Plenty of Tinderly Hamonizing Fish: Professional Edition

Have you ever wondered why some people get stuck with crappy bosses when others flourish in their professional relationship? The majority of people get their jobs by applying, interviewing and accepting a position within a company. Very little effort is put into seeing if the personalities between the boss and subordinate will work.

A few weeks ago, I was on yet another job interview (yeah I know, if you follow my blog, this isn’t a spoiler alert!) where the hiring panel did not have a single person from the workgroup represented. This panel was responsible for selecting this new “team member” who would never be a part of their team. It floored me that they did this. If I was hiring a person to work with me, I would at least want to meet them, shake their hand and ENSURE they brushed their teeth regularly.

In comparison, I have seen people who have essentially dated strangers. With the introduction of internet dating about 15 years ago – suddenly people filled out a questionnaire about things as nit-picky as whether or not they eat fast food and then were matched with other people that they had a good chance of meshing with.

So this begs the question: why aren’t working relationships also based on not only skill but personality? Assuming that a person works 10 hours a day – commute and lunch included - and sleeps 8 hours a day, a person spends 62.5% of their waking (read: LIVING) hours at work. Why isn’t more done to make sure that the boss and the employee at least LIKE each other?

INTRODUCING:

PLENTY OF TINDERLY HARMONIZING FISH: PROFESSIONAL EDITION

That’s right folks. I am totally suggesting a merge of dating websites with job applications. Not only does a person have to have the skills, they also have to have the personable qualities. In my new app, employers can swipe left to dump you and right to keep you. So if you’re professional photo isn’t up to the par it’s like a Beyonce song --- to the left, to the left…..exit stage left with your terrible profile pic with your government issued politician hair. Ew. (That is another post entirely.)

I think this new app will accomplish a few things:

#1. Personal Hygiene will come back in style. In the Pacific Northwest, I can’t tell you how many people I have seen in professional settings who have just so clearly given up on life. By submitting a profile pic, you can better ensure the potential new employees will have taken the time to get a haircut, brushed their hair and teeth and have bothered to get out of their pajamas. At the very least, you will know their filtering techniques are on point and you can at least put their ugly ass in the IT department.

#2. Employees will be matched with their employer. Meaning, less HR issues due to personality conflicts. Humor or lack thereof will be similar, eating styles will be similar and water cooler conversations will flow more easily.

#3. Employees can also choose their employer! An employee will know in advance of accepting a position whether or not they are going to be working for an asshole. They can actually check with relative certainty if the grass is greener.

And many other fascinating things for sure!

So, next time you want to see if you would be a good fit, just look up Plenty of Tinderly Harmonizing Fish: Professional Edition and give it a go.