Returning home from round-the-clock eating, drinking, golfing and sleeping to snow on the ground and an economy that's going to get worse before it gets better and a father who's not going to get better at all, I'm able to do little more, this morning, than clean out my slush file.
Happily, it contains this job description for a technology company's speechwriting position that has since closed (probably from wont of sufficiently insane applicants):
In order to be successful in this high profile role, you must have
superior written and oral communication skills, with a broad-based
education and an interest in as many subjects as possible. The ideal
candidate will be an avid reader, a confirmed techno geek, will have
had direct public speaking and presentation experience of their own,
and a proven ability to balance competing demands in a dynamic
environment. Finally, to blend well with the team, you should exude
contagious energy, and a great sense of humor!
It reminds me of my friend who applied for a communication job and the interviewer listed a dozen high-level strategic responsibilities.
"Excellent," my friend said cheerily, "Because in my last job it seemed I spent about half my time negotiating paper prices with the printer."
"Oh," said his interviewer. "You'll have to do that here, too."
If the person described above actually exists (and I have my doubts that he/she/it does), he/she/it would no doubt be a real son of a bitch.
Steve C.
I don’t think I would want to hire someone who exudes anything contagious. And I don’t think I’d want to work with a team where that is required. Sounds a little sticky to me.
I wonder whether they thought through what sort of avid reading a techno geek does. Or what subjects are of interest to this techno geek. One of my geek friends, for example, built a tesla coil in his garage. Is that what they’re looking for? Really?
Glad you’re back, David. I missed you.
Yes, good points.
Mainly, I think, descriptions of “ideal candidates” should not be written by someone a manic rampage. Or at least they should be edited first.