Here we go again: Science or Art?

Poor Science!! It has taken us from Stone Age to this glorious day, and yet we are still questioning it.

A long time ago, on one of my job interviews some one asked me if I thought that accounting is science or art. I answered very honestly that accounting is science and that is why they give you bachelors of Science and not Art. I never quite got the meaning of that question until last weekend when 4teen had friends over and the discussion was job hunting. For the records, I did not get that job!

A very frustrated 4teen had applied for a job at a greeting card store for the position of a simple sales associate. After the initial interview she had to take a test and based on the result of the test, she did not get the job that paid minimum wage. The test had nothing to do with any performance skills, they were basic personal and moral questions and she answered all the questions very honestly, however, they told her that they do not think that she is a good fit for their organization, because the answers did not look very genuine to them. She could not get what it meant to be a good fit, while she simply needed a part time job to earn some extra bucks for her daily expenses.

And the conversation heated and it became a group therapy for all these frustrated kids who are entering the workforce and are getting disappointed, because for so many years it is drilled into their heads to be themselves and not to lie about their identities and feelings. They are told that having a solid character is the foundation for anything one wants to be. All of a sudden, they are doing what they have always been doing and they find that being their true selves in the society does not necessarily mean that people will like or accept them. A big shock and disappointment. 4teens, welcome to the world of adults.

The truth of the matter is that everyone believes that an honest person who speaks frankly is like a bit of fresh air. Yet, that bit of fresh air does not land you necessarily the things that you want in life and in this case a job!! Sometimes, getting what you want in life has nothing to do with honesty and niceness, or even what you really think.

Here are a few examples of questions that you can not answer honestly in a job interview.

“Why do you want to work for XYZ Company?”

Politically correct answer:
Because XYZ is the leading producers of…and helps the environment and….., I believe in the mission of this company…...

Honest answer:

I need a job that is close to my house and you have an opening. End of the story.

Why are you leaving your present job?

Honest answer:
Why anyone does changes his job, because it is a dream job? We quit our jobs, because we are disappointed in our bosses, the company, and the pay and….

Politically Correct Answer:
I am still working on it.

And at this point the realization kicked in. Finding any job, in a science or art related position, really is an art. One needs the art of communication to relay the message in a way and tone to capture the audience that is being addressed. Marketing yourself and your skills is the ultimate art. Interpreting rules and regulation and turning them legally to your advantage are the greatest art. And the list goes on.

I still preach what Dr. Seuss preached: "Be who you are & say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter & those who matter don't mind."

But the bottom line is that if living by this rule is not easy. If you choose to live by this motto, then there are consequences. If you can not take the heat, then get out of the game. There are no manuals in life for living; one just picks the way that suits him best.

We are back again to making choices in life!!