I know I just got done yapping about getting this new job. but I pulled a pretty big blunder in the interview. He asked me what kind of degree I have, and I told him I had a BS in Physics. He mentioned that there are a lot of physics guys that work at the company, which was good to hear.
then asks me to describe the last time I used my knowledge in physics in the “real world”. I made the terrible mistake of answering the question truthfully without thinking about what I’d be saying first. I described how I was in a long creationism/evolution debate and how I can’t stand it when people pick on the physical laws to argue creationism. namely using the second law of thermodynamics to show how we couln;t have evolved from simpler creatures to more complex creatures. I mentioned the concepts behind the second law and how they have no bearing on biological systems at all. Then he says “well I think the biological aspects of evolution are the biggest problem…” RED FLAG! RED FLAG! Go directly to neutral territory… do not pass go, do not collect $200!!! I immediately followed up his comment with “yeah, I know there are issues and I don’t try to take sides… I just hate it when people use physical laws in ways they aren’t meant to be used…” etc. I think I saved it pretty well.
NOTE TO SELF: lie through your teeth if you have to, but make sure you project neutrality and/or invisibility in all political/religious areas when interviewing.
I already have the job pretty much secured so I’m really not worried about this… but this is just the kind of blunder that could cost me a job in a blind interview with people I’ve never met before. I *greatly dislike* having to abandon my principles like that, but the general population doesn’t respond well to opinions that conflict with theirs. they take it as a challenge or an affront… not so much as an opinion. half the time people have no business carrying around the opinions they do. :ROLLEYES:
anyways.. that’s my story.
-IggDawg
Sorry not to console but, yeah, that’s a major blunder.
But he can’t evaluate you on that. You could sue.
Doesn’t mean he won’t though.
Oh yes. Big big blunder. not at all looking for consolation.. more like showing off my ignorance 😀 . I could sue if he denied me the position and said in the denial letter “You don’t get teh job because you’re a godless atheist bastard”… but certainly I would just get a letter along the lines of “we’ll keep your resumee on file okthxbye”
I’ve been working here for some months now, and Bob isn’t about to let me quit. she’s constantly putting the ball in my court with “assuming you still want to work here in february…”, and she got this relieved look on her face when I told her that the guy said my salary requirements were reasonable. so I’m not worried about getting the position. thankfully this lesson was learned in a relatively consequence free scenario.
-Igg
It’s not really abandoning you principles to willfully omit them from spheres or environments in which it is understood that they are inappropriate…and by the same token, it is not against the rules to smack someone else down for imposing theirs in the wrong places either.
We have some funny moments at work because we have probably 2 liberals, 2 conservatives, and 2 centrists in the place at any time. Being one of the centrists, I most often end up smacking down someone from either side down with pragmatic truths. But man, political scorekeeping and cheerleading sure is an identity device for some people. It used to be for me, so I know how it feels. We got one guy who seems like he’s going to shoot the place up if you mention that Bush is an incompetent “casualty of classism.”
The older I get, the fewer opinions I have, and the more I am just trying to stay healthy and experience shit.
I see what you mean. I think I probably used “abandon” wrongly, since I know I’m not really abandoning them per se. Funny how words can work… That first line you said there is more along the lines of what I meant, but since I said “abandon” I felt like I was actually abandoning them. I guess words are a little more powerful than they seem.
There was a similar situation one of the guys on the club posted that he was basically being forced to adopt a religion (he’s an atheist) to get married. he was marrying into a conservative philipino family. or something. The best advice I could give him was to play along. she couldn’t honestly expect him to all the sudden be a god-fearing zealot. If he lies and plays along, it’s not like he hsa to answer to anyone since in his belief system there’s nobody keeping count but him. Same sorta deal I guess.
Why am I rambling? It’s early and I’m bored.
Religion is a deeply personal thing, as deep as the act of dying alone. The choice to share it with other receptive, willing people is a great, beautiful aspect of our society. The tendency of the converted or consumed to want to impose their religious worldview on the unreceptive, however, is probably our greatest scourge, and the cause of more death throughout history than anything save disease.
At some point I stopped blaming the religions and started blaming the people, in the interest of accuracy.
I’ve come to the same sorts of conclusions. I seem to gravitate even more towards these sorts of beliefs the more I learn about religion, history, and human nature.
If you haven’t already, I’d reccommend “the lucifer principle” by Howard Bloom. It’s a study of religion and the concept of evil and whatnot throughout history. I learned a lot from it and have read it numerous times. Very very good read.
when i go into an interview it usually looks like this:
guy: Hi my name is Butt Mcwipe
me: God is dead. Your religion is a falsehood. I know more than you. And i might have fucked your wife yesterday.
guy: you’re hired!