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> I'm suggesting that if my job is being outsourced, nobody with
> integrity would blame *me.* And if my former company cut its doc
> department to two people, and you blame me for that, you are a
> consummate jerk.
I think you're missing a very important nuance Bonnie.
There is a difference between the two scenarios:
SCENARIO 1
Interviewer: Why did you leave your last job?
Applicant: Oh, the company was downsizing and my department got cut. I was laid
off with a lot of other people. It was unfortunate, but these things happen. I
learned a lot at that job and I think my experiences there fit well with what
you're looking for.
SCENARIO 2
Interviewer: Why did you leave your last job?
Applicant: They offshored my position. I worked there for 2 years and they
decided they could save some money hiring some people from India. I told them I
wouldn't take that so I just walked right out and quit. The management at that
place had a lot of problems. They just didn't understand how to run a company.
The point John is making is that certain words are loaded with pre-conceptions
and agendas. Offshoring is one of those words. If you walk into an interview
and start whining and blaming others for your failed jobs, then most sane
people will not hire you. You can shout and scream all day about integrity, but
nobody with half a brain hires somebody who is bitter and resentful.
Yes, it is terrible how many people get laid off. But the offshoring problem is
more complex than just jobs. John is right to a certain extent, that if a
company outsources a job to another country then obvious that work had gotten
to a point where it was not economically viable to employ locals. In other
words, the locals were not adding enough value. However, its equally true, that
companies will seek out places to save money, and things like tech writing are
often the first to get chopped because they are not viewed as mission critical.
In either way, tech writers do have a responsibility to make themselves useful.
And while its sad when people get laid off who are doing good work, there are
plenty of people who were laid off because they WEREN'T doing good work. They
were, like many tech writers, obsessing over trivial issues and turning out
mediocre work.
> " nobody with integrity would blame *me.*
Integrity, means that you stick to your word. If you say you'll do something,
you do it. You're using the word improperly, Bonnie. I think what you want to
say is "nobody with common decency would blame me."
And you're partially right. Its not very kind to blame the person who got laid
off for that situation. Integrity really has nothing to do with it. You can
have very high integrity, but still be unkind.
The whole point is - be careful what you say. Chose your words carefully and
strategically. If you walk into an interview armed for battle, you'll lose,
because the deck is stacked against you. While it might not be *kind* for a
person to blame you for being laid off, its not unusual. As such its best NOT
to say any more then you have to. Keep details light and the focus on your
skills.
Some interviewers (like myself) will specifically ask questions to see if a
applicant "goes negative." I purposefully bait people in interviews to see
what's under the surface. And without fail, the least qualified people will
always take the bait and start ranting about how unfair the world is. Its a
very good sign of maturity and professionalism if you can sit in an interview
and never speak badly of former employers or co-workers, even when baited.
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