since high school he has worked in a grocery store, a fast food restaurant, and a bath and body store in the mall.
He had dirt under his nails and was a poor communicator. From the bottom of my heart I know that he would be at work every day on time and would try his hardest to learn to do whatever tasks I asked of him.
The other (Kid B) attends my alma mater. He graduated #1 from his high school class. He's the sort of person who wants to be involved in a variety of activities at once so that he can learn things that will be helpful for his education and future career. He has worked with school programs and with various programs on campus.
He was annoyingly self-confident and probably a stranger to having to be desperate. I know that he would excel at any task asked of him and would probably go above and beyond expectations.
Would you hire gentleman A or gentleman B if you had to pick just one? It seems pretty clear-cut, right?
From a fiscal standpoint, Kid B would be a profitable addition to our staff.
From a conscience standpoint, I feel like if we don't give Kid A a chance to shine then he never will. The peer that interviewed him with me agrees. This will probably be the only chance this kid will have to progress to a white collar job.
I realize that this is a business and to survive we can't make transactions with our hearts, but I really feel like this kid has never been cut a break. With some polish he could be the next big CEO of some big thing.
The other kid will land on his feet no matter what he does.
Bringing Kid A, with the longer learning curve, on board would mean more work for myself in the short term, but I can't in good conscience not try to push for him.
Posted by Tiffany at September 22, 2005 06:28 PM | TrackBackThe kid who had to work hard and pull himself up is the one with character. The other one has had it made. He won't stay and will be looking for the next rung on the ladder within a week. Go with the kid who had to work for it. When you offer him the job, take him aside and tell him he needs to look more professional, i.e., good haircut, clean nails, tie, etc....recommend a (cheap) place for him to go to get spiffed-up. Tell him you are giving him this one chance--"Don't blow it." Insist he call you "ma'am" or at least, Ms. Tiffany. This kid will work his ass off for you and appreciate your advise and YOU will feel good about giving him a hand up. He may not last or make it BUT he's a better bet than Kid B. Trust me.
-Old, educated, military sergeant.
I was always Kid A, always denied the good job, always forced to work longer and try harder than all the cocky Kid Bs who always ran over me and ended up being my bosses while I did all their work. Then they would quit and another Kid B would come along to make my life miserable. The result: a long downward spiral... Take Kid A, work with him, groom him, teach him what he needs to know, set him up for lots of small successes instead of one big failure. Even today I would give anything if some great employeer would hire this Kid A.
Posted by: Billy The Blogging Poet at September 22, 2005 09:35 PMI'd go with Kid A, Kid B will make you want to punch him in the face too much. He'll also bolt at the next better offer he gets which means the process starts over again.
Go with your instincts (but not in regards to the gel pen thief!).
Posted by: Johnny Huh? at September 23, 2005 12:56 PMGo with Kid A!
Posted by: Hopluv at September 23, 2005 04:12 PMMy vote's for Kid A. I love the underdog. Give him an opportunity that he wouldn't be afforded elsewhere. Go with your heart on this one, Tiffany.
Posted by: MsThing at September 23, 2005 04:48 PMI learned (too) long ago, that you need to hire someone who is willing and able to do the job. As long as you're not kidding yourself about kid A's abilities, go for him.
I've worked with folks who were deficient in either area - let's call them goldbricks and dummies. Neither is worth the aggravation.
Posted by: MarkD at September 23, 2005 05:34 PM