A few years ago, I served time working at a prominent South Florida hotel. It was an exhausting job, but the experience was fun. Is "fun" the right word to use? I think so. Running around the lobby while getting yelled at by people who experienced something bad and their trips were just ruined kept me from getting bored.
During my 14 months of service, I climbed a few steps up the ladder of management. Eventually I became the guy who was shoved in front of the daily crisis, whether it was a tourist who was melting down over lost luggage or an employee who got caught stealing. These problems landed in my lap because I just took care of them and I didn't get rattled. Meh, stuff didn't phase me. On one occasion I was subjected to some scornful looks when I laughed about the lady's dog dying IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LOBBY of a heart attack--seriously, that dog was so fat--but I was savvy enough to crack up in the back office where I was judged only by my co-workers. What did we do with that dog's body? I don't remember. We had to put it somewhere. Anyway--
In the course of one of my promotions, I received the results of my employee evaluation. My marks: all the best, thank you very much. But under the section that listed my possible areas of improvement, there was one sentence: "Grows impatient when faced with persistent and repetitive stupidity." And I thought...So, what's the problem?
The worst part of job interviews is the dreaded "What is your greatest weakness?" question, a brief moment of sadism when hopeful, nervous applicants are expected to verbalize faults in themselves. Answer too safe? They know you're hiding something. Answer too honestly? They won't hire a freak. It's a delicate line one must not cross. But thanks to that hotel job, the biggest gift I took from my time there was that line--possibly the most accurate analysis of any human's personality--to be used in dreaded job interviews forevermore.
You can borrow it if you want.
Love this! Definitely borrowing!
Posted by: Sara | December 22, 2011 at 10:59 AM
What a great day to read this. I just got my review yesterday and my boss said that, on a scale of 1 to 4, he never gives a 4. Really, so what the f*** is the point of having it as a goal? What an a**hole. So thanks for sharing. And I also have your "weakness". :)
Posted by: Diane | December 22, 2011 at 11:30 AM
i hope i never have to get a real job again but if i do, i'm going to remember this.
Posted by: willam | December 28, 2011 at 09:46 AM