I recently twisted a few arms and got a job interview for a position in my company (albeit a separate division from my own) for an old army buddy of mine,who had stayed back in the military for quite a long time and recently retired to the civilian life and migrated to the States (NY).
After working at his first civvy job as a systems engineer in Manhattan, he became frustrated at the fact that (according to him) he was promised a supervisory position but after 9 months was still at the "bottom of the rung".
Well, the recession came and he was let go. He contacted me and I told him that there was no supersisory jobs available in my firm but he could most certainly get a position as a junior engineer. As I told him, the company provides excellent health benefits, matching retirement benefits, tuition assistance, stock options and was very unlikely to suffer dramatically from the current economical situation...He declined. After 4 months on the lamb without any prospects, he again contacted me and I made the arrangements to have him come in for the interview.
After he came and left, I had a talk with the interviewers: the Department Manager, the Senior Engineer and the HR Manager, who all had a singlular opinion; that he was highly qualified for the job but based on his continuous questioning about promotion prospects and opportunity for growth and leadership, they felt that he would not be comfortable in the position and as such not suitable. They did not however, said that he would not be selected.
__________________ Magnify your God, don't magnify your problems.
Two days ago, he contacted me and told me that he was just contacted by a company back in Jamaica who was willing to offer him a position as a Technical Manager, supervising one of their maintenance units. he said that the salary offered was not even half the equivalent of what was being offered at my company but he felt that he was more suitable (in his own words) "giving the orders more than taking them".
I wished him well.
1. Do you think that he made the right choice? 2. which is more important to you, a job position or the salary? 3. Which do you prefer, a job that offers "good" benefit and measly salary or a higher paying job with little or poor benefits? 4. Which is more important; opportunty for growth and development in your chosen field, or opportunity for growth into management?
__________________ Magnify your God, don't magnify your problems.
1. Do you think that he made the right choice?I wouldn't choose that....but he is probably, as he said, looking to give orders and not take em, hence his choice...maybe he is not interested in the money at this point in his life??? 2. which is more important to you, a job position or the salary?Both.... 3. Which do you prefer, a job that offers "good" benefit and measly salary or a higher paying job with litle or poor benefits?tuff one, I have a family, and benefits are important....but I have a family and more money is also good as well... 4. Which is more important; Opportunty for growth and development in your chosen field, or opportunity for growth into mamangementIn chosen field for me....
__________________
"Mrs. G"
Last edited by Mrs. Groovy 144 : 02-11-2009 at 05:56 PM.
Right choice for him I guess. He's the best person to make that evaluation. Peace of mind is worth a lot.
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2. which is more important to you, a job position or the salary?
Salary. But at different stages of your career, the priority changes. When starting out, salary wasn't as big a concern, getting experience and being in a position that was conducive to growth was. After you've reached a certain stage, and have the experience etc. it's all about the $$$ and peace of mind.
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3. Which do you prefer, a job that offers "good" benefit and measly salary or a higher paying job with litle or poor benefits?
I personally like a good mix. 1 can offset the other. It all depends on how the company structures it.
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4. Which is more important; Opportunity for growth and development in your chosen field, or opportunity for growth into mamangement?
It depends. Mgmt. is usually where the money is, but for me, I would prefer to be a specialist type who makes the money just from the expertise. The management and politics stuff does not appeal to me. Unfortunately, some professions don't afford you the opportunity to get the $$$ you want by just being good at what you do.
__________________ "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." - Matthew 5 v11 KJV
I am kinda glad that he made the decison not to, becasue he would probably not stay on for too long and then (of course, thinking selfishly of myself) my credibility with those co-workers would be tarnished.
I was however disappointed that because he is so deeply "institutionalized" he still believes that the only important job is one where you give orders and others call you "Sir".
I also fear that based on the current economical downturn, that position in Jamaica may not last very long and then he will be in a worst position than he was before.
__________________ Magnify your God, don't magnify your problems.
It depends. Mgmt. is usually where the money is, but for me, I would prefer to be a specialist type who makes the money just from the expertise. The management and politics stuff does not appeal to me. Unfortunately, some professions don't afford you the opportunity to get the $$$ you want by just being good at what you do.
I have long gone past that point where mgmt is important to me. Though I "supervise" a few, my technical skills, the resources that I manage plus the overall responsibility that comes with it are far more important to me than giving orders.
__________________ Magnify your God, don't magnify your problems.
I am kinda glad that he made the decison not to, becasue he would probably not stay on for too long and then (of course, thinking selfishly of myself) my credibility with those co-workers would be tarnished.
I was however disappointed that because he is so deeply "institutionalized" he still believes that the only important job is one where you give orders and others call you "Sir".
I also fear that based on the current economical downturn, that position in Jamaica may not last very long and then he will be in a worst position than he was before.
Did the company in Jamaica give him any tests to see if he has the personality for management?
Did the company in Jamaica give him any tests to see if he has the personality for management?
Companies out here are increasingly making use of psychometric testing to evaluate candidates these days. Not all do, but it is catching on.
__________________ "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." - Matthew 5 v11 KJV
Did the company in Jamaica give him any tests to see if he has the personality for management?
I dunno.
Teh impression i got was that he merely submitted a resume through a buddy of his, and (I guess) the fact that he was in the military out there, might have carried a lot of weight for him. He seems so overly excited when I spoke with him, that I just wished him well and cautioned him to ensire that the job will be around for a long time.
As far as his management skill goes...I wouldnt be the one to judge him.
__________________ Magnify your God, don't magnify your problems.
Companies out here are increasingly making use of psychometric testing to evaluate candidates these days. Not all do, but it is catching on.
Well, I do know that being in the Jamaican military and especially if you were a ranking member, gives you a lot of "umph" in getting jobs in Jamaica.
Sadly, many come up and realize that it doesnt mean squat here in the States.
One individual once told me a couple of years ago at a reunion, that he prefers to stay in Jamaica and be a big fish in a small pond than the other way round.
__________________ Magnify your God, don't magnify your problems.
Well, I do know that being in the Jamaican military and especially if you were a ranking member, gives you a lot of "umph" in getting jobs in Jamaica.
It depends on the kind of job that you are trying to get. If you are trying to get a security job, then yes, you have a distinct advantage. Not so sure about other kinds of jobs though ...
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Sadly, many come up and realize that it doesnt mean squat here in the States.
One individual once told me a couple of years ago at a reunion, that he prefers to stay in Jamaica and be a big fish in a small pond than the other way round.
That's how some look at it. Some look at it from the perspective of getting more $$$ when they work in the US, so to them, the size of the pond and their relative prominence in it, isn't as big a deal.
__________________ "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." - Matthew 5 v11 KJV
It depends on the kind of job that you are trying to get. If you are trying to get a security job, then yes, you have a distinct advantage. Not so sure about other kinds of jobs though ....
No necessarily. There are many well trained technicians and engineers in the Jamaican military with greater skills and experience than their civilain counterparts. from Aircarft technicians, automechanics, electronic engineers, compuetr technicians, diesel and civil engineers to name a few. Almost all are trained in UK, Canada, US and even in India.
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Originally Posted by bountyx
That's how some look at it. Some look at it from the perspective of getting more $$$ when they work in the US, so to them, the size of the pond and their relative prominence in it, isn't as big a deal.
I dont disagree.
__________________ Magnify your God, don't magnify your problems.
Magnify your God, don't magnify your problems.
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