Jonathots Daily Blog
(3032)
Dear Woman: Hey, I got the message you wanted to see me.
Dear Man: Yeah, I have a job interview coming up and I wanted your insight.
Dear Woman: Okay…
Dear Man: You seem reluctant. What’s the problem?
Dear Woman: I’m not reluctant. It’s just that you’re really smart, you know what you’re doing and you’ve gotten jobs before…
Dear Man: I know, but this interview is with a man, and I thought you could give me some tips on how to approach it.
Dear Woman: (chuckling) You do understand, it’s not like there’s a real “Hair Club for Men” and we get together once a week to discuss our plans.
Dear Man: I know that. I just want to get an edge so I can get off on the right foot.
Dear Woman: Well, the wrong foot is thinking there’s a context for dealing with other people.
Dear Man: What do you mean?
Dear Woman: Once we start boxing people up by sex, race or any way at all, we’re showing both our disrespect for them and our insecurity about ourselves.
Dear Man: Gee, whiz, I just wanted some advantage…
Dear Woman: OK. Here’s an advantage. Work on your content. And here’s your content: “This is who I am, this is what I want and this is what I can offer.” In that order.
Dear Man: Isn’t that pushy?
Dear Woman: No, pushy is when you think you can look some magical way or produce some mystical dialogue that suddenly makes you appealing to a male boss.
Dear Man: There are prejudices.
Dear Woman: Yes, there are, but you won’t overcome them by giving into them. Find your content. Don’t try to outsmart. Instead, out-start them. Anticipate the questions and provide the information you know he will need. Then gently guide him to the questions you want him to ask you.
Dear Man: How do you do that?
Dear Woman: Balance. If you hear something you don’t agree with, say right out loud, “That hasn’t been my finding.” It will surprise him. It’ll make him ask questions about why you differ. Nodding your head and smiling is the best way to make sure that you don’t get a job. Stop worrying about the context. In other words, “I’m talking to a man so I should do this.” Focus on the content: “This is who I am, what I want and what I can offer.” Then if he is not in the same place you are…well, you wouldn’t want to work there anyway, right?
Dear Man: I hear what you’re saying but I don’t know whether I can do that or not. I’ve spent my life trying to please.
Dear Woman: I understand. But it’s time to take steps toward clarifying your content instead of groping around, trying to find the context and submitting to it.
Dear Man: I’m so glad I called you.
Dear Woman: Oh, you would have figured it out. But in the process you might have missed out on a good job or two.
Dear Man: So, content, not context. Out-start them instead of trying to outsmart them.
Dear Woman: That’s it. Good luck.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Jonathan’s Latest Book Release!
PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant
Click here to get your copy now!
Jonathots Daily Blog 
Leave a Reply