Need Help Deciding Whom To Hire

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editorhoo

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2008
Messages
529
Have a part-time position open and it's down to two candidates. I've interviewed them twice and still can't decide. Thought I post here to see what the board had to say.

Candidate A:
This person has consistently pursued the job (which scores major points for me), has not taken a journalism class, but is a solid writer. Candidate A just started college (not for journalism), will be taking a year off before going back, and is interested in keeping the job the entire time while in college. Candidate A interviews very well, asks A LOT of questions and is very outgoing.

Candidate B:
This person has pursued the job very little, although is very interested, has taken one news-writing class and is interested in pursuing a sports writing career. Candidate B has one-plus year of school left so could here and gone quickly. This person does not interview well because of shyness and doesn't ask many questions.

They're both from the area and both played sports in the area.

Thoughts?
 
editorhoo said:
Have a part-time position open and it's down to two candidates. I've interviewed them twice and still can't decide. Thought I post here to see what the board had to say.

Candidate A:
This person has consistently pursued the job (which scores major points for me), has not taken a journalism class, but is a solid writer. Candidate A just started college (not for journalism), will be taking a year off before going back, and is interested in keeping the job the entire time while in college. Candidate A interviews very well, asks A LOT of questions and is very outgoing.

Candidate B:
This person has pursued the job very little, although is very interested, has taken one news-writing class and is interested in pursuing a sports writing career. Candidate B has one-plus year of school left so could here and gone quickly. This person does not interview well because of shyness and doesn't ask many questions.

They're both from the area and both played sports in the area.

Thoughts?

Pick the better all-around writer.
 
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I like candidate B because of the news-writing class and the interest in the profession.

I would have to teach Candidate A all about the basics, inverted pyramid, how to write a proper lede, etc.
 
editorhoo said:
I like candidate B because of the news-writing class and the interest in the profession.

I would have to teach Candidate A all about the basics, inverted pyramid, how to write a proper lede, etc.

It sounds like Candidate A would be the better pick long-term. Would you mind bringing him along and helping him through his inital bumps?
 
schiezainc said:
editorhoo said:
I like candidate B because of the news-writing class and the interest in the profession.

I would have to teach Candidate A all about the basics, inverted pyramid, how to write a proper lede, etc.

It sounds like Candidate A would be the better pick long-term. Would you mind bringing him along and helping him through his inital bumps?
Normally I would mind, because I never used to have the time to mentor. But I've had an experienced staff for four years, and I've never had that before. So, no, I guess I wouldn't mind.
 
editorhoo said:
schiezainc said:
editorhoo said:
I like candidate B because of the news-writing class and the interest in the profession.

I would have to teach Candidate A all about the basics, inverted pyramid, how to write a proper lede, etc.

It sounds like Candidate A would be the better pick long-term. Would you mind bringing him along and helping him through his inital bumps?
Normally I would mind, because I never used to have the time to mentor. But I've had an experienced staff for four years, and I've never had that before. So, no, I guess I wouldn't mind.

Well then lock. the. thread. It's A.
 
If you know the right ways, you can mold him or her into a good reporter. If B is learning the wrong ways, it might take you more time to break him or her down in order to make strides to creating a good reporter.
 
editorhoo said:
schiezainc said:
editorhoo said:
I like candidate B because of the news-writing class and the interest in the profession.

I would have to teach Candidate A all about the basics, inverted pyramid, how to write a proper lede, etc.

It sounds like Candidate A would be the better pick long-term. Would you mind bringing him along and helping him through his inital bumps?
Normally I would mind, because I never used to have the time to mentor. But I've had an experienced staff for four years, and I've never had that before. So, no, I guess I wouldn't mind.

Could you agree that, long-term, A is the better choice? Sounds like B has the skills to plug the hole right away and hit the ground running but ultimately A might be the better choice b/c he is more likely to learn your style/what you want.
 
Don't be swayed by the fact that B has taken a writing class. You've already pointed out that A is a solid writer. What else do you need?
Sounds to me like you may actually have to train B more than you would A. And trust me, having been doing this as long as I have, I know that someone taking a writing class, even holding a journalism degree, doesn't mean jack over half the time.
Go with the person you already know can write.
 
editorhoo said:
Have a part-time position open and it's down to two candidates. I've interviewed them twice and still can't decide. Thought I post here to see what the board had to say.

Candidate A:
This person has consistently pursued the job (which scores major points for me), has not taken a journalism class, but is a solid writer. Candidate A just started college (not for journalism), will be taking a year off before going back, and is interested in keeping the job the entire time while in college. Candidate A interviews very well, asks A LOT of questions and is very outgoing.

Candidate B:
This person has pursued the job very little, although is very interested, has taken one news-writing class and is interested in pursuing a sports writing career. Candidate B has one-plus year of school left so could here and gone quickly. This person does not interview well because of shyness and doesn't ask many questions.

They're both from the area and both played sports in the area.

Thoughts?

If you're really serious about coming here asking for advice who to hire, you should be ****ing fired on the spot.
Holy ****, no wonder this business is in the crapper if assholes like you are in mangement positions.
 
spaceman said:

11397374_chicken_dinner.jpg
 
spnited said:
editorhoo said:
Have a part-time position open and it's down to two candidates. I've interviewed them twice and still can't decide. Thought I post here to see what the board had to say.

Candidate A:
This person has consistently pursued the job (which scores major points for me), has not taken a journalism class, but is a solid writer. Candidate A just started college (not for journalism), will be taking a year off before going back, and is interested in keeping the job the entire time while in college. Candidate A interviews very well, asks A LOT of questions and is very outgoing.

Candidate B:
This person has pursued the job very little, although is very interested, has taken one news-writing class and is interested in pursuing a sports writing career. Candidate B has one-plus year of school left so could here and gone quickly. This person does not interview well because of shyness and doesn't ask many questions.

They're both from the area and both played sports in the area.

Thoughts?

If you're really serious about coming here asking for advice who to hire, you should be ****ing fired on the spot.
Holy ****, no wonder this business is in the crapper if assholes like you are in mangement positions.
:o
 
By the way, hoo, when the ME or EE asks why you want to hire A over B, are you going to say because a bunch of anonymous people on a message board -- who really don't kow me and have never met either candidate -- think he's the better choice?
 
spnited said:
editorhoo said:
Have a part-time position open and it's down to two candidates. I've interviewed them twice and still can't decide. Thought I post here to see what the board had to say.

Candidate A:
This person has consistently pursued the job (which scores major points for me), has not taken a journalism class, but is a solid writer. Candidate A just started college (not for journalism), will be taking a year off before going back, and is interested in keeping the job the entire time while in college. Candidate A interviews very well, asks A LOT of questions and is very outgoing.

Candidate B:
This person has pursued the job very little, although is very interested, has taken one news-writing class and is interested in pursuing a sports writing career. Candidate B has one-plus year of school left so could here and gone quickly. This person does not interview well because of shyness and doesn't ask many questions.

They're both from the area and both played sports in the area.

Thoughts?

If you're really serious about coming here asking for advice who to hire, you should be ****ing fired on the spot.
Holy ****, no wonder this business is in the crapper if assholes like you are in mangement positions.
I'm the asshole in this scenario? That's rich.

All I wanted to know was what some other people thought.
 

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