Friday, July 06, 2007
I created a new blog. But - I cheated. I recycled my most recent post - please don't hold that against me though, it just looked so empty.
Anyway- here it is - cliffordwong.com
Anyway- here it is - cliffordwong.com
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links to this postMonday, July 02, 2007
So it's almost 4am on July 2nd and I'm awake blogging, taking care of bills, posting on forums, answering e-mails, checking inventory, etc.
I have 4 things to talk about tonight.
1) Companies that try to only hire from within. Many companies do this and two in particular are General Mills and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. No, I'm not applying to these companies so don't get worried (or happy- depending on who's reading this). My issue is with the logic in only hiring from within. I've always heard of the pro's to doing so and the people that claim this is a great practice tend to think in a very idealistic world and I'm not one to really play "tea party" and believe in the hyperbole.
The argument for hiring from within usually goes something like this: Hiring from within allows the organization to train employees from the beginning at a low level so they understand the company values and processes. Employees come into the organization and can get molded to fit the company.
What I have NEVER heard is the cons of hiring from within. It just seems as though people who work in an environment where they only hire from within take a high amount of blind pride in doing so without taking any consideration to the handicaps of doing so or the benefits of hiring outsiders.
The cons:
a) Linear "innovation". Essentially - there is none. When I say linear innovation, I'm referring to the fact that the hiring manager will always hire someone just a little dumber than them who has "potential for growth". "Growth" being defined as ending up JUST LIKE THE HIRING MANAGER. Rarely will someone be hired who can REALLY draw on their previous work experience to bring innovative ideas.
b) Single-solution style problem solving. Before a group can agree on a solution, they must all decide on what they think is the best solution. Since people usually base their decision making process on their experiences in the past, their decisions are more likely going to be the same if they were all from the same environment. Which leads to the next con.
c) Groupthink. Get a bunch of college graduates/kids into a discussion and I can almost guarantee that you will see a bunch of kids turn into pigeons nodding their heads in unison to the stupidest ideas. I can safely say this because I've seen it happen more than once. Just go to your local Fraternity or Sorority meeting and you'll see what I'm talking about.
OK - enough of that rant.
*to be continued*
I have 4 things to talk about tonight.
1) Companies that try to only hire from within. Many companies do this and two in particular are General Mills and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. No, I'm not applying to these companies so don't get worried (or happy- depending on who's reading this). My issue is with the logic in only hiring from within. I've always heard of the pro's to doing so and the people that claim this is a great practice tend to think in a very idealistic world and I'm not one to really play "tea party" and believe in the hyperbole.
The argument for hiring from within usually goes something like this: Hiring from within allows the organization to train employees from the beginning at a low level so they understand the company values and processes. Employees come into the organization and can get molded to fit the company.
What I have NEVER heard is the cons of hiring from within. It just seems as though people who work in an environment where they only hire from within take a high amount of blind pride in doing so without taking any consideration to the handicaps of doing so or the benefits of hiring outsiders.
The cons:
a) Linear "innovation". Essentially - there is none. When I say linear innovation, I'm referring to the fact that the hiring manager will always hire someone just a little dumber than them who has "potential for growth". "Growth" being defined as ending up JUST LIKE THE HIRING MANAGER. Rarely will someone be hired who can REALLY draw on their previous work experience to bring innovative ideas.
b) Single-solution style problem solving. Before a group can agree on a solution, they must all decide on what they think is the best solution. Since people usually base their decision making process on their experiences in the past, their decisions are more likely going to be the same if they were all from the same environment. Which leads to the next con.
c) Groupthink. Get a bunch of college graduates/kids into a discussion and I can almost guarantee that you will see a bunch of kids turn into pigeons nodding their heads in unison to the stupidest ideas. I can safely say this because I've seen it happen more than once. Just go to your local Fraternity or Sorority meeting and you'll see what I'm talking about.
OK - enough of that rant.
*to be continued*
