The only
thing worse than defeat...? is Indifference.
When you
don't care any longer and when you are unresponsive to elements of life around
you, you have arrived at a locale that has small windows that will prevent you
from escaping because the windows are slowly but surely closing. Shutting you
out…leaving you without emotion and feeling.
The
window of time for matters of importance is similar to the mathematics portion
of the Scholastic Aptitude Test; time will end most likely when you have
mastered an application to tackle the problems. It is not the math
hypotheticals that are stumbling; it is the way you chose to apply strategies.
Today, I
submitted a job application online that took me almost 90 minutes to complete.
All this valuable time utilized during a potential paid moment that I could have
used to pick up litter, my new job. Time wasted for a position that will require
the selection of someone with less experience, less pay expectations, and less
aptitude...
Yesterday,
I received a letter of rejection for a managerial position with a reputable
company. After, one 45 minute interview and an additional 90 minute panel
interview, I received in the mail –not email or telephone call- a letter that
had two sentences. A sentence of ‘Thanks’ and the other with the dreaded
rejection. No reason why my experience was not a match or sufficient…no
justification why my leadership and management skills/experience was not a
match…Nothing but another piercing Rejection.
This is
what has come to pass in the United States of America....the experienced, skilled,
and proven talented are not getting selected for jobs any longer. The men/women
who are shamefully willing to be what the employer demands them to be are
getting the offer letters that typically have an insulting annual salary of
$22,000 -with an important sounding
title- that the hiring manager presents as a Favor.
It does
not matter any longer if you are the exceptionally Qualified Candidate. That's
completely irrelevant. The employer wants mediocrity so that the pay can
support mediocre outputs.
The
company I interviewed with staged a panel interview that displayed incompetence
from the beginning. One of the four questioners was so disinterested that he
occupied himself on his laptop…he never asked a question, he never looked at
me, and he projected a white Good Ole Boy Club affront. The other incompetent
fumbled over his paperwork…my resume –and failed to articulate a decent
interview question. One other nice but clueless interviewer was salivating…I
could not determine if it was my handsomeness, the “he speaks well” ability, or
if she wanted me to Mandingo her in the restroom afterwards. And, the final
most competent interviewer was pleasant – but she was overly enthralled with my
Peace Corps experience so much so that she preferred to discuss my training
facilitation experience in Eastern Europe. Consequently, I participated in a
pathetic sham...a Pretense that sadly encourages the following:
Resumes
are collated by top of the line keyword software that essentially does the work
for the HR Generalist, applications are sorted by years of experience (a limited
amount of years are surprisingly valued and the details within the application/CV’s
are not thoroughly reviewed – but thoughtlessly scanned), a cover letter is
deemed 'impressive' when it is only two paragraphs in length, indications noted
on the curriculum vitae of advanced education e.g. Masters or PhD are
professionally toxic (downplaying one's education attainment is a craftier
approach), any evidence of labor union advocacy is an immediate rebuff, removal
of significant accomplishment and work responsibility are encouraged, signs of
passionate work energy are not positive personality traits, and speaking legitimate
English during an interview is viewed as a threat to management.
At the
end of the day, companies/agencies are not hiring the top talent. They are securing
talented actors and well coached androids...say
this, do this, and you are hired...emulate what you are told and imitate
what you learn from the inept senior authority. Then and only then are you
considered a recipient of dynamic
coaching. Coaching that does not teach you to really win…it is the loser-type
coaching that teaches one to be an Opposite of what they are.
All of
this foolery implemented and used to build a 'strong workforce'...?
The cemented
result of this ridiculousness will be condoned
poor performance from employees –and finality will produce lackluster employers
that are knowingly deceitful when they convey a mission statement that boldly
implies that their company values decency, dignity, and respect.
Ultimately,
millions of men and women will remain unemployed, become permanently jaded,
lose faith in the process, forfeit the ability to be whole parents, male egos
will be forever bruised considering man categorizes his worthiness via a job,
education will become useless in the minds of aspiring degree seekers, and most
sadly and personally,
I have
been defeated – and I have become Indifferent...this status after doing
everything The System told me to do:
The Shadow
01/16/13
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