A Semi-rational creature confronts a universe of ever expanding fuckedupness
Sunday, February 12, 2012
On-Campus Interview Don't #975
DO NOT neglect to thank the department's administrative assistant after she goes out of her way at the last minute to make photocopies of your job talk handout because you forgot to do so yourself.
11 comments:
Anonymous
said...
General rule: always treat office staff courteously
I want to chime in on this point because it is so true. You should not only thank the office staff, but go out of your way to thank them for their time, etc.
On a recent fly-out I had this year, the department secretary was in charge of handling all my travel & accommodation arrangements. She did an excellent job and I made sure to stop by on my whirl-wind tour of the dept. to thank her in person. Then, as soon as I got back, I sent her a hand-written thank you card. I think it went a long way. The dept. chair specifically mentioned that the secretary appreciated my thoughtfulness on his phone call to offer me the job a couple weeks later.
Every bit helps.
Also, I accepted the job and so now I will be working with this secretary -- another good reason to be courteous and respectful to everyone in a potential future place of employment! (As if simple decency were not enough of a reason.)
Second the general rule. In fact, a general, general rule is in order: Be courteous and thankful to those who help you or provide services. Or, to keep it short: Don't be a dick.
Anonymous @6:50 p.m.: (1) No, it's not really the job of the department secretary to make handouts for talks by visiting speakers at the last minute. In fact he or she has many things to do which you will not become fully aware of unless you become involved in the administration of a department. But...
(2) Suppose it is part of the secretary's job. It is part of not being a dick that you thank people who are in any sense working for you for doing their jobs.
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11 comments:
General rule: always treat office staff courteously
I want to chime in on this point because it is so true. You should not only thank the office staff, but go out of your way to thank them for their time, etc.
On a recent fly-out I had this year, the department secretary was in charge of handling all my travel & accommodation arrangements. She did an excellent job and I made sure to stop by on my whirl-wind tour of the dept. to thank her in person. Then, as soon as I got back, I sent her a hand-written thank you card. I think it went a long way. The dept. chair specifically mentioned that the secretary appreciated my thoughtfulness on his phone call to offer me the job a couple weeks later.
Every bit helps.
Also, I accepted the job and so now I will be working with this secretary -- another good reason to be courteous and respectful to everyone in a potential future place of employment! (As if simple decency were not enough of a reason.)
Second the general rule. In fact, a general, general rule is in order: Be courteous and thankful to those who help you or provide services. Or, to keep it short: Don't be a dick.
pretty hard for philosophers not to be dicks though generally
Sure, it's good to be thankful. But isn't it the job of the department secretary to make copies of handouts for talks?
Anonymous @6:50 p.m.:
(1) No, it's not really the job of the department secretary to make handouts for talks by visiting speakers at the last minute. In fact he or she has many things to do which you will not become fully aware of unless you become involved in the administration of a department. But...
(2) Suppose it is part of the secretary's job. It is part of not being a dick that you thank people who are in any sense working for you for doing their jobs.
Also: *do not* assume the department's administrative assistant is female.
12:39, why is it more difficult for philosophers to avoid being dicks?
2:02 PM: don't know, but see 8:38am.
"Also: *do not* assume the department's administrative assistant is female."
Agreed: It is best if you check at the start of the visit.
6:5o - If you don't work there, she's not your secretary.
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