I was asked a question, why dont employers employ people based on merit this days?
I had to google up the definition of merit: CLAIM TO RESPECT AND PRAISE; EXCELLENCE; WORTH. Now this is not possible to evaluate just from an interview! It is a long process of assessment while working alongside your colleagues and bringing value over time! Merit retains you for the job, it dosnt qualify you for the job! Besides this, we do have gate keepers and many bosses that do not know how to get the right talent, nor do they start the process of employment properly!
Usually the boss doesn’t make the employment decision if the company is big, it is delegated to the HR manager or agent! There are 2 or 3 major flaws to this! First the HR manager will only select someone based on their perspective and we all know that as people we play with who we like, not necessarily if they are good for us! Sorry professionalism exists only in the minds of those who have personal ethics and a sound business mind.
Usually HR qualified people from universities should not be practicing hr cos many choose to go to uni now a-days just for the paper! Also people are chosen based on personality. The flaw here is that people are very poor judges of character as well as people are influenced by the environment the true nature of character is distorted due to nerves. Now the HR manager will also use his discretion on recommendation that is based on “who of the interviewed applicants can I manage” if you come across as too clever you may risk not being chosen because too clever people are considered hard to manage” even for the employer who dosnt have enough confidence in himself!
The problem also comes from the applicant, he sends standard cv’s with no personality or strategy! Employment is like talent hunt in soccer. A head hunter must notice you at your job and call you in for a better one! I often as an employer steal people I like and make them an offer its called headhunting. There is a lot more to hr that many donot understand. HR is as complicated as life itself. Its about Human beings and bringing out the natural resources within them that can be implemented on the job!
And by the way; did you try the abnormal way to stand out in your application for a job? When you follow you cant be a leader, even if someone sees you as crasy atleast you have made a mental note of yourself to be called back in due time. Does a fisherman go to sea expecting to catch a wale with a rope?
When the employer is looking for a super hero why do you present yourself as a puppet?
The strategy i employ is "hire for attitude train for skill". I win all the time because no one knows my business better than me and their attitude shows during the induction training.
