Dear cherryblossom:

I asked a question and received an answer. Unfortunately, I don’t have the professional experience personally or by proxy (being involved with a friend’s or spouse’s experience) to understand some of the things you described in the last post. So I asked a question but am not able to process the answer. Maybe someone else with experience will be able to do so and post to you.

I still have a response though, of a general nature: the workings of the rule setters of a company, what they decide behind close doors, who to hire, how to deal with employees and such- these going-ons are probably impossible for an employee to figure out and control (these being secretive, not transparent)- there is politics, power-dynamics, taking advantage of others, etc.

As an employee or an applicant, if I was one, I would expect the employer to not be my friend, in any way. I would expect the employer/s to be interested in his welfare, not mine. I will understand that I am not getting into a partnership of any kind or into a fair and just playground where everyone plays by certain rules and there is someone to supervise and make sure the playground (work environment) is safe and just.

I will open my eyes to what is going on best I can and present myself in that context, that is, I will figure what motivates the employer and present myself with that in mind. For example, you may think that if you tell an employer: hire me because I am willing to work for less money, then you are increasing your chances to be employed. But it may have no affect on the hiring employer or a negative affect, like you suggested yourself if I understood correctly.

Certainly, I have seen- from experience- an individual, very qualified and hard working, who failed in a company simply because he believed the people he was dealing with were decent, like him. That was his failing.

anita