Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Forum index | Previous Thread | Next thread
Best bit of work advice you were ever given? 15:31 - May 16 with 4113 viewsunbelievablue

I was asked this question today and had to really think about it, but went with:

'Find a way to be comfortable saying "I don't know" when appropriate'

Looking back, I spent years avoiding saying it. I received said advice when a mentor noticed me flounder a couple of times and it was clear that an honest "I don't know, actually, but I can ask x/try and find out" would've been the right response for everyone's sake. Very grateful to them.


Le meilleur des mondes possibles
Poll: When booking a reservation at a restaurant/bar, do you give...

1
Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 15:57 - May 17 with 255 viewsKeno

Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 14:58 - May 17 by bluelagos

Good job you never worked in a match factory


He did until they all went on strike

Poll: At which of our last 10 games will be confirm EPL survival?
Blog: [Blog] My World Cup Reflections

0
Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 16:04 - May 17 with 243 viewsMJallday

If you feel the need to fart in the office, try to hold it in.

Stilton eating Participant - 1977 to Present Day
Poll: Will you be renewing if you are an existing ST Holder - given todays news?

1
Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 16:21 - May 17 with 225 viewsChurchman

Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 14:15 - May 17 by bluelagos

I think the point is - that when you are recruiting you should be doing all you can to assess their ability to do the job. If you have two candidates that are exactly the same - I'd argue you haven't assessed very well.

When recruiting for a multinational - level one above Graduate level - I found I just couldn't tell from an interview whether someone was genuinely the best thing ever, or just a bullsh1tter. So I introduced an assessment - 3 hour case study - here are some background facts - here's a lap top - you get 15 mins to ask me any question you want....then go and do an appraisal on what products we should launch and present it back.

One blokes said it was the toughest interview he'd ever had - he was a gay Nigerian - I pointed out if I'd left it to appearances and the interview - he'd have not got the job (other assessors being quite prejudice) - he got it cos he was the best person for the job, as he showed.

So I don't buy for one second your scenario - cos all things are never equal - or if they are - the recruiter isn't very good at recruiting imho.

(That said I do accept that appearance matters - I just chose not to ever judge someone on it - and to do all I could not to work in environments where it mattered a lot)


It was theoretical and simplistic not least because my posts are getting too long (boring), but for me the point I made remains valid as far as I’m concerned..

As for assessing very well, I don’t think I made too many mistakes in whatever capacity I was recruiting or whatever process I was constrained by. Prejudice doesn’t come into it for me. It never did because I am not. I don’t have to justify myself to anyone on that score. What does come into it are the points I’ve already made re things like presentation, time keeping, appearance.

I believe there are other factors beyond to use your words ‘an ability to do the job’. For example, are they team players? Will they fit in? Do they have that inner drive and self motivation? What kind of people are they? Can the actually deliver?
1
Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 16:34 - May 17 with 210 viewsLord_Lucan

Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 16:21 - May 17 by Churchman

It was theoretical and simplistic not least because my posts are getting too long (boring), but for me the point I made remains valid as far as I’m concerned..

As for assessing very well, I don’t think I made too many mistakes in whatever capacity I was recruiting or whatever process I was constrained by. Prejudice doesn’t come into it for me. It never did because I am not. I don’t have to justify myself to anyone on that score. What does come into it are the points I’ve already made re things like presentation, time keeping, appearance.

I believe there are other factors beyond to use your words ‘an ability to do the job’. For example, are they team players? Will they fit in? Do they have that inner drive and self motivation? What kind of people are they? Can the actually deliver?


Can I add to paragraph 3

Are they a blooming big girls blouse who's gonna take a day off with a sniffle?

“Hello, I'm your MP. Actually I'm not. I'm your candidate. Gosh.” Boris Johnson canvassing in Henley, 2005.
Poll: How will you be celebrating Prince Phils life today

0
Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 16:44 - May 17 with 183 viewsJoey_Joe_Joe_Junior

Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 16:35 - May 16 by Lord_Lucan

The best bit of advice I would give is don't be late - but if you are going to be late then phone ahead and advise.

For me, if someone is an hour late then there is probably an excuse, if however someone is five mins late then there is no excuse.

We had a hippy who regularly turned up between one and three minutes late to work, we got rid of him when the NI increase came in. His replacement normally arrives at least 15 mins early.

Lateness is a proper bug bear of mine. RKD is never late, my daughter is usually late and my wife has zero concept of time.
[Post edited 16 May 16:37]


Seen prospective customers not reschedule a meeting if people are late. Saying the call before ran over is no excuse either, all you’re showing them is you don’t think they’re important enough to not schedule back to backs.

On the flip side (and this may seem a small thing) candidates that try to impress with their punctuality by turning up 25 minutes early to an interview is also really annoying. It’s happened loads of times to me. Surely as a candidate you should assume the people conducting said interview have very busy schedules and that’s why you have a set time. Sure, scope out the office so you know where you’re going but just in one of the dozens of coffee shops nearby until 5-10 minutes before. One guy turned up nearly 40 minutes early once because he didn’t want to risk being late getting the train after. You’re basically just in the way at that point.
0
Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 16:52 - May 17 with 161 viewsRIPbobby

"Don't die for the company, because the company wont die for you."
1
Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 18:24 - May 17 with 122 viewshoppy

Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 14:58 - May 17 by bluelagos

Good job you never worked in a match factory


Or as a Gynecologist

Poll: Which Which nickname for ITFC do you prefer? poll do you prefer?
Blog: Graphical Blog: I Feel the Need...

0
Best bit of work advice you were ever given? on 19:45 - May 17 with 88 viewsGlevum

The higher up the greasy pole you climb, the more people can see your arse.
1




About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2025