You Can Learn a Lot About Human Nature By Watching TV
As I write this, my son is almost nine and a half and he doesn’t watch a lot of tv. When he does, he watches four shows–“reruns of “Golden Girls,” the old tv series about older women living communally in retirement (he thinks they are hysterical plus they refer to sex on occasion). “Hannah Montana,” “iCarly,” and “Big Time Rush.”
Putting aside the first show where the theme is “generally, it’s OK to get old if you have friends around,” the other three are typical shows for his age group (he is what is referred to as “a tween”), these are shows that basically about kids a little older than he is who become famous (Hannah Montana has a secret life as a rock star, iCarly has a successful web show, “Big Time Rush” is the latest incarnation of boys becoming rock stars even though there are obstacles among the adults).
Although neither job hunting or life is like a tv show (almost every problem on a sitcom is solved in 30 minutes or on a dramatic series in 60), people want to feel good about themselves. They want to feel like winners.
I am not saying that you should avoid an ordeal where they are evaluated and assessed . . . a job offer without an ordeal will make them wonder if there is something wrong with the job.
You can, however, make someone feel great when you make them an offer.
Imagine getting this call:
“Rama, this is Jeff Altman from X Company. Do you have a few minutes? Terrific. Rama, I just want you to know that we have evaluated approximately 247 resumes for this job, phone interviewed 42 of them, personally met with 8 very talented people, and then invited three back for a final round.
“Rama, we spoke to some terrific people along the way. People who did (this or that) for a competitor; someone who led a team of y for GHIJK Corp who we were really impressed with.
“Rama, I am calling to tell you that having narrowed the field down to those final three, you and two others, after a careful and dificult evaluation we have decided (dramatic pause) we would like to hire you! CONGRATULATIONS!”
After hearing that, Rama will be thrilled because he knows the ordeal he went through beyond his first hand experience and that he is the chosen one.
Now, if Rama develops a swelled head and starts to debate his value as you extend the dollar part of the offer, feel free to tell him, “Rama, I want you to understand that, like you and everyone, we have a budget AND we are not so dissatisfied with our second choice that we could not switch to her if you act unreasonably. You are our first choice, but we will be extremely happy with our second choice if you don’t want to accept this offer.”
“Please get back to us tomorrow morning by 10 AM with your decision. We need to fill this job and would like it to be you but will fill it with another exceptional person if you are unwilling to accept the offer as it is.”
Let them feel like a star for a moment, just like Hannah Montana, iCarly and Big Time Rush . . .but don’t put up with any nonsense if stardom goes to their head.
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