work dilemma

[happysmiley]

Just had an email from my boss's boss asking me to spend some time with the work experience girl (who happens to be his neice) next week.

Normally I wouldn't bat an eyelid, even though I don't like the nepotism aspect, as it's a fairly standard request but this time we're expected to spend some serious time with the girl. The suggestion is that her week is basically spent having one on one time with half a dozen senior managers so we're all expected to dedicate the best part of a day with her. Normally, I'd pass her off on someone junior, but that clearly isn't the intention here.

I am really uncomfortable with this and the only way that I can justify it to myself is that she is a woman (and an ethic minority to boot) so no harm in giving her a leg up.

So I spose, the question is WWYD? And if you wouldn't do it how would you get out of it (because I really don't want to piss my boss and his boss off)?!

[happysmiley]

Sadly, work shadowing isn't an option. I could deal with that as loads of people get their kids in to work shadow for a day. This is much more extensive and it's clear that the senior managers are expected to have individual one on one meetings with her to give her "a flavour of what we do." This is clearly a lie, as what I do is not spend time with 18 year olds to explain how my industry/team works and nor do any of the other managers, but that is what is structured for her week.

I am seriously thinking about being sick on the day but then it would just get shifted and I can't be sick the whole time she's here.

[noblegiraffe]

Talking to senior managers doesn't sound like work experience to me. Isn't she supposed to be actually doing stuff? You know, experiencing work?

[happysmiley]

Oh no, she won't experience any work with this set up, she will just take up a lot of senior management time. The benefit to her will mostly be that it will look very good on her CV, much better than a week of filing.

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

I've worked with loads of work experience people, but this sounds just ridiculous! What are you supposed to do all day with her? Is she a student? How old is she? Since the idea is that she talk to you, how about getting her to do a proper interview of you? That way you can get the chat over with first thing, then she can spend the rest of the time writing it up . If you have an in-house magazine or something, it could be published in there, or on the website? You could sell it to boss(es) as being a good thing be she will get a chance to digest what she's learnt about your role, as well as experience with writing in a formal journalistic style etc. She can do it in your office on a laptop or whatever, then she can "shadow" your afternoon at the same time.

Whaddayathink?

If you're in the media by any chance then she could record/film in the morning, then disappear to edit in the afternoon?

[happysmiley]

E&M, thank you, your idea would have been fantastic, but thankfully I don't have to employ it as I've now managed to get out of it! Compromise is that I will spend an hour with her and explain what my team does.

Sadly she will still be taking up a lot of the rest of the management team's time but what they do is up to them [rocked the boat enough already emoticon].

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

That's great, happysmiley.

Thanks SugarMouse! I will keep my Wise Old Crone robes to hand.

[msrisotto]

What's the big problem with nepotism?

[happysmiley]

In my opinion, people should succeed in life based on merit. Nepotism goes very much against that philosophy.

[msrisotto]

I suppose I am of the opinion that if you can give your kids a helping hand in the beginning of her working life then where's the harm.

[Penthesileia]

3 words, msrisotto, in answer to your question:

George. W. Bush.

[msrisotto]

Yeah we weren't really talking about that kind of a scale though were we. And I suppose I was thinking more about family type businesses than running any countries!

[frikonastick]

the problem with nepotism is neatly shown in the OP.

the girl in question is not having to actually do any work to earn her soon to be improved CV.

surely you wouldnt want to 'help' your kids in this way mrsrisotto?

[happysmiley]

msrisotto, of course we do the best for our kids and give them that step up in life. But there is a huge difference between supplementing your child's education with a trip to a museum and this sort of thing.

And why should you expect the wider community to help you in your aims, especially if it is to the detriment of others. This kind of work experience may be very good for her but can't be made available to everyone because it is too costly. If we are going to do it for someone, surely we do it for someone who has shown some aptitide rather than someone who's parents knew someone, who knew someone.

[msrisotto]

I dunno, if my kid were lazy and not really bothered then maybe not but f they were enthusiastic to do well then I wouldn't see the harm in enhancing their CV a bit to help them get started.

[happysmiley]

If they were enthusiastic and capable they should be able to sort themselves out (unless all the kids with uncles in good jobs got there first!)

[msrisotto]

Of course they should but if i can facilitate the first forays into work, then why not?

[msrisotto]

Anyway, i think we'll have to agree to disagree!

[happysmiley]

Well, the feedback so far is that she's a bit clueless. She's not even sure she wants to work in our industry. Pretty certain this is all going to be wasted on her.