At Work - Column by Lindsey Novak

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Intern Wins Job Over Experienced Teacher

Lindsey Novak

Q: My wife has 10 years' teaching experience and applied for a job to teach a different grade from the one she currently is teaching, but she previously had taught that grade. The person who was hired for the position had no teaching experience but was an intern at the school the year before. The interview committee that made the hiring decision included both of the intern's supervisors for that previous year. Wouldn't that bias the committee's hiring decision? Is it illegal or just poor judgment to have people on the interview committee who have existing relationships with an applicant?

A: It is neither illegal nor poor judgment. The intern had business relationships with two of the decision-makers on the hiring committee, and those connections could have been positive or negative because people don't always have realistic views on what others think of them. Also, the decision could have gone in two directions: 1) The members of the committee could have felt that while they liked the intern, a seasoned teacher was necessary. 2) Extensive work experience in a particular field is typically a good thing, but it also can translate to a higher salary, which might not be needed at that time.

The experience the intern offered was familiarity in the workings of that school -- with the administrators and with other teachers -- and that type of experience is valuable to any organization. It means the organization knows how this person performs on the job, behaves as an individual, and relates to the employees. Every time an organization hires a new person, no matter how highly skilled that person may be, there is an unknown factor as to whether that person will fit into the work group.

This is the kind of case in which networking (the process of developing contacts) can pay off big. That intern experienced the ultimate in networking; she worked for people who could promote her to the next level. Your wife likely has attended many educational conferences throughout her 10 years in teaching and has developed many contacts. Have her pull those contacts together and engage in accepted networking procedures. LinkedIn is a popular online business network used by professionals in many fields. True networking means offering help to others, as well as receiving help from others. It's a win-win situation for everyone.

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Practical Jokes Are Not Practical at Work

Q: I work at a restaurant, and the owner has three sons working there for him. The youngest son, 19, constantly goofs off. He has thrown food and ice cubes at me while I clean up for the night. He has put unwrapped food in my purse and even sprayed hot water as a joke. None of these things is funny to me, and I have complained to the owner. He talked to his son once in private, but I could tell that he, too, thought these things were funny. He told me he didn't want me to be upset, but his son isn't going to stop behaving this way if his father also thinks it's funny. One manager quit because of his son's joking around. I know he doesn't want me to quit, but what else can I do?

A: The owner sees his son's behavior as annoying but not serious. Because you know the owner wants to keep you as an employee, you need to persuade him to take his son's behavior seriously. Point out that he already has lost one employee, and tell him he will lose you if he doesn't correct his son. Tell him you have a sense of humor, but the continuing acts of mischief are adding up to more than just annoyances. They are stopping you from doing your work, which adds time onto your workday, and you don't want to spend additional time at the end of the day cleaning up from customers and from his son. Ask him to talk to his son with you present. If you think the owner is not treating it as a serious problem, then look for another job. When you quit, tell the owner he left you no choice.

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Please send your questions to: Lindsey Novak, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. E-mail her at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com, or visit her Web site at www.LindseyNovak.com. She answers all e-mails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

This news arrived on: 08/27/2009

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