Ethical Question, Family ...

[1StrongBlackMan]

Okay ... I'm competing for a significant promotion on my job. I'd be the highest ranking African-American in my organization AND I'd be in the position to kick the door open wider for other persons of color ... Not to mention, the promotion would mean way more money for Family 1StrongBlackMan.

There are 5 other candidates ... one is another internal candidate that I strongly believe is a "courtesy interview." This candidate held a comparable position 5 years ago and proceeded to completely piss off every department head in the division (and they have not forgotten) and she has given every indication that she hasn't changed.

I, on the other hand, specifically told key decision-makers that I did not want a "courtesy interview" and directly told my boss ... the person to whom I would serve as his second ... that I would be offended if my interview was merely a courtesy. We have that kind of relationship. My boss and I were hired 3 months apart (he hired me) into an HR Department that no one in the Division trusted. Together, we have spent the past 5 years establishing the trust of the other departments. We have it to a point that before any Director makes an employment action, they consult with either my boss or me. (Though my boss gives me some of the credit ... when talking to me ... I really don't trust that he doesn't take all of the credit when talking with others)

While I did serve a 6 month stretch acting in the position (when my boss briefly left for another job), I am self-aware enough to recognize that on paper, I am no doubt not the strongest candidate, but several of the directors have expressed their confidence that I can handle the job ... more importantly, I'm certain that I can handle the job.

I know nothing about the other candidates (though the Recruiter told me that none of the other candidates "blew her away&quot ; but I know that if my internal competitor gets the nod, I will not be long for the organization.

The 1st round interview process is a panel interview/oral board, where all candidates are asked the same questions. It has been practice that if there is a run-away candidate, they bring that candidate back for a pro-forma meeting with the Presiding Judge and Court Administrator, and unless that candidate does or says something really stupid, an offer is made.

Okay ... here's the ethical question:

I recently discovered that I have access to the interview questions. I know accessing the questions would give me an unfair advantage; but let's face it ... having the questions for the test, makes the test that much easier.

Okay ... typing this out has exercised my desire to place ends before means.

Thanks. Your comments/thoughts are welcome.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Maybe they planted fake questions to throw you off.

Like the movie, Animalhouse.

You are on double secret probation.

[1StrongBlackMan]

9. LOL ...

That reminds me of a time in under-grad. A professor was preparing to hand out an exam when he was called out of the room.

Almost immediately a student got up and took a copy of the exam and a bubble sheet (the answer sheet for multi-choice exams). Several other students took bubble sheets.

The professor returned and dismissed the class, indicating that the exam would be given at our next meeting.

At the next meeting, the Professor handed out the exam and the bubble sheets. Then 30 minutes into the exam, he called for the class to hand in their bubble sheets.

He gathered them into a stack and tapped them on his desk like a deck of cards. By the second tap it became clear what he was doing, as several of the bubble sheets stood out above the others. The Professor had trimmed about a 1/4 inch off the bottom of the bubble sheets he handed out.

The class ... wait for it ... Ethics!

[Arctic Dave]

14. LOL

Ethics teachers are dirty scoundrels.

[marybourg]

2. I don't believe that knowing the Q's

in advance would necessarily give you an advantage. What gives you an advantage is your in-depth knowledge of your organization. I would spend my time analyzing what, with that knowledge, you can bring to the new job, rather than rehearsing answers to Q's which may not even be asked of you and which may sound rehearsed to someone who knows your normal speech pattern. Good luck!

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. Thanks ...

solid and re-affirming advice.

[Skittles]

3. my thoughts

don't access the questions - reading your post makes it obvious you are a smart dude who can easily NAIL this interview - you run the risk of coming off, well, OVER-PROCESSED if you know the questions and focus too much on them. BE YOURSELF!!! And GOOD LUCK!!!

[nofurylike]

4. i think it depends how you got "access." i think that if someone gave them to you,

it might be best to be seriously suspicious. and if that is the case, i would suggest your coming forward with the information that you have that access. since you really know your stuff, anyway, their giving you a new set of questions would not be a problem for you, but you would have demonstrated integrity to them.

just my thoughts on this.

best of luck on this, 1StrongBlackMan!!!

[wandy]

5. You might be better off not pre reading the questions.....

How can I put this.....
In some jobs what is important is not what you do when you know what to do, but rather what you do when you don't know what to do.
How do you respond to an unexpected situation.
Pre screening the questions, giving you time to form an answer may mask an ability they are looking for.
Think 'grace under fire'.

Ethically, that you have asked about it leads me to believe you have answered you're own question.
No matter what happens I suspect you will feel better about you're self if you go in cold.

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. Yeah ...

I had answered the question before I hit the "post" button.

I would never put myself in a position to have my integrity (further) questioned ... That "Black tax" thing.

In some jobs what is important is not what you do when you know what to do, but rather what you do when you don't know what to do.

I completely agree ... and I believe that this is my true strength. I have been described by one co-worker (who will likely be a key decision-maker) as "ha(ving) a demonstrated ability to think through issues" and "arriving at appropriately actionable courses of action." (That's what she actually wrote in an "Kudos" letter after I bailed her out of a particularly sensitive situation).

[wandy]

11. Best of luck. Have faith in yourself.

[JustAnotherGen]

6. Hmmm

My company has an entired section of the Intranet devoted to career development. As well, we have the interview style allowed, and 'question sets' allowed available for all employees. Generally they ask situational questions with examples of how one handled the situation, was your approach succesful, would you do that in the future, would you change your approach, etc. etc.


If these are published on your company Intranet for ALL employees to see - then use it. This 'tool' is how my company ensures that INTERNAL hires are given every possible to chance to obtain a position prior to opening jobs up to the general public.

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. While ...

our company doesn't have that tool, I have sat on enough interview panels to have seen just about every variation of every question likely to be asked. Plus, in a previous life, I taught an interviewing skill course for jobseekers. So I'm not really concerned about the interview.

But I do like that your company provides that tool for its employees ... It does give internal candidates a slight leg up in that they enter the interview a little more prepared and therefore relaxed.

I've found the biggest problem with internal candidates is they come into the interview and (essentially) say: "I've worked here for 10 years; you know my work"; rather than selling themselves.

[JustAnotherGen]

16. Now seeing as you have sat

on an interview panel . . .

That's another element - having sat on one (for your current employer?) you have that 'leg up'. Treat your special knowledge of the organization as an added benefit/advantage and go sell yourself.

Another piece to my response - is that I HAVE been the hiring manager. I'm lucky I'm now at the same level but without direct reports (prefer to work on my own and not worry about others) - but having made hiring decisions at my current company, and going through the hiring manager protocol training - it definitely helped me when I applied for my current position in April 2011.

[SemperEadem]

12. it sounds like you know what you need to do

make them fall in love with you all over again.

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. My biggest fear is ...

What one Director said to me when she found out I was competing for the promotion: "That's great! Good luck. But you do realize that some find you much more valuable where you are. In the 5 years I've been here, we have not lost a single wrongful termination case ... Not because you are good at covering our tracks; but because you make sure we're right before we act. And as pissed off as that makes us, we know you give good counsel."

When I assured her that with the promotion, I'd have more room to operate and that I would make sure my replacement was as good as me ... She said, "In my 15 years here, I have never seen anyone that has been able to gain the trust of both management and the rank and file. Good luck with that."

[SemperEadem]

15. and that is the main reason why you should get the promotion

She said, "In my 15 years here, I have never seen anyone that has been able to gain the trust of both management and the rank and file. Good luck with that."

Because you have gained the trust of managment and rank and file, you would be perfect in assuring both sides that whoever you chose would see the wisdom in taking the tack you've taken---you wouldn't pick someone whose tact is akin to a bull in a china shop.

and she might be the only one of those "some that find you much more valuable where you are" because it serves her purposes in making her look good. Why management wouldn't want someone who makes sure the company is right before they act and who gives good counsel in a more prominent leadership role doesn't make sense. If they'd rather have a mediocre person take the job who does not possess the skill and finesse you possess in keeping the company on the right side of the issues, then one would then have to question the wisdom being used to steer the company, period, especially when they'd rather use you for a buttress to the mediocrity instead of allowing your excellence "to be great", as my daughter would say.

[1StrongBlackMan]

17. Thank you ...

I read your post and 15 minutes into the interview, I was able to integrate your post into an interview answer ... practically word for word, so I guess I owe you attribution, if not royalties.

End result ... I made it to the final cut!

[SemperEadem]

18. \o/ 1StrongBlackMan FTW!!!!

Yay!!!!!

but I'm sure it was your conviction to excellence and genius that sold them!

[1StrongBlackMan]

19. It was re-affirming ...

To watch every panel member, at one point or another, smile and nod in response to a statement I made.


* High Point -

I was speaking about how I had expanded my current role and in doing so, have garnered the trust and confidence of both management and the rank and file, when someone asked how I came to the conclusion that I had succeeded. My (abbreviated) response: "It can be found in the nature of the questions asked of me ... In the beginning, the questions were, 'What is the rule on ...', now the questions are, 'I am trying to do this, how can I make it happen'."

Everyone at the table had used that language in seeking my counsel.

* (Abbreviated) Closing Remark -

"I don't envy this panel. You are being asked to select from a pool of candidates who, on paper, are exactly what the Court is seeking. At this point, we have been further vetted through this interview process.

However, given the history of this position, may I offer one further consideration - continuity. While every candidate seating in this chair today has the skill-set to do the job, but only one offers a flat relationship learning curve ... promoting me into this position will allow us to build upon our already existing relationships."

This was met with some smiles and a couple nods. As I was walking out ... I thought, "Wow, that was hokey."

[1StrongBlackMan]

20. Follow-up Question ...

Okay ... The interviews are over and the hiring decision has been made ... I did not get the tap. I'm Okay with that ... I gave it my best shot. The decision was made based on "breadth of experience" ... the successful candidate has more HR Generalist experience than I do. I'm cool with that, though I believe that relationships and inter-personal skills would have/should've been the determining factor.

I, in the absence of an organizational site superior, have spent the past 5 years making policy decisions, with the blessing of the HR Director. These decisions are recognized to have garnered the support and respect of both management and the rank and file.


Question:

Now that the organization has tapped a Deputy Director that is to be my boss and organizational shot caller, but with a history of destroying management and rank and file relations, am I to defer the making of policy decisions to my soon to be boss?

[kwassa]

21. Yes, if you value your job.

Your new boss is by job title and through the organizational structure the new authority. If he is indeed such a poor decision maker, you should not want credit for his decisions. The title makes him boss, though, and even if he let you make such decisions, which is highly unlikely, he would take credit for your successful ideas, and give you credit for the failures, quite probably.

Be a good supporting player, that's all. You might be considered again for this position.

[1StrongBlackMan]

22. Of Course ...

You are right.

[Number23]

23. Good advice, kwassa

[ZombieHorde]

24. I don't know the situation, but I probably would have read the questions. nt

[xrayvision2005]

25. BE the best

History has been loaded with "unfair advantages". It could be argued that the "Golden Rule" and "Two wrongs don't make a right" presidents are virtuous rules of conduct. I however, prefer to think the your sense of accomplishment and self-worth would be greatly enhanced based on the element of merit. Be yourself, be sincere, and allow the Universe to guide you to your proper place. "It's all perfect."

[1StrongBlackMan]

26. I am overwhelmed with mixed emotions this afternoon ...

In 23 minutes, I will submit my Letter of Resignation.

After not getting the Deputy Director position, another position with another employer, literally, fell into my lap. After several of the most grueling interviews I have had the pleasure of experiencing, on Thursday, I was presented a very, very generous offer.

I spent the weekend giving the offer serious consideration and concluded that this opportunity was too good to pass on; despite my love(?) for my current position, my employer, and its mission.

Wish me luck and peaceful resolve family ... I start my new journey, Oct. 1st.