by David Tandet
Know your job.
Sounds obvious, right?
But apparently it’s not so clear to some people.
A friend of mine told me about a new writer her firm had hired.
The writer had boundless energy when criticizing the current structure of my friend’s office.
More significantly, the new person asked for a couple of days extension of her first assignment. And when she did turn her piece in, it wasn’t exactly what the firm needed.
Knowing your job means a couple of things: know the assignment you’re being asked to carry out. And it also means being competent enough to be able to perform it. That’s at the very minimum.
If you’re doing the hiring, make sure the new person you’re considering understands exactly what tasks he or she will be expected to perform. Ask for samples that would give some indication that the new member of the team can do what he says he can.
If you’re being considered for a job, be sure you are able to carry out all tasks required. If you can’t, it will become obvious soon enough.
Basic ideas.
Basic, for a very good reason.