August 29, 2012 at 12:03 am
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Watch Your Mouth
August 29, 2012 at 2:34 am
I had an interview once where I should have kept my mouth shut
The interview had gone well and I had impressed on the interviewers how I was a good team player but also was happy to lead projects and teams and could work well on my own prioritising my own work with numerous examples to back this up,
Next however came the dreaded psychometric test 50 random questions to establish how well I would fit in the company I would then get to meet the team leaders. Once completed the HR manager came down to the review the results and established that from the results I was not a team player, could not work on my own and would need constant supervision whilst working (all completely the opposite of how I actually work) I tried to defend myself as I could see these results would do my job prospect no good, I am sure no colourful language crept in but I might have been close to it as I good see this job disappearing quickly but was perhaps to vigorous in my defence of my abilities and the problems with these type of tests. Her response put the nail in the coffin “I have never known these results to be incorrect; we find them always to be completely accurate”. I never heard anything about that job.
August 29, 2012 at 6:14 am
Daniel Wood (8/29/2012)
I had an interview once where I should have kept my mouth shutThe interview had gone well and I had impressed on the interviewers how I was a good team player but also was happy to lead projects and teams and could work well on my own prioritising my own work with numerous examples to back this up,
Next however came the dreaded psychometric test 50 random questions to establish how well I would fit in the company I would then get to meet the team leaders. Once completed the HR manager came down to the review the results and established that from the results I was not a team player, could not work on my own and would need constant supervision whilst working (all completely the opposite of how I actually work) I tried to defend myself as I could see these results would do my job prospect no good, I am sure no colourful language crept in but I might have been close to it as I good see this job disappearing quickly but was perhaps to vigorous in my defence of my abilities and the problems with these type of tests. Her response put the nail in the coffin “I have never known these results to be incorrect; we find them always to be completely accurate”. I never heard anything about that job.
I once worked for a company that used one of those tests to screen candidates. I was amazed at how my opinion of candidates didn't match what the test showed. So, a fellow manager and I decided to see what was what. Wow!
After a few iterations, and amazingly bad results (we were labeled psychopathic drug abusing hippy freak thiefs and murderers!) we started taking apart the test. Did you know that if you like to fish, you are not a good person? Did you know that if you do not like to fish, you are not a good person? Did you know that people who use drugs are not trustworthy, and those who don't use drugs are liars?
While I am sure not every test was as bad as that one, I am one of those who does not feel you can derive someone's personality from a multiple choice test. I am a quick test taker, and so I have extra time on every test to think about the point behind the question. I have easily determined what the "correct answer" is on lots of tests simply by having more time to look around and spot patterns. While there are people who might simply answer truthfully to everything, it is naive to think everyone will, or even most people. When someone needs a job (millions of Americans are out of work or underemployeed!) being truthful takes a back seat to paying the bills.
Dave
August 29, 2012 at 6:21 am
I believe people should think about what they say. I also don't buy the "identically qualified" candidate argument. IMO HR departments and others tend to focus more on personality than skills. I have worked for many companys where everyone got along, yet a few of us pulled the majority of the weight because nobody else had a clue what they were doing.
I have also worked for companies where we where most or all of us were skilled at what we did. As you would expect with a group of intelligent people, we didn't agree on everything. We were also the most productive group of people I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of!
I will take knowledge and capability over personality any time. If you pull your weight, and if you try to do things correctly, we will get along just fine.
Dave
August 29, 2012 at 6:27 am
I can curse with the best of them, but I choose to refrain from such language in the presence of others. Steve is correct stating that we in the U.S. have the freedom to say what we want. That freedom also extends to the listener, who has the freedom to NOT listen. I agree that cursing promotes a negative impression and tell my children the speaker "needs to expand his/her vocabulary" when we hear it.
August 29, 2012 at 6:39 am
Cursing can have a place. A few choice words can have an impact. It's all about context. I would never curse at work. But at a bar, it's almost expected. I find excessive cursing (as defined by me) to be tiring. I also have a negative opinion of those who curse excessively, even in a bar. Excessive cursing (again defined by me alone) leaves me with the impression that the speaker lacks intelligence.
August 29, 2012 at 6:53 am
Steve has obviously been taken hostage (see photo), and this editorial is simply a cry for help! To arms!
Seriously though, cursing is uncalled for, I hate that f@#$ing $#^! :hehe:
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August 29, 2012 at 7:15 am
This is how it starts. Steve wants us to police our language at work. Then the government passes laws banning curse words at work and at home for the children's sake. Next thing you know they will take away my assualt rifles, tobacco and ammo stash so I will be aggitated chewing nicotine gumm & unprotected with only my assorted small arms, shotguns and rambo knives when the aliens come to eat us. WTF?:w00t:
August 29, 2012 at 7:49 am
thadeushuck (8/29/2012)
This is how it starts. Steve wants us to police our language at work. Then the government passes laws banning curse words at work and at home for the children's sake. Next thing you know they will take away my assualt rifles, tobacco and ammo stash so I will be aggitated chewing nicotine gumm & unprotected with only my assorted small arms, shotguns and rambo knives when the aliens come to eat us. WTF?:w00t:
Didn't ask you to police anything. Just suggested you think about it. You get the consequences with the responsibility.
I assume you're joking, but it's not a black and white issue. There shouldn't be rules about this, but there also shouldn't be any expectation that anyone else has to live with behavior by others without being offended or being able to lodge a complaint.
What we need more is judgment on the issue from managers, not silly rules.
August 29, 2012 at 7:52 am
djackson 22568 (8/29/2012)
I believe people should think about what they say. I also don't buy the "identically qualified" candidate argument. IMO HR departments and others tend to focus more on personality than skills. I have worked for many companys where everyone got along, yet a few of us pulled the majority of the weight because nobody else had a clue what they were doing.
There is no such thing as two people that are identically qualified. All our previous experience and skills are different. Besides, how do we measure that?
I disagree with you on focusing on skills. Skills can be taught. Personality cannot. Disagreements are separate from not getting along at all. I think teams require the ability to get along, personality-wise, while also disagreeing and debating on topics.
Where I think we can fail is that we don't require people to get better at their jobs enough. We allow mediocrity to languish, instead of pressing on people to improve over time and get better at their jobs.
August 29, 2012 at 8:03 am
thadeushuck (8/29/2012)
This is how it starts. Steve wants us to police our language at work. Then the government passes laws banning curse words at work and at home for the children's sake. Next thing you know they will take away my assualt rifles, tobacco and ammo stash so I will be aggitated chewing nicotine gumm & unprotected with only my assorted small arms, shotguns and rambo knives when the aliens come to eat us. WTF?:w00t:
😛 ======= 😛
Too late! Already heard of a community here in the U.S. that is giving tickets for profanity on the street.
I don't have kids so I dodged that ... (Wait, I can't use that word in the same sentance that reffers children.)
I'm already in trouble with my small arms. No, wait! That's thin[/u] arms. :w00t:
If the "aliens" do come to eat us would they have entered the country llegally?
😛 ======= 😛
I do make sure that I watch what I say at work. This comes from my days behind the microphone in radio though. You learn fast when several thousand people are paying attention to every breath you take. I reccomend it highly. Always pretend that everyone in the world hears everything you say. It's just like knowing that everyone in the world reads every word that you write. Right?
ATBCharles Kincaid
August 29, 2012 at 8:15 am
I'll start watching my profanity when people stop bringing their personal problems to work and airing them in front of everybody. I find that just as offensive, but as far as I'm concerned this whole topic is a slippery slope. 😀
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
August 29, 2012 at 8:19 am
I find as I get older I tire more quickly of the constant cursing of others. Don't get me wrong, I can curse with the best of them just get me behind the wheel of car with all the idiot drivers.
August 29, 2012 at 8:31 am
Wow that's a very self limiting belief that personality cannot be taught. You bet it can, I would just say it's generally harder to change personality than it is to learn a new skill and that may not even be true. If someone wants to change something about themselves they can, it might be hard, difficult, etc. but it's possible.
August 29, 2012 at 8:39 am
OCTom (8/29/2012)
I find excessive cursing (as defined by me) to be tiring. I also have a negative opinion of those who curse excessively, even in a bar. Excessive cursing (again defined by me alone) leaves me with the impression that the speaker lacks intelligence.
Well....If you don't like to hear a lot of cursing, go to a church, not a bar. It's silly to expect otherwise. Also, it is simply untrue that many intelligent people don't curse a lot. Where have you been? As far as impressions go, impressions are like opinions, and opinions are like butt-holes, everyone has got one. It don't mean a thing:-D
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
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