The Case of the Overbearing Leader
As the Director of Student Orientation, you are responsible for welcoming all 3,000 new students to your campus every fall . It's a pretty large undertaking, and would never be possible without the help of the Orientation Leadership Team . This team is made up of a Steering Committee of 15 students, and another 150 New Student Mentors who each oversee a small group of about 20 new students . Because you receive over 300 applicants every year for the Student Mentor position, you need to do two rounds of hiring . The first round is meant to trim the group to around 200 leaders; the second round finishes the process and gets you to the final 150 Mentors .
This year, Saja, the son of a close family friend, is applying to be a Mentor . After the first round of interviews, it becomes apparent to everyone on the Steering Committee that Saja is a bad fit for the job . He comes across as overly opinionated, slow to hear other people's ideas, and everyone has doubts that he would help to make new students feel welcome in the fall . His parents have always raised him to have an opinion and share it and his driven personality will serve him well when he becomes a lawyer . However, everyone agrees that he needs to become a bit more well-rounded before he's ready to serve as a mentor for new students, and they all agree that there are other leadership opportunities that could be a better fit for his personality and skill set .
They want to cut him after the first round of interviews, but you keep thinking about his parents . They're your close friends and you're already dreading the conversation with them about why he wasn't hired . That conversation will be much harder if you need to explain why he wasn't even good enough to make it to the second round of interviews . You've never had a solid line of 200 moving on and have let marginal candidates though to the second round in the past . It wouldn't be too difficult to let Saja go on to the next round of interviews before cutting him and telling him he needs another year to grow . However, none of the Steering Committee will agree with you, so it would need to be an executive decision that you ask them to accept .
> Would you let Saja move on to the second round of interviews?
I would not let him, i would politely tell him hes not developed enough and ready for what hes trying to accomplish and that he needs to take more time to be where he wants to be. If he truely wants to do what he interviewed for he would take the advice and come back when hes ready
ReplyDeleteI would cut him in the first interviews. I would go and personally talk to him and explain why. That he just isn't quite ready for the position. There is a lot that he still needs to learn and get to know the school a little better. His parents need to understand that there are a lot of people that want and would be a good fit for this job. And they would just have to respect that.
ReplyDeleteI would not let him move on to the next round. I think that if his parents are truly his friend then they should understand and agree that Saja should wait and prepare more. It isn't his fault that he isn't ready for the job. I would just cut him and then propose other jobs that might be better for Saja. I wouldn't move him forward because the job isn't meant for him and he could learn more and come back next year.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't. Just because your friends with their parents doesn't mean you have to treat him differently. You need to do the right right thing no matter what they will think. It's hard, but your own conscience is more important than their opinion. You're the one that has to live with it.
ReplyDeleteI would cut him in the first interviews. I would go and personally talk to him and explain why. That he just isn't quite ready for the position. There is a lot that he still needs to learn and get to know the school a little better. His parents need to understand that there are a lot of people that want and would be a good fit for this job. And they would just have to respect that.
ReplyDeleteI would not let him move on to the second round of interviews. It is good that he states his opinion, but there is a point when you should stop. At some time it becomes disrespectful to others. It doesn't matter if you're friends with his parents.
ReplyDeleteNo, You see if you aren't cut out for it. Your not cut out. Better luck next year with more growth. Especially if there is others more qualified too. I do love my friends and respect them but, that isn't how to run things. Though I would help them if they really wanted to be a mentor.
ReplyDeleteI would not let him move on to the second round of interviews. It is good that he states his opinion, but there is a point when you should stop. At some time it becomes disrespectful to others. It doesn't matter if you're friends with his parents.
ReplyDeletei wouldn't let them go forward and that it good that he like to state his opinion but he need to know when he needs to when to stop and that he isn't quit ready for the
ReplyDeleteposition it doesn't matter if you know him or his parents