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?
He shouldn't make it to the second round. If Saja were to be let through, that would be taking away a spot for someone else, who could be a much better candidate that him. If you thought about it, and got a very good reason, I'm sure Saja's parents would understand.
ReplyDeleteIf I was the Director of Student Orientation and I had to make the executive decision to either keep Saja or not, I would have to say no to him going to the second rounds. If I succumbed to the pressures of his parents and let him through, that would prove that I am too weak to be in this position because I can't make the hard decisions. I think that Saja's parents would respect my honesty, and maybe it would inspire Saja to be a little more softspoken and motivate him to apply again after a year of maturing.
ReplyDeleteIf Saja really is not fit for the job, and not fit enough for the second round of interviews, I would have to cut him then. If he is really your friend I think he should be able to accept and understand. Also his ideas are not fit for this kind of mentorship, they will benefit him more when he is a lawyer.
ReplyDeleteIf Saja wasn't fit for the job I would try my best to help fit him in someplace. If I couldn't find him a place I would have to cut him. Hopefully since hes your friend then yhe should understand.
ReplyDeleteHe shouldn't get to move on to the next round, because he is the one who messed up, and if they feel that he is fit they will let him move on, but he shouldn't get to move on, because he made the mistake, and I would have to cut him after the first round was over.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he should make it to the second round because he obviously isn't right for the job. Maybe next year he will be ready to become a mentor for the new students next year.
ReplyDeleteEven if Saja isnt the right person for the job. And if he didnt fit anywhere else i would probably have to cut him out unfortunately. even if you are friends and you should understand.
ReplyDeletei wouldn't because i feel that even though that he is a family friend id have to think about the students that he would be interacting with. he may have skills that may help him in other fields but no this one. i hope that him and his parents because would be able to understand that
ReplyDeleteI think he should not go to the second round because it his not his parent who decide and if he is not good enough he is not. the director will maybe have problem with his friend but the importance is the new students who will need a good student mentor. you can not accept him just because you know him. it would not be fair.
ReplyDeleteHe shouldn't make it to the next part. If Saja were allowed, that wouldnt be fair to others and take that away. That person may be a much better candidate. If you thought about it, and got a very good reason, I'm sure Saja's would understand.
ReplyDelete