Worst consultant - trashy celebrity tabloid version

I know someone at the magazine who's actually filling this out, but fully expects to get fired. Celeb mags are doing just as badly as newspapers. Ok magazine - sorry, OK! magazine - hired someone to analyze what everyone's job is, in a scene right out of Office Space. Employees have to email the consultant their responses, as if writing about Brangelina every week wasn't degrading enough.

http://gawker.com/5237146/ok-magazine-now-just-toying-with-soon+to+be-fired-staff

 

I know people who dream of working at a place like TMZ or OK! Magazine.

I also don't think those questions are unreasonable. In fact, I think they're fairly sensible for a place like OK! Magazine.

 

I always love crap like this. I've experienced various versions of this and it always astounds me. You work at a newspaper/magazine. The people in charge can't figure out the answers to their questions themselves or bother to read the last few issues of the mag or paper?

But really, isn't asking for a three sentence explanation heavy lifting for someone used to writing photo captions or Fashion Do!/Fashion Don't!

Maybe they should change the name from OK! to FANTASTIC!

 

(C'mon, somebody was going to do it.)

In all serious, while the questions aren't unreasonable, isn't this what good managers are supposed to do anyway? Why do they need to hire consultants to figure out who's a good employee and who is not?

 

Maybe a manager is too close to the situation. I don't condone hiring outsiders to do the hard work, but sometimes a manager can recognize they have biases and could get rid of good employees they just don't like. I think it shows good leadership if a manager needs to go outside to keep from getting rid of good employees with whom they clash.

 

Nothing worse than being optimized...

 

I especially liked the requests for two hot-button buzz topics and a cover idea. As in, "We're going to fire a bunch of people, including you, but leave us with some good ideas so we can do more with less."

 

I think Bob Porter erroneously received attribution for some of Bob Slydell's quotes.

 

I'm surprised that no one has yet pointed out that the consultant hired by this celeb mag is named Jennifer Doll...

 

I like the question about favorite magazine.

Anyone who doesn't pick OK! as their favorite, step right up. Here's a cardboard box. You have five minutes. Big Bubba, the security man will escort you out.