say you\'re a hiring manager
 

You have two candidates. One has no experience in the field, and the other has loads plus an MBA (MBA does not apply to this field, but his undergraduate degree and career experience do).

You interview the second candidate and love him. You think that his personality fits in well with the whole team, and his experience and areas of expertise fill gaps in your department. Additionally, you department is structured such that it operates fine at the current company size, but is destined to break down if the company grows, and the company is projected to more than triple in the next ten years. The second candidate comes from a company that went through a similar growth, and he was a part of successfully changing the department to a more universal structure.

Why the hell, oh hiring manager, would you select the first candidate? Do you really think that "he has an MBA, so he's going to jump ship at the first opportunity" is what your department needs?

just venting

and, no, I don't think an MBA is the be all end all. it's kind of a curse in the sciences, to tell you the truth.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why the hell, oh hiring manager, would you select the first candidate?

[/ QUOTE ]

She was really hot?

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

Perhaps the manager doing the hiring is paranoid about candidate 2 in that candidate 2's credentials and experience is threatening to that manager. For the hiring manager's own job security, they choose candidate 1. Irrational but IMO quite possible.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

i personally think an MBA is a joke and is as easy to get as fireworks in chinatown

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

So is a Bachelors, but that doesn't mean its not important to have.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

It may be easy to get, but that doesn't mean it's not important (this is what I tell myself when I'm on my way to class at night or spending my weekend studying).

Also, there's a big difference between an MBA from a real, respected school, and one from University of Phoenix Online or something.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

My understanding is that it makes a significant difference to prospective employers when recruiting candidates.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

The hiring manager makes this decision because he sucks at his job. I hire and train and fire people all the time, and I do not suck at my job, so I speak from authority.

One thing that sinks in slowly over time (slowly, I think, because we do not want to admit it) is the fact that people are generally incompetent, if not through stupidity, then through laziness, arrogance, or a fundamental failure to understand the entire concept of work.

Guess I was venting a bit, too.

Better luck. I hope you encounter someone more like me next time. I'll hire you, and then take your paycheck every week playing headsup in the conference room.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

tom haley's post is the answer.

but i have played poker with you and you are an excellent player and just need to move up and around and refine your game. meaning forget about playing that tight no future game at the oaks club. then i believe you would make more than any job you got. plus get to set your own hours and spend the time with your family at your own pace. then at your leisure start a company of your own and be your own boss. there is no big upside future for anyone that works for another.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

Great Post. Too use an overworked cliché: I think you hit the nail on the head.

Most hiring managers are threaten or afraid of hiring people that they perceive as more intelligent or better at key jobs than themselves. It is a survival and defense mechanism, in my opinion. In addition, less experienced employees are easier to control and manipulate.

-Zeno

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

I have no knowledge of how difficult or easy an MBA is to get but I know that some or perhaps the majority of Bachelor degrees are difficult and challenging. Perhaps my experience was different than most, as I went to College much later in life than most people. My degree (in a science field) was not easy or a gimmie. It required a lot of hard work to do well and learn what was required. Casting a wide net of derision on all undergraduate degrees is an immature attitude in my opinion.

-Zeno

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

Get over yourself.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

As an Environmental Health and Safety professional, I have a dream of, one day, starting a Safety Consulting business that emphasises ergonomics. I'll target dealers, chip runners and internet board posters.

seriously, I moved to the other side of the bay and now frequent LCs and AJs. The Oaks game isn't really that bad. we were both not catching that day, and the conversation was too interesting for me to care much. I'll talk fishing any day.

game selection is my forte\'
 

so I may have to pass the lunchtime headsup sessions. maybe I can teach the mailroom boys the basics and we can get a ring game together.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

Five years ago, I moved from SF back here to CT. I really miss the Bay, but must say that one of the worst games I have ever played in was the $15/$30 (biggest game in the place) holdem at the Oaks.

I have never been so bored in my life. I probably played it on ten occasions, neither winning much nor losing much, and certainly wishing I was watching CSPAN or having my teeth cleaned or both.

I liked the room, though. Some of the $10/$20 games were great. And the "restaurant" (see quotation marks) had a kick-ass plate of roast pork that really made any beats I took seem OK.

Remember the place across the street? What the hell was that dive called? I dunno. But I loved it. Talk about out of control.

"English-only?"

I think NOT.

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

I believe, sir, that the accepted spelling of the word is:

G-I-M-M-E.

Degree, indeed!

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

Does your response prove my point?

Beyond that I will let it be. You have your opinion and I have mine.

-Zeno

Re: say you\'re a hiring manager
 

I'm an atrocious speller and am not up on how to spell slang. Not my only failing by the way. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

And this is the first time anyone has addressed me as sir. I don't know whether to be shocked or pleased. If this continues, I may become even more full of myself than before. Not at all good, I think.


-Zeno