Dartmouth College "Editorial"

[amycat412]

Its just occurring to me that Rush is, in many ways, good preparation for the process of job interviews.

Think about it-- most of us have had a job that we really wanted, that we were really close to getting--

Take me--

A number of years ago I interviewed with a behemoth and legendary digital effects company. This would have been a recruitment coordinator position and I would have been in large part responsible for hiring the digital artists used when they did the effects for an Oscar winning movie.

The office was on the beach. The setting was uber cool. I wanted that job so bad I could taste it.

The interview process was grueling. I was interviewed by SEVEN different people. They narrowed it down to me and someone else and called us back in to meet with some head honcho woman.

I'd sailed thru my previous seven interviews and could pretty much smell the ink on my business cards.

I met with Ms. X. Her first question ; So are the connections you made at USC worth the money your parents paid for you to go there?

WTF? I replied that I went to USC for an education, not for connections. I said that while my parents did pay for a portion of my education, I also received financial aid that I was responsible for paying back. I replied that the amount of debt I carried as a result was somewhat staggering, but I wouldn't trade my experience at USC, wouldn't trade the education I got there, for anything. And those loans? Well they were just teaching me financial responsibility, which was something I needed to learn as well.

She made some comment about spoiled children and ended the interview?

I found out later that this woman and most of the people in the department had attended a local public university that had a, well, pathetic academic reputation. They also had major chips on their shoulders and couldn't see past their perception of a USC grad to see all I was capable of.

How is that any more or less fair than a sorority not picking you because they don't think you'd fit in personality wise?

THis is the RIGHT we have in our society--to choose the MOST QUALIFIED. The most qualified person for a job--based on flexible and subjective criteria-- the most qualified member of a sorority or fraternity based on flexible, subjective and ever changing criteria.

If GLO's were required to take every Trash talking Tina and druggie Darla out there-- how would this in any way prepare us for the rejection we are bound to face in our post-collegiate careers?

Sure, not all Rushees are cut completely, or don't get the house of their chocie-- but most rushees face decisions and choices in the proccess as do the members--they've collectively got to decide what's best for the overall good of their chapter.

Just like a company will have to do when interviewing you for a position. And just because its the real world, doesn't mean their reasons for wanting or not wanting you are any more fair than Rush was.