Ethics
W, who works for me, has applied for my job. to be honest I was surprised when she said she was going for it - it didn’t occur to me she would want it - but once I got over the shock I am so behind it.
Part of this, I guess, is me being a bit precious about the job. As a team we came up with a plan for the coming year, with who was doing what, when we could fit it in, and where the direction of the team is going.
If someone new came along, they would have a different vision.
But also, while I think W is still a bit young, and doesn’t have the full skills yet, I know I have only been able to do such a great job this last year because of her (and B too, and now young Kneely).
However, I have found myself in a very weird position.
My boss asked me if I would help interview any candidates, and give advise as to who would be a good replacement.
As W’s boss, it is my place to ensure she is as prepared as she can be for any career move or progression she wants to make.
As I am leaving, and don’t give too much of a toss, I gave her all the questions we were going to ask at interview, then sat down with her the day before, to help her come up with the answers for each of the questions!!!
To be fair, my boss did come up with some other questions to ask along the way, so it wasn’t totally scripted.
And also, her application for the job was absolutely outstanding, and I had no input into that at all.
I already knew she interviewed well, and last week she got the chance to show her skills to my boss. And she did me proud!
Today we interviewed the only other internal candidate. He was okay, but nowhere near as good.
In keeping with the ethics I have shown, I have just rung W (who is away all week on an external course) to tell her how it went!
She will have to go in front of the big boss - the one who has no idea what we do, nor cares, nor thinks it is that important until he is in meetings with his executive buddies, when he takes all the credit for work we have done when he realises the others think it’s good. This will happen after I have gone, so I can’t help her with that unfortunately.
Oh - and the course she is on is to prepare her for the exam I sat back in November, and passed with flying colours. It is so funny, because she is so competitive about it, keeps going on about how she wants to get a higher score than me, and gets annoyed when I say that it would be good, and don’t get all worked up about it. Bless.