#about who has more leadership qualifications

[violent138]

Villain of the week, holding up a gun: "Put your hands up--"

Jason Todd, turning around dramatically: "Or what, you'll kill me?"

VOTW, visibly confused, holding the gun higher: "Yes. That's the whole point."

Dick, also with his hands down: "Jason, please just do what the man fucking says. I'm so sorry about him."

VOTW: "It's...okay."

Jason, rolling his eyes: "Again, with that shit, you're so patronizing. You ever had a boss like that? Treats you like some kind of idiot--"

VOTW, lowering gun: "Yeah, actually."

"--When you've been a successful crime boss for like five years now--"

VOTW, immediately confused: "Wait, what?"

[thegreenlizard]

What makes a military genius

Obi-Wan recognises the most qualified person to lead his battalion is not himself but his commander and acts accordingly.

Could be the same AU as “Not Obi-Wan’s first slave uprising” (where Obi-Wan is presented with a battalion of slave soldiers, says please and thank you, and starts plotting how to take down the slavers).

Jedi are more like diplomats, spies, or special forces, where they have to achieve much with very little. Obi-Wan had learned to use his assets to their fullest, including—and often especially—sentient assets. Or, Obi-Wan recognises the most qualified person to lead his battalion is not himself but his commander, and acts accordingly.

I have this mental image of Obi-Wan meeting his commander and having a discussion, comparing their education and qualifications; recognising that while he’s willing to learn, his learning curve would happen at the expense of the lives of his men; and promptly reassigning duties. Cody ends up with effective command of the 212th; Obi-Wan’s combat role becomes a specialist and his non-combat role a combination of consultant (he does have applicable experience), Republic/Order attaché (slash shield/advocate for his men), and a professional banthashit processor (which allows Cody to do his job as effectively as possible). And that’s how the 212th ends up the most effective battalion in the GAR.

I love the MilitaryGenius!Obi-Wan trope, but soldiers the Jedi are not. This is one solution for how both could be true at the same time (in other words, gimme military genius!Cody). Obi-Wan has the strategic genius to recognise that he has what might be the finest army in the galaxy crippled by poor leadership—and the negotiator’s out of the box genius to figure out a solution for it. His by the book appearance is part an attempt to protect the good thing he has going on and part malicious compliance.

Bonus:

- Obi-Wan in full trooper armour.

- Obi-Wan in full armour is a trooper that doesn’t exist—the “Ghost” of the Ghost Company (i.e. his assigned company).

- I got thinking about different scenarios and when it would be more advantageous to have your Jedi look visibly Jedi for intimidation, distraction, or whatever—and when it would be more advantageous to hide him in plain sight in one of the identical sets of trooper armour. And I thought that if Cody had a Jedi who was willing to let Cody do whatever he wanted with him, that would definitely be one of the uses to make of him. You know, in addition to getting him wear armour, two birds one shot and all that jazz.

- Cody and Obi-Wan also discuss the possibility of making their arrangement public, making it known it’s a clone who’s effectively running the battalion. But for some political osik reason decide no.

- It probably so happens that the finest army in the galaxy is also compromised by the senate’s lengthy decision making process and poor logistics, but that comes later. Although it might already be apparent that some of it will become a problem—soldiers can’t function without support and logistics & I’m pretty sure not all pertinent support was included in the clone order (onboard ship mechanics yes, shipyards no). So you have a fighting force that *on paper* should be easily winning—and when it isn’t, you can blame the Jedi for something they have no power over.

- That being said, we never see what happens to the service corps during the war—they must be pressed into service as support personnel if the whole Order is drafted? So there are Jedi generals (the knights), but also navigators (Exploracorps), healers (MediCorps), supplying & feeding the army (Agricorps), etc. I wonder how much discontent it causes when those services are pressed to war and taken away from the populations they previously serviced? Probably poorer Outer Rim populations, furthering the divide between Core and Outer Rim worlds and pushing more Outer Rim worlds towards the Separatists, worsening the crisis.

- Eventually Obi-Wan’s experience from Melida/Daan comes in handy. Unfortunately, not his experience with leading troops, but his experience with total warfare and breakdown of infrastructure. That’s not something Cody was taught to expect—he was trained with the expectation of at least somewhat functional support. So Cody has a learning curve, but unexpectedly this is something his general knows.

[circadianaa]

caelifer

/ˈkae̯.li.fer/

supporting the sky or heavens

please meet commander caelifer! character introduction below ⬇️

everyone, please meet commander caelifer! he is eyre’s commander and the co-leader of the 228th battalion. i’m still developing him, so there’s not a ton of lore to divulge, but i will share what i have so far.

as eyre was not a full jedi knight, they only held the rank of commander during their time in the clone wars, and they co-led with CC-8622, also known as commander caelifer. caelifer is somber, serious, and has always carried the immense weight of pressure to succeed on his shoulders, hence his name.

though eyre cares deeply for their men and their well-being, caelifer is often forced to pick up eyre’s slack as (though they are not necessarily a bad leader) they are not trained in any military tactics whatsoever and have no experience with or qualifications to be leading a military force. though eyre—as a padawan commander—technically outranks caelifer, caelifer is the de facto leader of the 228th, and everyone—even eyre—is well aware of this. while they perhaps wish they could lead their men better, they bear no resentment for caelifer’s authority, and no jealousy for the burden of his position.

caelifer is never seen without a furrow between his brows, and many of his brothers joke that he ages even faster than the rest of them. surely, he’d be the first to go gray out of all of them—but he never lived long enough to find out.

roughly a year into the war, caelifer and all of the soldiers in the 228th tragically perished in the wake of an unfortunate combination of bad intel, bad terrain, and tired leadership. it was no one’s fault but that of the droids who pinned them in a blind and overwhelmed them, slaughtering them without mercy. their sacrifices would end up forgotten by all except eyre themself, the lone survivor of the event. caelifer and the 228th were lost to time, but eyre will always feel the guilt of their failure and the keen loss of the men under their command—beloved siblings to them—until the day they are reunited with them in the force.

thank you for reading, and please let me know if you’re interested in seeing more of/hearing more about caelifer, the 228th, or eyre in the future!

[genderkoolaid]

From October 8, 2018. Here's a pdf version if you can't access the article.

Showing vulnerability. Men are socialized to not ask for help or be vulnerable — and they can be penalized when they challenge this notion. An informative set of studies from 2015 finds that when male (but not female) leaders ask for help, they are viewed as less competent, capable, and confident. And when men make themselves vulnerable by disclosing a weakness at work, they are perceived to have lower status. This is problematic, as not seeking help when you need it or admitting areas for improvement inevitably leads to mistakes and less development. Being nicer. Given that many of us want more nice guys at work, we might assume that men would be celebrated for being calm and unassuming. Wrong. Research has found that men who are more communal and agreeable (e.g., warm, caring, supportive, sympathetic) made significantly less money than more stereotypically masculine men. More agreeable men across multiple industries made an average of 18% less in income and were evaluated as less likely to have management potential as compared to less agreeable men. [...] Displaying empathy. Empathy is an important part of leadership. However, women are more likely to receive “credit” for it than men. A recent study found that female leaders who displayed empathy (as reported by their employees) were less likely to be in danger of career derailment — e.g., problems with interpersonal relationships, difficulty building and leading teams, difficulty changing and adapting, failure in meeting business goals and objectives, and having too narrow a functional orientation. Men did not get this boost — there was no relationship between male leaders’ empathy and their bosses’ assessment of potential career derailment. These findings are consequential because displaying empathy is critical for leading effectively. Expressing sadness. U.S. men are socialized to be stoic. What happens when they show emotions other than anger? Research demonstrates that men who show sadness at work are thought of as less deserving of that emotion as compared to sad women. A study from 2017 found that men who cry at work are perceived as more emotional and less competent than women who cry. And when men cry in response to performance feedback, the feedback provider rates them as a lower performer, less likely to get promoted, and less capable, as compared to women who cry. While we don’t want men or women regularly crying at work, an authentic work environment has to allow all employees to experience the same emotions without penalty. Exhibiting modesty. What happens when men display modesty? Research demonstrates that men who were more humble in expressing their qualifications were evaluated as less likeable, less agentic, and weaker than modest women. Similarly, men in the hiring process who were more self-effacing were evaluated by potential employers as lower in competence and less desirable to hire, as compared to self-effacing women. With the increasing awareness of the detrimental effects of narcissism at work, we should encourage men’s modesty rather than penalize it. Being a feminist or feminine. As noted previously, a sizeable percentage of American men self-identify as being a feminist. However, research shows that feminist men are more likely to be the victims of sexual harassment — from being told inappropriate jokes to being the recipient of unwanted sexual advances. In addition, research shows that men are more likely to be harassed when they work in male-dominated jobs and are perceived as too feminine. Research finds that men who ask for family leave, something that was historically in the purview of women, are viewed as poorer workers and are less recommended for rewards, compared to female counterparts. We should be welcoming feminist men, rather than derogating them for not being “man enough.”

This is why I'm so passionate about the fact that we all need to be aware of toxic masculinity and unlearn it, and not treat it as "something men need to figure out personally". Because toxic masculinity is a systemic issue, not an interpersonal one.

Failing to live up to toxic masculinity has clear effects. Men and people perceived as men are punished for it. This is not an issue that individual men can fix by going against the grain; not that they shouldn't, but misogyny can't be fixed by just encouraging women to be go-getters and not care about being sexually harassed and more than toxic masculinity can be fixed by telling men to cry in public and not care about being bullied and beat up.

There are real, serious consequences for men & people perceived as men who do not live up perfectly to toxic masculinity. This is a problem we should all be concerned about, not something we shrug off and decide that men can just personally get rid of an entire head of the patriarchial hydra on their own by going to therapy.

[quirkwizard]

What would a relationship between Momo, Izuku and Uraraka be like?

I'm assuming you mean as friends?

Honestly? I can't really see a dynamic in them as a trio. I could see Momo filling a role very similar to Iida without adding much else. However, I think they'd do better as their own duos. Uraraka and Momo are two very different people, one being the poor but passionate go-getter and the other being the reserved rich heiress. Their dynamic could have a lot of comedic potential or some drama about just how different the two are, like Momo not comprehending just how bad Uraraka has it. Meanwhile, I think Momo and Izuku would do better on a more serious level. They are similar in that they are both intelligent, well-meaning people who often find themselves in leadership positions. And in spite of their qualifications, they often find themselves doubting their abilities. I could easily see a scene of them both being nerds about something or a scene where they talk about their respective insecurities about themselves with the amount of expectations people have about them.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: John McWhorter

Published: Dec 21, 2023

Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay, should resign.

I don’t love thinking so and hoped we would not reach this tipping point in the controversy over whether she should be retained in her position. But a tipping point it is.

Harvard has a clear policy on plagiarism that threatens undergraduates with punishment up to the university’s equivalent of expulsion for just a single instance of it. That policy may not apply to the university’s president, but the recent, growing revelations about past instances of plagiarism by Dr. Gay make it untenable for her to remain in office.

As a matter of scholarly ethics, academic honor and, perhaps most of all, leadership that sets an example for students, Dr. Gay would be denigrating the values of “veritas” that she and Harvard aspire to uphold. Staying on would not only be a terrible sign of hollowed-out leadership, but also risks conveying the impression of a double standard at a progressive institution for a Black woman, which serves no one well, least of all Dr. Gay.

It has always been inconvenient that Harvard’s first Black president has only published 11 academic articles in her career and not one book (other than one with three co-editors). Some of her predecessors, like Lawrence Bacow, Drew Gilpin Faust and Lawrence Summers, have had vastly more voluminous academic records. The discrepancy gives the appearance that Dr. Gay was not chosen because of her academic or scholarly qualifications, which Harvard is thought to prize, but rather because of her race.

There is an argument that a university president may not need to have been an awesomely productive scholar, and that Dr. Gay perhaps brought other and more useful qualifications to the job. (She held the high-ranking post of dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard before the presidency, and so may have administrative gifts, but that job is not a steppingstone to the modern Harvard presidency.) But Harvard, traditionally, has exemplified the best of the best, and its presidents have been often regarded as among the top in their given fields — prize winners, leading scholars, the total package.

As such, the academic writings and publications of a Harvard president and other top university presidents matter, including the integrity of that work. It might seem counterintuitive that university presidents typically begin their careers writing dozens of academic papers and multiple academic books. One might see their current duties — as administrators, fund-raisers, troubleshooters, meeting-havers — as only diagonally connected to the publish-or-perish realm of being a college professor.

This is especially because the world of academic papers and books is a weird and often gestural thing. Beyond the work of the occasional star, this academic material is often read only by a few reviewers (if even them) and university library shelves groan under the weight of countless academic books engaged by essentially no one. As to one of my own academic books — my favorite one, in fact — I am aware of a single person who has actually read it. And that’s about normal in this business.

But the allegations of plagiarism leveled at Dr. Gay come on top of her thin dossier and present a different kind of challenge.

There are indeed degrees of plagiarism. The allegations against Dr. Gay do not entail promoting actual substantial ideas as her own, but rather lifting phrases for sections of dutiful literature review and explicating basic premises without using quotation marks, or changing the wording only slightly, and, at times, not even citing the relevant authors shortly before or after these sections. This qualifies less as stealing argumentation than as messy. Much has been made of the fact that even her acknowledgments section in her dissertation has phraseology transparently cribbed from those of others. Sloppy, again — but still, this is not about her actual ideas.

But there are two problems here. One is Harvard’s plagiarism policy for students, its veritas image and other standards of integrity and conduct. Second is the sheer amount of the plagiarism in her case, even if in itself it is something less than stealing ideas. If the issue were a couple of hastily quoted phrases in one article, it would be one thing. But investigations have shown that this problem runs through about half of Dr. Gay’s articles, as well as her dissertation. We must ask how a university president can expect to hold her head high, carry authority and inspire respect as a leader on a campus where students suffer grave consequences for doing even a fraction of what Dr. Gay has done.

That Dr. Gay is Black gives this an especially bad look. If she stays in her job, the optics will be that a middling publication record and chronically lackadaisical attention to crediting sources is somehow OK for a university president if she is Black. This implication will be based on a fact sad but impossible to ignore: that it is difficult to identify a white university president with a similar background. Are we to let pass a tacit idea that for Black scholars and administrators, the symbolism of our Blackness, our “diverseness,” is what matters most about us? I am unclear where the Black pride (or antiracism) is in this.

After the congressional hearing this month where Dr. Gay made comments about genocide and antisemitism that she later apologized for, and now in the aftermath of the plagiarism allegations, some of her supporters and others have argued that the university should not dismiss Dr. Gay, because doing so would be to give in to a “mob.” However, one person’s mob is another person’s gradually emerging consensus among reasonable people.

I, for one, wield no pitchfork on this. I did not call for Dr. Gay’s dismissal in the wake of her performance at the antisemitism hearings in Washington, and on social media I advised at first to ease up our judgment about the initial plagiarism accusations. But in the wake of reports of additional acts of plagiarism and Harvard’s saying that she will make further corrections to past writing, the weight of the charges has taken me from “wait and see” to “that’s it.”

If it is mobbish to call on Black figures of influence to be held to the standards that others are held to, then we have arrived at a rather mysterious version of antiracism, and just in time for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in less than a month. I would even wish Harvard well in searching for another Black woman to serve as president if that is an imperative. But at this point that Black woman cannot, with any grace, be Claudine Gay.

And if Harvard declines to dismiss her out of fear of being accused of racism — a reasonable although hardly watertight surmise — Dr. Gay should do the right thing on her own. For Harvard, her own dignity and our national commitment to assessing Black people (and all people) according to the content of their character, she should step down.

[llycaons]

came to the conclusion as I have several times before that I am simply not cut out for my job. I am bad at it, slow and a poor communicator and passive and easily overwhelmed. they said it would take about a year (from hiring? or from being on my own? either way) but whatever makes people slip into the flow and anticipate needs and Know The Supplies, maybe I would have gotten it had I gotten the normal training. maybe I wouldn't have. its easy to say 'oh I'm struggling because I'm in a unique situation' and maybe that's true, but I had trouble long before we got the Unique Training part, and then since the training was so different I had trouble with that, to the exasperation of my trainers and co-workers. and it really didn't feel good every day to know you're not living up the expectations and standards of the people around you, to know without a doubt they're all smarter and more adaptable and quicker-thinking than you.

I'm doing okay now since I'm one of the very few people on my unit and they desperately need me, and leadership is covering for my inadequacies by sending me to do easy stuff when I need to get floated, but like...there are team members who are extremely hostile to me and its for good reason! and it makes it worse to know THEY'RE not the ones in the wrong. maybe they could be nicer, but if I truly had confidence in myself, it wouldn't bother me so much.

but I don't know what to do. there is no other job I can do with these qualifications and skills, and no way to leave this city until late next year. and I need this income. I'm going to limp along until I can safely extract myself, but until then, we'll all have to bear it. and it's a terrible thing, to know you're a burden on your team and that you're only here because everyone else has quit. if I thought I would ever actually put someone in danger, I'd of course leave immediately. but I'm doing relatively straightforward cases with very qualified people all around me, and I know the basics to keep people safe at least

I find myself thinking about my strongest critic, who quit a few months ago, and how much my failure to adapt may have led to that decision. maybe it's self-centered; there were many issues far before I came along. and they haven't spoken to even their closest friend here in months, so I think they probably resent this place a lot and want to leave it all behind, and I don't blame them

things have gotten so much better recently because of those staff members quitting and my manager waking up to realize she has to actually support us, and I don't dread going to work anymore, even to float. tho we haven't been canceled in ages 😔 I don't know, I think the true issue is that I just need more predictability and stability in the things I do on a day to day basis. I learn slowly, and I have trouble remembering things. ideally I would find a job where we do a limited type of low-acuity cases every day but still....pays as well? I don't know, I don't know. give this another year then I'm sure everyone will be happy to see my back.

it's difficult to see yourself as incompetent, disliked, and unwanted in your job, and not have that bleed over into your personal feelings about yourself. it's really hard. I think of my failures and the anger, contempt, and aggression that came to me as a result, and it really makes me nervous. we're doing cases in another part of the hospital soon, with different people. it was such a mess last time! why was I so overwhelmed?

it's frustrating. I know I can do some of these cases - even difficult ones like livers and kidneys- and do them perfectly competently. I'm fine in any belly case. I even enjoyed neuro. I just freeze up when I don't have confidence. I don't know what to do all the time! and I need to be in a situation where I do. I don't know how much work I can even do on my end to Not Be Like This. studying didn't seem to help, and I can't study from the internet anyway since every place does things differently.

I've always thought I'd either leave here and then go back home, or stay exactly in place, but I could still stay a year and then just get another job in the same place.

I've always wanted to get higher certification, but knowing the people around me are way more competent without having that, it feels like a joke. a slap in the face. I dont have anything neat to wrap this up with it's just. I've always been so good at school and so proud of that even when I don't have much else to lean on. so this feels really bad. I should contact my EAP counselor today

[feysandarcheron]

Anyone who says feyre has no qualifications to be high lady can fuck off because it’s shown in the books that she has many skills that make her a good HL. No she doesn’t have centuries of political experience but she was interested in trade at an early age, isn’t afraid to break backward social conventions, is bold and courageous and stands up for others, knows about poverty first hand, is compassionate and has a strong desire to help others, is able to scheme and be cunning, thinks through political ramifications, assesses issues from different angles, puts others before herself, takes action in the face of conflict and struggle, is pragmatic, and just has natural leadership qualities. When things are hard she steps up. All of this not even getting into the facts that she saved the entire world twice, has insane powers, and was remade by the HLs which made her into something akin to a HL naturally. No one deserves it more than her and no one is better qualified than her!

[emeraldspiral]

Are Invader Zim characters "likable"? According to this vid a character must have 5 of these 9 traits to be "likable".

Courage

Unfair injury

Skill

Funny

Nice

In danger

Loved/loves others

Hard working

Obsessed

I'd say Zim isn't really courageous because when he's not overcome with anxiety it seems like he just doesn't realize he's in danger, rather than that he's overcoming his fears. He brings most of his injuries on himself. Although generally incompetent, he does have some genuine skill that makes you root for him in episodes like Planet Jackers and Plague of Babies. He's funny, but definitely not nice. He is in danger a lot. He loves no one and is hated by all. Part of what makes him so incompetent is that he half-asses his actual mission despite his obsession and only puts his whole pussy into inconsequential dick-measuring contests with Dib.

GIR isn't notably courageous, doesn't really suffer injuries, and has no skill. He is the king of LOL RANDOM humor though. He's not really nice as much as not actively malicious. If he's in danger, he doesn't really acknowledge it much. He's passionate about food, toys, and random animals he picks up, but IDK if you'd call that "love" and Zim never hesitates to tell him how much he sucks and prefers Minimoose. He's certainly not hard working and too flighty to really be obsessed.

Dib is certainly courageous and does suffer a lot of unfair injuries, is skilled and funny, but not really nice, is in danger a lot, loves and is loved by his family, works hard, and is most definitely obsessed.

Gaz has courage but is rarely harmed in any sort of way. She is possibly the most skilled character on the show. I don't know if I'd call Gaz funny, per say. Her deadpan jokes and over-the-top horror-movie slasher reactions to minor slights can be pretty funny, but she's generally more of a straight-man character. She's not the one suffering comic injuries or embarrassment or doing wacky goofy things most of the time. She is most certainly not nice and pretty much never in danger. She does love her dad and Dib and Membrane do love her. She doesn't seem to expend much effort when she goes after people like Dib or Iggins for revenge, most of the time it just seems like everything comes easy to her, but I think it does come across that she does actually work hard to be good at the games she's so obsessed with.

Membrane isn't afraid of facing down a robot army because he's OP and he knows it, but when something actually terrifies him he'd rather go into hard-core denial than accept it, so I would say he's not courageous. He never really gets injured but he is skilled and funny. He may be the world's greatest humanitarian, but he's quite rude and condescending to people, especially his own son, whenever he thinks they're wrong about something, so not nice. He's only been in danger one time. His kids love him, even if he doesn't deserve it, and he does love them, even if he's bad at showing it. He does work hard and is obsessed with his work.

Almighty Tallest: They're not brave, no injury they suffer isn't deserved, their only qualifications for leadership are being tall. They are funny though. They are not nice, were only ever in danger twice and the second time only because of their own stupidity. They love no one and the love they received from their subjects is compulsory with no genuine loyalty. They're lazy SOBs and they lack the ambition or passion to form any obsessions.

So to Recap:

Zim is skilled, funny, in danger, and obsessed. 4/9

GIR is only funny. 1/9

Dib is courageous, unfairly injured, skilled, funny, in danger, loved/loves others, hard working, and obsessed. 8/9

Gaz is courageous, skilled, loved/loves others, hard working, and obsessed. 5/9

Membrane is skilled, funny, loved/loves others, hard working, and obsessed. 5/9

The Tallest are just funny. 1/9

So by this logic Dib should be the most likeable by a long shot, Gaz and Membrane only barely pass, Zim fails to clear the bar, and GIR and the Tallest should be absolutely detested.

So yeah, I'm thinking whoever came up with this is full of shit. GIR is living proof that funny is all you really need.

[whitehotharlots]

Bonus: A quick note re: Mayor Pete

I’ve seen a few poor, deluded souls claim that the Airborne Toxic Event means that Pete Buttigieg’s aspirations for higher office are now dead. I understand where they’re coming from. Never in my life has any cabinet member, let alone the Secretary of Transportation, screwed up so badly and thoroughly that even regular people who pay no attention to politics are like “wow, this guy fucking sucks.”

But that assumes that Democrat primary voters care about stuff like outcomes. They don’t. To them, experience is nothing more than a CV line. Asking an elected Democrat to perform their job adequately is a hate crime.

For evidence, look at the coverage of the 2016 Presidential election. According to her supporters, was Hillary’s biggest strength (apart from being a woman)? She was the Most Qualified Candidate in History! Seriously, dude, she was soooo qualified. Have you seen her qualifications? There’s a lot of them. She’s very qualified. The most qualified in history, some are even saying.

But what happened when anyone attempted to discuss what those qualifications entailed? If, say, you brought up the Crime Bill, or the Defense of Marriage Act, or the botched attempt at healthcare reform? The response was an angry “uhh she wasn’t President it’s unfair to criticize her for that.” Even if you brought up her genocidal performance as Secretary of State, none of that counted and you were sexist for assuming a woman could ever be responsible for the things that happen under her leadership.

Be it in 2024 or 2028, Pete will still receive massive media support for his primary campaign. He’s gay, he’s a nerd, he’s a private equity spook, and he’s got a D next to his name. What he’s done does not and will never matter. All that matters are his markings.

[suryaprabisha1]

The Significance of Experience in Securing a Job in the UK

As a highly skilled and experienced CV coach UK, I am here to guide you through the process and help you craft a compelling resume that showcases your unique skills, experience, and qualifications. Securing a job in the United Kingdom, like in any country, can be a challenging and competitive process. Job seekers often wonder about the significance of having prior experience in the UK job market and how it affects their chances of landing their desired roles. In this blog, we will explore the importance of experience in finding a job in the UK and discuss how it can influence the recruitment process.

Demonstrating Adaptability: Having experience in the UK job market showcases a candidate’s adaptability to the local work environment and culture. Employers are often looking for individuals who can seamlessly integrate into their teams and hit the ground running. Experience in the UK demonstrates that the candidate is already familiar with the work practices, business etiquettes, and communication styles, reducing the need for extensive training or onboarding.

Understanding Industry Trends: UK experience provides job seekers with valuable insights into the country’s specific industry trends and market demands. Each region has its own set of challenges and opportunities, and employers seek candidates who can address these unique needs. Understanding local industry trends can position the candidate as someone who can make an immediate impact, bringing fresh perspectives and solutions to the table.

Building a Professional Network: Experience in the UK job market allows job seekers to establish a network of professional contacts. Networking plays a crucial role in the job search process, as many job openings are filled through referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations. A strong network can provide access to the hidden job market, where job opportunities might not be publicly advertised, giving candidates a competitive advantage.

Overcoming Legal and Administrative Hurdles: For international job seekers, having prior experience in the UK can facilitate the job application process in terms of legal and administrative requirements. Navigating work visas, sponsorship, and immigration regulations can be complex and time-consuming for employers. Candidates with previous experience in the UK may already have valid work permits or visas, making them more attractive options for hiring managers.

Showcasing Skills and Achievements: Experience gained in the UK job market allows candidates to showcase their skills, accomplishments, and contributions in a context that potential employers can easily understand and appreciate. Having experience in the local job market provides tangible examples of how the candidate has added value to previous employers, strengthening their candidacy for future roles.

Gaining Industry Insights: Working in the UK provides exposure to various industry practices and standards, enriching the candidate’s professional knowledge. The experience gained can lead to personal growth and a broader perspective on the global job market. This exposure can be especially valuable for candidates looking to advance their careers or transition into leadership roles.

While experience in the UK job market can certainly be advantageous when searching for a new job, it is not an absolute prerequisite for securing employment. Many factors influence the recruitment process, such as the candidate’s qualifications, skills, personality fit, and the specific needs of the hiring company. International job seekers or those without UK experience can still find success by focusing on transferable skills, demonstrating a strong work ethic, and expressing a genuine interest in contributing to the organization’s success.

Moreover, investing time and effort in networking, professional development, and research about the UK job market can make a significant difference in the job search. Companies often value candidates who show enthusiasm for learning and growing within their organization, regardless of their previous work location.

In conclusion, while experience in the UK can offer a range of advantages, job seekers should approach the job search with a positive and proactive mindset. By showcasing their talents, aligning their skills with employer needs, and demonstrating a willingness to adapt, job seekers can increase their chances of securing a rewarding and fulfilling job in the vibrant and diverse job market of the United Kingdom.

For more information visit our website https://bidisharay.com/ or call us at +919560602202, +447867090359.

[themetropolisborough]

i know we’ve only gotten appetizers in terms of lore for our beloved Boroughs and there’s a lot of conversations being had over on the Discord about missing gaps (e.g. music genre of each Borough, distinct breed adaptions caused by the climate/terrain of each Borough, etc.) but god i have so many QUESTIONS about Mewmoia like

• TIME! how do catfolk distinguish increments of time?? is it still seconds/minutes/hours/days/weeks/months/seasons/years? or do we get new words and groupings??

• because of the existence of Borough-named stones, are catfolk widely considered shape-shifters by proxy? is there an in-universe explanation for Domestic vs. Mystic breeds? or is it an everyday occurrence for catkind to register that Wysteria from Accounting is now a Prancer, so she’s moving desks to better accommodate her size? DO THEY KNOW THEIR OWN BREED NAMES???

• DO THEY LIVE ON A GLOBE??? DO CATFOLK KNOW??? CAN I SAY GLOBAL AFFAIRS???

• do Boroughs have their own local legends and mythos? are these well-documented? well-preserved?? well-circulated? widely debated whether the cats depicted were based off of a real person or fictional??? does one region have their version of the tale while another boasts a different version?? how are these figures heralded in the Mewmoia we’ll know through gameplay???

• do Boroughs have their own idioms, sayings, slang? accents, dialects, and linguistic differences?? Could you tell the difference between an Upper and Lower Abyssal cat by their voice alone? what about an outcast Sol cat vs. a centerpiece Sol cat?? The Administration vs. its Metro factory workers?

• now i know a lot of us are familiar with this thanks to warrior cats, but how did they distinguish Borough borders in the early days vs. present gameplay? is it more-or-less flexible depending on current events and leadership? what legislation is in place should a border dispute come up??

• what DO the leaders do?? what is their role in canon lore??? how did they get to BE the leader, in the first place??? while i’m sure it’s different dependent on Borough (i.e. election through a democracy, born into power through a monarchy, specific ceremonies or trials to prove qualifications, Magic Chooses, etc.), what has this influenced in their individual (and worldwide) popular culture(s)??? if cats can’t die, how does a leader get the boot???

• we’ve gotten confirmation of fire magic origins in Cogwheel, but what about other types of magic? who was the equivalent of a guy who stood outside with a kite and key during a storm? or the first cat who was struck by lightning and then harnessed it after the terrifying encounter?? Benja-meow-n Franklin?? were they taught some variants of magic or was it all trial-and-error??

• what’s the pharmaceutical or healthcare situations over there? i’m certain it varies by Borough, but i doubt Big Pharma has a leg up on Magic. so is it more of a guild thing than a profit machine? or has the cat equivalency of Big Pharma prevailed in certain Boroughs rather than others? If cats can’t die, then what are the pros of seeing a cat who knows what they’re doing/has studied anatomy and diseases for a long time vs. your cousin Throckmorton who can stitch you up for free?

• speaking of, how have corporations and businesses thrived and to what extents are they permitted to? does magic have limitations or do these companies?? (i.e. what’s stopping some cat from replicating a product and going on their merry way? laws and copyright regulations on magic? or magical inability to do so?)

• what has the discovery and existence of magic changed? clearly, we still have conflicts regarding politics (e.g. Upper and Lower Abyssal, Luna and Sol being head honchos and having a say in worldwide affairs, The Metropolis’ willingness to take orders from them should any be given) and class divide (e.g. The Metropolis overseeing agricultural sectors and production overhaul from other Boroughs, Sol’s entire deal, Upper and Lower Abyssal again, Cogwheel and The Metropolis’ factories compared to their managers or The Administration, etc.), so what has magic not been able to resolve for catkind? what has magic ADDED to the many issues and grievances faced on a daily basis?

• also i would Like To Know about Borough-specific holidays and have many thoughts on the matter BUT that can be its own post

• i am so, so excited for this game

[clodpid]

Love Thy Neighbour Chapter 5

Coming away from her interview, Ruth was feeling quietly confident. The three-person panel had grilled her for over thirty minutes on key nursing competencies and had raked over her qualifications with a fine-tooth comb. Ruth knew the drill from her previous interviews with American hospitals. With nearly fifteen years nursing experience in both Ireland and the US, Ruth knew that she was a highly skilled nurse, with the right skillset for this role. Now, having given the best interview that she could, it was out of her hands.

Back in the lobby, Ruth paused to slip out of her jacket and roll up her sleeves. Feeling more comfortable, she wandered through the foyer, hoping to spot a coffee shop or vending machine. Amid the many people, she thought she saw a familiar face, so Ruth walked a little closer. Trying not to be too obvious, she focused on the person. Just as she realised that she did indeed know the person, they looked up and recognised her too. They stood to greet their friend with a warm embrace.

“Ruth O’Neill! As I live and breathe! How are you?”

“Hey Laura. I am good. Looking for a job here. I just had an interview. All going well, we might be working together again soon.”

“Was that for the charge nurse position in neuro? You’d be a good fit for that position and God knows that we could be doing with a good manager up there. At the moment, it’s bedlam. Our manager retired last month and we’ve been rotating the job. But really, there’s no-one who has good enough organisational or leadership skills.”

“Oh really?”, Ruth asked, bouncing her eyebrows playfully. “What about you? You’ve got plenty organisational and leadership skills. Plus, it’s a role you’ve been in before.”

“Well, I did consider it but with Mike being overseas again, the kids need me at home. I just couldn’t take on the extra responsibility right now. Speaking of kids, how’s Lily?”

“Growing like a weed. It’s hard to believe that she’ll be six in a few months. I don’t where that time has gone. How are your boys doing. Chris must be heading off to college soon?”

“Chris is going to be starting at Washington State next fall. He’s going to take sports psychology. Josh and Justin are in their sophomore year. Still scraping through and breaking their teachers’ hearts with the lack of effort and enthusiasm. And Gordie is finishing elementary.”

“They are getting so grown up too. Don’t you ever wish that you could keep them small and sweet forever? Where is Mike deployed to this time?”

“He’s in Syria. He says its his last tour, but he said that last time and the time before that too. So, I’m not holding my breath.” Laura rolled her eyes to show her lack of belief in her husbands pronouncements.

“Hey, do you know where I can get a cup of coffee around her. As Mammy would say, I’m gasping for one.”

“There’s a coffee vendor outside. Go right at the door, towards the ambulance bay.”

“Thanks. Care to join me?”

Laura checked her watch and shook her head. “My breaks just about done but when you start work here, the coffee’s going to be on you! Look over there. See that brunette doctor. That’s the head of neuro, Ame…”.

“Amelia Shepherd. I’ve already met her. She’s my next-door neighbour. Seems nice.”

“She’s a tough cookie but we all love her. She’s a super surgeon and made name for herself on a big deal project to cure Parkinson’s.”

The two watched as Amelia strode confidently and, in Ruth’s opinion, rather sexily, through the lobby and out of the building.

“What’s the deal with her? She married or attached?” Ruth hoped that she wasn’t being too obvious for the second time that day.

Laura smirked knowingly but answered. “She’s single as far as I know. Has been for ages now. She had a thing with a non-binary scientist, but they didn’t work out. Her son’s dad was an orthopaedic surgeon here. He was killed in a terrible accident some years back. I remember her being pretty broken up about it at the time.”

Another check of her watch said Laura had to go so they embraced each other heartily and went their separate ways. Ruth found the coffee cart and was standing at the back of the queue when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned to find Amelia smiling at her.

“Hello again. We have gotta stop meeting like this. People will start talking.”

“For sure. This place is like gossip central. Rumours can go all the way around the hospital like greased lightening. How did your interview go?”

“Pretty good. I’m confident. The head interviewer said that I would know one way or the other in a few days.”

They’d now reached the head of the line. “One iced vanilla latte and what are you having, Amelia?” Her name felt good in her mouth, Ruth thought.

“Oh no! You don’t have to do that Ruth. I can get my own or I can get yours?”

“Not at all, Amelia. This time, it’s on me.”

“Well, thank you. I will also have an iced vanilla latte.” She smiled in gratitude at Ruth. It was a smile that made Ruth’s heart flutter just that little bit faster. She hoped that she wasn’t blushing, at least not too furiously.

With their drinks in hand, the two strolled over to a bench shaded a little by the building itself. They sat down and Amelia sighed contentedly as she draw a cool sip from her cup.

“So, what area do you nurse in, Ruth?”

“Yours as it happens. I bumped into an old nursing buddy who works here. She mentioned that you were the head of neuro. The job I was interviewing for today was for the charge nurse position on the post-surgery neuro ward.”

“What are the odds? It’s crazy! This morning we didn’t know each other and now we are almost a double act.”

Ruth chuckled and Amelia joined her.

“Where are you from? Your accent? Is it Irish?”

“Yes ma-am. Well detected. I am a farmer’s daughter from the Irish midlands. Population of six, maybe seven hundred people and four times as many sheep.”

“What brought you to America?”

“Family drama, I suppose.” Seeing that Amelia was confused, Ruth went on.

“Being gay in a small, rural Irish village wasn’t easy. Everyone knew my business. It was like living in a goldfish bowl. One where not everyone was able to keep their disapproval to themselves. There were comments often passed at me and it got under my skin enough to drive me out of it and into college in Dublin.”

“I never really intended to go to college. It was my idea to stay home and work with Daddy on the farm. Don’t get me wrong, I like my job. Nursing has been an education and it has thought me all I know about people and the way that the world works. Plus, it has been my passport to the world. It’s been good to me and for me.”

“After I graduated, I got a job in Beaumont Hospital. That would be Ireland’s primary neurological centre of excellence. I found my stride there and I enjoyed life in the capital. I was free to be gay and there was no judgement. It was freeing.”

“So, Lily? How did she come to be?”

“In the usual way!”

Amelia gave Ruth a withering look and continued. “You mentioned that you were gay? Are you bisexual?”

“Oh, right yeah. No, I am gay. Lily is not my biological daughter, although I love her like she was. She is my niece. My sister Jenny got herself in trouble when she was barely eighteen. She wasn’t ready to be a mother and Mammy was adamant that she wouldn’t have a termination. So, it was decided that she’d have the baby and put it up for adoption.”

“I shouldn’t have asked. That’s not something that you want to be telling a relative stranger.”

Amelia made to stand but Ruth caught her hand and gently guided her back down.

“I wouldn’t be telling you this stuff if I didn’t want to. Believe me, I am fussy about who I share my secrets with. I think I can trust you with this.”

Amelia looked her in the eye and smiled. “I swear. It’s safe with me.”

“When Lily was born, that plan went out the window. I held her and instantly fell in love with her. I just couldn’t give her away. So, I adopted her as my own and we came to America to make a life of our own.”

“That’s a remarkable thing to do. I don’t think I could do it. Weren’t you afraid?”

“I was terrified. I mean, weren’t you when Scout was born? No-one prepares you for the all nighters, the crying, the endless dirty nappies, and the effective end of your love life. Still, I have no regrets. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. I couldn’t imagine my life without the little madam now.”

“The love consumes you, doesn’t it? Being a mom is the best feeling in the world. There’s just nothing that comes close.”

“That’s right.”

Amelia’s beeper sounded just then. “I need to check this. Sorry to do this to you again.”

Ruth shook her head dismissively. “It’s your job. Go ahead.”

Amelia turned a took a step before turning back. She wore her trademark smirk and Ruth was glad she was sitting as she was certain that it would have made her weak at the knees had she been standing. “So, you said the coffee was on you this time earlier. Do you want to do this again sometime?”

“Oh, yeah. I mean, yes. Yes I want to have coffee with you again. If you want too?”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to, Ruth.”

“Good. Well, it’s a date. No, not a date. It’s a plan. I meant to say it’s a plan.” There was no escaping the blushing now. Ruth felt her cheeks burning.

“It’s a date.” Amelia turned and headed away leaving a stunned Ruth behind.

[wutbju]

The State is reporting that Bob Jones University's suspicious granting of Ellen Weaver's grad degree is under official and increased scrutiny.

College accrediting agency steps up oversight of Bob Jones’ accelerated master’s program

BY ZAK KOESKE

UPDATED DECEMBER 07, 2022 8:01 AM

A college accrediting body has asked Bob Jones University to submit an additional report regarding the accelerated master’s degree program that Republican state Superintendent-elect Ellen Weaver completed earlier this year.

The board of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, on Tuesday asked the Greenville-based private evangelical Christian university to submit a “monitoring report,” within the next six months, spokeswoman Janea Johnson said.

The monitoring report is a form of oversight, she said, but does not constitute a sanction and does not imply any violation or deficiency by the university.

Gary Weier, BJU’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, declined comment on SACSCOC’s request, saying the university had not yet been apprised of the decision.

The accrediting agency’s request comes following a review of numerous complaints that alleged Bob Jones gave Weaver preferential treatment. Johnson wouldn’t specify how many complaints SACSCOC received about the school, but said they outnumbered the charges made this year against any other institution.

“This is a one-in-a-million type of circumstance,” she said of the allegations that Bob Jones afforded Weaver special treatment that allowed her to earn a master’s degree in just six months.

Weaver, who last month won a four-year term as South Carolina’s schools chief, is required by law to possess an advanced degree when she takes office in January. The South Carolina Republican Party certified her candidacy in March, pledging that she would meet the qualifications for the position by Election Day, or “as otherwise required by law.”

Weaver, who was not a student at Bob Jones when her candidacy was certified, enrolled shortly thereafter in the university’s Educational Leadership master’s program.

She announced in mid-October she’d completed the 33-credit self-paced online program, which is tailored to people pursuing leadership roles in Christian education. The university confirmed Weaver’s announcement a short time later and said she would be presented her diploma Dec. 16.

BJU ACCUSED OF FAVORITISM

Critics of Weaver’s have long alleged that Bob Jones made exceptions for the well-connected state superintendent candidate, a 2001 Bob Jones graduate, and afforded her special treatment that was not available to the general public.

Specifically, they accused Bob Jones of letting Weaver enroll in the program after the spring session registration deadline had passed, take more credits per session than was allowed and complete her capstone research project early and without adhering to its stated requirements.

Campaign donations from multiple Bob Jones employees, including the school’s director of admissions and enrollment, and President Steve Pettit’s public support of Weaver’s candidacy also fueled speculation that her degree was tainted.

The university has denied any wrongdoing.

“We would do for any student what we have done for her,” BJU chief of staff Randy Page said earlier this year.

The college accrediting body, which has fielded complaints about Weaver’s situation for much of the year, opened an investigation into the allegations in early July.

It asked Bob Jones to address the accusations of bias and provide information to support its defense, but could not compel the university to turn over documents because it lacks subpoena power.

“We may ask certain questions or ask an institution to address a particular concern that was raised,” said Johnson, SACSCOC’s spokeswoman. “But how or what they use to support their response is really up to the institution.”

Page said in October the school had complied with the commission’s requests and provided copies of its “policies, procedures and student outcomes.”

Johnson said Tuesday she could not disclose what additional information SACSCOC seeks from the university or why it asked for it. The agency’s board will review Bob Jones’ monitoring report at its June 2023 meeting and may or may not take additional action at that time.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Te-Ping Chen and  Lauren Weber

Published: Jul 21, 2023

Two years ago chief diversity officers were some of the hottest hires into executive ranks. Now, they increasingly feel left out in the cold.

Companies including Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have recently said that high-profile diversity, equity and inclusion executives will be leaving their jobs. Thousands of diversity-focused workers have been laid off since last year, and some companies are scaling back racial justice commitments.

Diversity, equity and inclusion—or DEI—jobs were put in the crosshairs after many companies started re-examining their executive ranks during the tech sector’s shake out last fall. Some chief diversity officers say their work is facing additional scrutiny since the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions and companies brace for potential legal challenges. DEI work has also become a political target.

“There’s a combination of grief, being very tired, and being, in some cases, overwhelmed,” says Miriam Warren, chief diversity officer for Yelp, of the challenges facing executives in the field.

In interviews, current and former chief diversity officers said company executives at times didn’t want to change hiring or promotion processes, despite initially telling CDOs they were hired to improve the talent pipeline. The quick about-face shows company enthusiasm for diversity initiatives hasn’t always proved durable, leaving some diversity officers now questioning their career path. 

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in police custody in May 2020, companies scrambled to hire chief diversity officers, changing the face of the C-suite. In 2018, less than half the companies in the S&P 500 employed someone in the role, and by 2022 three out four companies had created a position, according to a study from Russell Reynolds, an executive search firm. 

Once mostly tasked with HR matters, today’s diversity leaders are expected to weigh in on new product development, marketing efforts and current events that have an impact on how workers and consumers are feeling. Warren and other CDOs said the expanded remit is playing out in a politically divided environment where corporate diversity efforts are the subject of frequent social-media firestorms. 

Falling demand

New analysis from employment data provider Live Data Technologies shows that chief diversity officers have been more vulnerable to layoffs than their human resources counterparts, experiencing 40% higher turnover. Their job searches are also taking longer. 

“I got to 300 applications and then I stopped tracking,” says Stephanie Lubin, who was laid off from her role as diversity head at Drizly, an online alcohol marketplace, in May following the company’s acquisition by Uber. In one case, Lubin says she went through 16 rounds of interviews for a role she didn’t get, and says she is now planning to pivot out of DEI work.

The number of CDO searches is down 75% in the past year, says Jason Hanold, chief executive of Hanold Associates Executive Search, which works with Fortune 100 companies to recruit HR and DEI executives, among other roles. Demand is the lowest he has seen in his 30 years of recruiting.

At the same time, he says, more executives are feeling skittish about taking on diversity roles.

“They’re telling us, the only way I want to go into another role with DEI is if it includes something else,” he says of the requests for broader titles that offer more responsibilities and resources. He estimates that 60% of diversity roles he is currently filling combine the title with another position, such as chief human resources officer, up from about 10% five years ago.

During the pandemic, some companies moved people into diversity leadership if they were an ethnic minority, says Dani Monroe, even when they weren’t qualified. Monroe served as CDO for Mass General Brigham, a Boston-based hospital system and one of the largest employers in the state, until 2021 and convenes a yearly gathering of more than 100 CDOs.

“These were knee-jerk reactions,” she says of the hurried CDO hires, adding that some of those elevations didn’t create much impact, leaving both sides feeling disillusioned.

On-the-job obstruction 

American workers are split on the importance of a diverse workforce, surveys find. 

Diversity chiefs also encounter obstruction from top executives, says Melinda Starbird, a human resources and diversity executive who has worked at AT&T, Starbucks and OfferUp, an online marketplace. Leaders sometimes associate diversity efforts with mandates, such as the equal-employment rules that apply to federal contractors. Those requirements for compliance can create executive resistance that bleeds over into other cultural or policy shifts, such as adding Juneteenth as a company holiday, she says. 

“Even if you report to the CEO, it’s still a battle and it’s a smaller budget,” says Starbird, who was laid off from OfferUp in November during a broader restructuring. 

Many diversity executives feel a lack of buy-in from their colleagues. In a survey of 138 diversity executives conducted this spring by World 50 Group, a networking organization for corporate leaders, 82% said they had sufficient influence to do their job, down 6 percentage points from 2022. Asked if they felt supported by middle managers, 41% said yes, an 8-percentage-point drop.

Since the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in June, companies are anticipating spillover legal action could have an impact on them. Those that are still hiring CDOs want people who can help the board navigate the political and legal landscape of diversity work and figure out how to take defensive moves to shield them from litigation, says Tina Shah Paikeday, global leader of Russell Reynolds’s diversity, equity and inclusion practice. 

“They recognize it would be smart to get ahead of that.”

People are more resistant to company-backed efforts to advance diversity when they are worried about their own jobs, whether because of impending layoffs or disruptions from AI, says David Kenny, chief executive of Nielsen, the media-ratings company. 

Kenny was both CEO and CDO for a time, taking on the diversity role to emphasize how important it was to the future of the business. Even as CEO, it could be a tough sell. Efforts to restructure compensation to make it more equitable created a backlash.

“A lot of it is, ‘I’m losing my slice of the pie,’ ” he says.

[ Via: https://archive.vn/jHRFo ]

==

The grift is over.

There seems to be a built-in implication that much of the movements around DIE in the last few years have been performative: organizations making the approved signals to keep the puritans at bay. Perhaps they've now figured out that these measures are, at best, unable to demonstrate their efficacy, or at worst, anti-productive. The number of DIE programs that can or even will quantify or demonstrate their effectiveness with metrics and data can be counted on one hand; the truly fanatical ones will scold you for even suggesting that you should. Or more likely, perhaps they've figured out that as an insurance policy, the impact to the bottom line is no longer worth the investment; throwing buckets of money to purchase indulgences during a moral-religious panic might have made sense in 2020, but not so much in 2023.

Study after study reveals that none of this social snakeoil - from the phrenology of "implicit bias training" to the Maoist struggle sessions of "white fragility training" - actually help, and reliably make things worse by making everyone fixate on identity politics rather than doing anything productive. Meaning DIE is nothing but expensive and destructive virtue signaling. If you want to destroy an organization from the inside, there's no better way than embracing DIE.

You're far better off sticking to your core telos, supported by liberal ethics like equal opportunity, colorblindness and the ideal of meritocracy. Or more formally, Merit, Fairness and Equality (MFE). Whatever results you get from a fair process are inherently fair.

"Diversity" in particular is always about superficiality and thinly-veiled racism, while "equity" requires someone in authority to artificially create preferred outcomes (establishing the perfect conditions for an authoritarian), rather than a system of fairly and consistently applied rules (equality).

I can name five people, men and women, where I work who have different ethic ancestry, who grew up within 40 miles of each other and have the same local accent.

And I can name five white men who grew up on four different continents with three different first languages, who have worked for over a dozen different organizations, from multi-national companies to military to non-profits to education institutions before immigrating.

"Diversity" apparatchiks don't acknowledge the diversity in the latter. Only, like any good racist, the bogus "diversity" in the former.

[randomfansstuff]

Jared was having a really weird week. A small part of him thinks it's exciting- but most of him thinks it's just... weird.

He's been working at this gas station for two and a half years now. It wasn’t much, the work was as average as his usual daily life was, and he did work himself up to the position of store manager. His girlfriend was quite proud of him for it.

And you see, the actual source of this weirdness isn't recent. Not at all.

For the past two years, he's been mostly managing this gas station alone. But he wasn't always alone. He used to have a co-worker.

Quite the attractive fella, he was. Young, in his twenties, brown hair, glasses... the basic gist, you know? Jared was working with the guy when he first started, two and a half years ago. He was the one showing Jared how the shitty slushie machines worked.

They never talked that much. Just the casual conversation. Simple 'how are you's and 'any plans for the weekend?'s. Jared invited him to go out once, but the guy always denied.

And then one day, his co-worker was gone. His old manager, whos position he got to snatch after the guy got into a college across the country, told him that his dear co-worker decided to take a gap-year. Or something like that. Regardless, he quit the job, quite impulsively.

That wasn't anything weird, right? That's normal. People move on from their jobs. Jared thought about quitting several times himself. All good, normal, usual.

What wasn't... exactly normal... was the fact that this guy, a few days ago, drenched in water while there was an entire storm happening outside, appeared right back in the gas station and asked for his job back.

And holy fuck the guy had looked wrecked.

He had been wearing an old, brown coat. His hair had some weird white streak, and there were a ton of scars littered across his face and what he could see of his collar. The guy looked like he'd gone thru a whole war.

Even stranger was, though, how his entire face lit up the second he looked at his name tag and realised that yes, indeed, he was the old Jared and still working at the gas station. The guy looked as if it was one of the best things that ever happened to him.

Honestly, Jared was prepared to call an ambulance, or the police, or whatever the guy needed, but what he wasn't prepared for was that the guy asked for his job back. The fucking gas station job. He stood there, drenched in the storm, and asked to work at this gas station in the middle of nowhere again.

Considering the guy looked like he was seconds before a breakdown, Jared decided that he wasn't the type of guy to deny an old co-worker his old position. He needed the position filled anyways. So, through a daze, he got out the papers.

Jared was also pretty sure last time they saw eachother his last name wasn't 'Soot', it was something like Kraft or whatever, but who is he to pry? He's just a guy working at a gas station, giving another to opportunity to be the same.

The rest of the document was filled out... slightly dubious. He stared at the 'address' section for two minutes straight before writing down something, and then Jared was pretty sure he saw the guy write and then rub off the words 'leadership skills' under the 'qualifications' section.

But, it was done, and once more Jared now had Wilbur Soot as a co-worker.

That was a few days ago.

Things around Wilbur have been very weird ever since. The guy almost started sobbing when Jared gave him the orange work jacket, and sometimes he looks off into the distance as if deep in thought. Like some war veteran.

Wilbur's hands shake a lot. And some normal words get a weird reaction out of him. Jared got a death stare once after he off-handedly mentioned the dream he had last night, and he can't quite put which of the words he said put Wilbur off.

Sometimes Wilbur stares at the post cards.

Jared never asked about the two years. He doesn't think he will.

So, yeah, the last week has been quite weird. Though, on a positive note, for the first time Wilbur didn't deny the offer of hanging out after work. So, that'll be fun, he supposes.