LinkedIn Life: "Why I'll Never Hire a Liberal Arts Graduate"
My latest article on LinkedIn. I like to post articles about the business world on LinkedIn because it targets and shakes up the world of corporate sheep. Kind of like Rodney Dangerfield's character in "Caddy Shack."
If I had a business, I'd hire one only after they have years of credible, good working experience. There's always going to be those guys/girls who major in Psychology or Fine Arts because it "interests" them, then get their crap together and start doing real work as they get older. But it is impossible to tell whether they're just a naive late teen or a true future pain in the ass from a resume and a few structured conversations alone. Let someone else filter them.
If you ever interviewed potential candidates, you can learn pretty much where they stand in about 10-15 minutes. After you do the introductions, company and position overview and a quick Q&A about prior work experience, you lay a mix of objective and subjective questions on them and let them talk. They expose (and hang) themselves on their answers and you can sum up quickly where they are.
About 10 years ago, our corporate lawyer was tasked with finding a HR manager. He looked for me to assist, but I was out on a project, so he grabbed the corporate Controller (and later told me he will never do that again). They interviewed one female candidate and her first question after the intro was, "do the employees have a union?" No. "Well they should." That interview was closed quickly and she escorted out. The controller turned to the attorney and said, "she was pretty good." The attorney looked at him for a few seconds--- then slapped him upside the back of his head.
Heh, Cappy think you have a problem? Thank your stars you are not running your enterprise in Canada. Their parliament passed C-16, most likely to be law by end of summer. You could be hauled off to jail for using the wrong pronoun.
As to the article, its pretty much spot on. I have been in a hiring position before and hiring people is quite taxing only because in the back of my head I know there is a good chance I will have to fire them in the future. I HATE firing people, it effects not just the employee but their family if they have any.
Captain: In the same vein as Anonymous 2:45, what are your thoughts about university/college grads with both a useless liberal arts degree and a STEM degree?
Do they have an edge, because they may have a flexible mind compared to a more rigid pure STEM geek? Are they worthy of forgiveness, if they found reality and are back on a righteous path? Or are they irredeemably tainted?
So that was funny. As a graduate in liberal arts, I agree with most of the things mentioned. Although, I can't agree that I'm just like my peers. I work over 80 hours a week now. My drive is the highest from anyone I know. Too bad I wasn't good at math (blame public education) I always did like Economics, shit, I was born during Hyperinflation in country in South America.
Mr. Clarey, I want to become someday The King of Capital. Also, too bad nobody told me about how banking work...easiest shit in the world...that's where the money I want to make will come from. Also, I do have 99 problems but bitches will never be one of them.
I think you do a great thing. So expect me to contact you later...I don't know when, but I will.
Thanks, Juan.
PS. I guess is time to but your books. "The more you learn the more you earn," as Warren Buffett said.
PPS. Most of my college contemporaries didn't like I talk about Buffett a lot.
The quants sure did a good job when they ran Wall Street in the years leading right up to 2008, so I would say, no, no business ever has any need for people educated in human nature.
The interesting part is they even let you publish. Is that because you wrote about LinkedIN as the HR of the future?
You might want to proofread more and correct the mistakes in the text, the mistakes uselessly take away some of the quality of an otherwise brilliant piece of writing.
If I had a business, I'd hire one only after they have years of credible, good working experience. There's always going to be those guys/girls who major in Psychology or Fine Arts because it "interests" them, then get their crap together and start doing real work as they get older. But it is impossible to tell whether they're just a naive late teen or a true future pain in the ass from a resume and a few structured conversations alone. Let someone else filter them.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever interviewed potential candidates, you can learn pretty much where they stand in about 10-15 minutes. After you do the introductions, company and position overview and a quick Q&A about prior work experience, you lay a mix of objective and subjective questions on them and let them talk. They expose (and hang) themselves on their answers and you can sum up quickly where they are.
ReplyDeleteAbout 10 years ago, our corporate lawyer was tasked with finding a HR manager. He looked for me to assist, but I was out on a project, so he grabbed the corporate Controller (and later told me he will never do that again). They interviewed one female candidate and her first question after the intro was, "do the employees have a union?" No. "Well they should." That interview was closed quickly and she escorted out. The controller turned to the attorney and said, "she was pretty good." The attorney looked at him for a few seconds--- then slapped him upside the back of his head.
Heh, Cappy think you have a problem? Thank your stars you are not running your enterprise in Canada. Their parliament passed C-16, most likely to be law by end of summer. You could be hauled off to jail for using the wrong pronoun.
ReplyDeleteAs to the article, its pretty much spot on. I have been in a hiring position before and hiring people is quite taxing only because in the back of my head I know there is a good chance I will have to fire them in the future. I HATE firing people, it effects not just the employee but their family if they have any.
What are you going to do about the pronoun? Ask them beforehand what they want to be called or is that already racist/sexist?
DeleteNot just hitting it out of the ballpark but into the middle of the next county.
ReplyDeleteStill, for all of those you WON'T hire, there is always a career in HR to look forward to ...
Phil B
Captain: In the same vein as Anonymous 2:45, what are your thoughts about university/college grads with both a useless liberal arts degree and a STEM degree?
ReplyDeleteDo they have an edge, because they may have a flexible mind compared to a more rigid pure STEM geek? Are they worthy of forgiveness, if they found reality and are back on a righteous path? Or are they irredeemably tainted?
Might make for good blog/vlog entry.
RODNEY!
ReplyDeleteSo that was funny. As a graduate in liberal arts, I agree with most of the things mentioned. Although, I can't agree that I'm just like my peers. I work over 80 hours a week now. My drive is the highest from anyone I know. Too bad I wasn't good at math (blame public education) I always did like Economics, shit, I was born during Hyperinflation in country in South America.
ReplyDeleteMr. Clarey, I want to become someday The King of Capital. Also, too bad nobody told me about how banking work...easiest shit in the world...that's where the money I want to make will come from. Also, I do have 99 problems but bitches will never be one of them.
I think you do a great thing. So expect me to contact you later...I don't know when, but I will.
Thanks, Juan.
PS. I guess is time to but your books. "The more you learn the more you earn," as Warren Buffett said.
PPS. Most of my college contemporaries didn't like I talk about Buffett a lot.
As far as college courses go, it's only getting worse.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.htvnativeadsolutions.com/wesh/2017/03/12/yes-you-can-study-that-6-awesome-college-courses-you-didnt-know-you-could-take/#photo-788119
Just wait until they tell you that they majored in "Chemistry of Food" or "Harry Potter Humanities". Yes, those exist.
thanks
ReplyDeleteThe quants sure did a good job when they ran Wall Street in the years leading right up to 2008, so I would say, no, no business ever has any need for people educated in human nature.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting part is they even let you publish. Is that because you wrote about LinkedIN as the HR of the future?
ReplyDeleteYou might want to proofread more and correct the mistakes in the text, the mistakes uselessly take away some of the quality of an otherwise brilliant piece of writing.