Hmmm. " the most politically correct engineer that has any brains"

"Politically correct" and "having brains"? Aren't the two mutually
exclusive?

Bob Wilson
TIR Systems Ltd.
Vancouver.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Freeman [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: May 16, 2002 11:17 AM
To: Berkley
Cc: Ken Javor; Doug McKean; EMC-PSTC Discussion Group
Subject: Re: Some slightly disturbing interview news ...


Hi All,
    I have heard of this and know that it is performed as an information
gathering tool. A company usually employs their own engineer
designate(the most
politically correct engineer that has any brains) and puts him on all
the
interview lists. This person writes reports as to what is being done
outside
and then the managers use this database to question their internal
experts
about why they are doing things a certain way,. Keep in mind that the
managers
have no idea how or what it takes to solve the problem but use the
database to
badger internal people and force them to investigate a problem in a way
that
doesn't match their skill set while at the same time expressing
disappointment
at how the job isn't getting done in a timely manner because of the
insuficiency of expertise in the internal people. The internal person
may even
on the right track but will be forced off of it befause of management
pressure.

    Another time I was actually queried about the values for particular
constants and watched the politically correct engineer write down the
answers
in my presence. This was a case of a not particularly bright politically
correct engineer.

Thanks
Jim Freeman
Berkley wrote:

> This is nothing new.. I found this to be typical interviewing
technique at
> several start-ups that I had interviewed with over the past 3-4 years.
The
> questioning would get extremely detailed, and in my opinion, way too
focused
> (for a first interview).  I learned to recognize some tell-tale
signs.. for
> instance, where my  most of my responses to specific questions got an
> immediate reaction like " but what if you already tried that and it
didn't
> work? .. what else would you do"... and the questioning would proceed
way
> down, into the micro-level on this one problem.
>
> It was so blatant at one interview that, after a grueling 2 hours, I
finally
> stood up and said "hire me and you'll find out", then walked out.
They
> called me back for a second interview! ..  I kindly declined..
>
> Be Good,
> George
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ken Javor" <[email protected]>
> To: "Doug McKean" <[email protected]>; "EMC-PSTC Discussion
Group"
> <[email protected]>
> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 12:54 AM
> Subject: Re: Some slightly disturbing interview news ...
>
> >
> > Happened to me personally, but not in Silly Valley.
> >
> > ----------
> > >From: "Doug McKean" <[email protected]>
> > >To: "EMC-PSTC Discussion Group" <[email protected]>
> > >Subject: Some slightly disturbing interview news ...
> > >Date: Wed, May 15, 2002, 6:45 PM
> > >
> >
> > >
> > > Times are tough all round but there's no need to
> > > make things tougher.  Here in Silly Valley, things
> > > are tough and I have made some attempts to
> > > find a few people jobs in my spare time. These
> > > are people I know personally.  I'm sure I'm
> > > not alone in this venture.  I'm sure most if not
> > > everyone on this list would also help.
> > >
> > > One headhunter who called me wanted to know if
> > > I was just plain nuts or just some sort of a good guy
> > > handing a job offer off to someone I knew who was
> > > looking. I told him it was none of his business <smirk>,
> > > just make sure to give so-and-so a call. Which they do.
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, what I have personally experienced
> > > in the past (rarely), and what appears to be happening
> > > at least with a few of companies currently is the following ...
> > >
> > > EMC job opening is posted. Resumes are sent.
> > > A few candidates are selected for interviews.
> > > Most of the interview centers on questions about
> > > how to solve some problems that are being
> > > experienced by said company. Then there's a
> > > decision not to hire anyone. Purchase req for
> > > new hires is closed. All candidates are rejected.
> > >
> > > A few months later, same company goes through
> > > the whole thing again.  Only this time, there's a
> > > different set of questions to problems all being
> > > experienced by said company. Both sets of questions
> > > involving "how-would-you-solve-this" type of problems.
> > >
> > > I'm sure most of you know where I'm going with this.
> > > At the end of the day, the company or whoever in the
> > > company, has their solution or solutions.
> > >
> > > I'm not crying about this.  My questions are ...
> > > Comes with the turf?
> > > Are you surprised to hear such a thing?
> > > Not surprised?
> > > Has is happened to you?
> > > Heard that it does happen but rarely and with
> > > some other company somewhere else?
> > > Happens all the time?
> > > Never happens?
> > > You gotta be kidden?
> > > So that's what that was all about!  Thanks.
> > > Yea, but whaddaya gonna do about it?
> > > Well, if it does happen, so much the
> > > better I don't work there ...
> > > Etc ...
> > >
> > > Regards, Doug McKean
> > >
> > >
> > >
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