I am officially put into a test of ethics.
When I was given the job to be the bearer of bad news to the rejected interviewees of AIESEC (the international organisation I belong to in Curtin), I didn’t think any of those would bother pursuing the matter. But this specific girl just had to ask why. I didn’t read the email until today… and basically another member of AIESEC has already replied to that, saying that her inability to communicate properly was a major part because she couldn’t understand half the things we were saying during the interview.
Let’s call her A. So A replied back, I must say with a little bit of angst, saying that it is not right that she is rejected on that area, when she is working very hard to improve her communication skills. She mentioned that she really wants to give back to the organisation and she is pleading for a second chance.
What is the right thing to do?
She makes me question my ethics when she rebutted on our reason as to why she was rejected. I remember telling my team that those who can’t converse in English should definitely be off the list. Discrimination? I didn’t see it at that time. I mean, delegating jobs are definitely gonna be harder if the person doesn’t understand the instructions. It only takes that one person for the whole process to go haywire… or at least complicate it. Is that reasoning good enough? Is it possible to actually put these people with communication skills problems to be at the back office, like Finance, where there is little interaction with the outside community? I really don’t know. AIESEC is not running a language centre where we are helping students to improve their language competency. We are an organisation who is helping students with that potential to reach even greater heights… I’m not saying A doesn’t have that potential. I just felt she didn’t have that foundation yet to even step on a platform where there is a lot of work, a lot of time commitment, and a lot of communication between portfolios needed. We have KPIs to meet, we have datelines, we have businesses to talk to, so where is the line in giving others that potential, and achieving goals?
In conclusion, Whitney, if you’re reading this, you are such an arse for making me give the bad news!
Jayke Kyndrede said,
August 11, 2011 at 8:40 am
You’re encountering the fine line we all have to walk between developing potential and meeting quality expectations. We all want to develop every single person who wants it, but what happens when it becomes unfeasible to send that someone on exchange?
I know of some people who have applied to the program who were extremely into it but just did not have the language requirement. Don’t see it as discrimination. What it really is is us meeting a global standard. If you send this intern who is unable to speak English overseas, you’ll be potentially ruining a partnership someone else has put time and effort into maintaining and you’ll be giving your LC and nation a bad name in that respect. Always considering also that any intern we send acts as an ambassador for AIESEC and for Australia, just consider the negative impression an intern who is unable to speak English would make, and the expectation any external would have of an Australian intern.
In summary, don’t feel bad about this. It’s something that happens. If you really feel like she deserves a second chance, befriend her and help her with her English by chatting to her now and then. You cannot imagine how much it would help xD
myshalalalala said,
August 16, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Thank you Jayke. I guess that made me feel better! Owe you one!