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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think an essay for a new job is silly?

31 replies

Youwotnow · 09/01/2020 10:59

Maybe I am out of touch or just ignorant, but AIBU to think that it's ridiculous to ask an adult to write an essay about her experience and what she has learned during her 6 week probation period?

Background: my friend started a job a few weeks ago and said that she's been asked told to write an essay so submit to her line manager Confused this will be done 6 weeks into a 6 month probation period. It is not clear what the purpose of this essay is beyond to "see" what she has learned, nor what will be done with the document after it's done

I think this is bonkers, I've never worked anywhere where this was required - it was always get in, learn the ropes, here's a list of people who to ask for help, don't forget e-learning is here and fire exits are there, now get on with your job!!

Has anyone had to do this??

OP posts:
Upso · 09/01/2020 10:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AllergicToAMop · 09/01/2020 11:00

How long is the essay? It's good to reflect tbf

milliefiori · 09/01/2020 11:00

Weird. I've had to do reams of writing during the interview process before - but that goes with the territory. Never heard of a probationary essay.

Hepsibar · 09/01/2020 11:01

I cannot say ...

If you do think it's unreasonable, dont go for the job: if you dont think it's unreasonable, do the essay

Cohle · 09/01/2020 11:01

It depends on the job but I don't think it's a particularly outrageous idea.

Is your friend bothered?

redbullgivesyouflings · 09/01/2020 11:03

I've had to do tests to see how I approach problems that can't be solved but never have I been asked to write an essay!

BubblesBuddy · 09/01/2020 11:05

I doubt it’s an essay. It’s probably a critique of what’s been good and where more support is needed and future training. Add in examples of everything and it’s fine. No big deal!

7Days · 09/01/2020 11:14

'I've always been passionate about paying my bills and not starving to death. This job has provided me with a unique opportunity to make a difference - a real difference - in certain key areas, such as energy and nutrition.

Going forward, stabilisation of ongoing requirements should be prioritised while not forgetting strategic capital investments with an eye towards hygiene and core h&s issues. Namely a new washing machine.
......'

Wtf do you say?

MyOwnSummer · 09/01/2020 11:16

@7days I'm laughing out loud at that one, well done!! Grin

BonnyConnie · 09/01/2020 11:18

I’ve been asked to do all sorts including personality tests, presentations, numeric reasoning tests etc. I can imagine some jobs where it would be relevant.

SandyY2K · 09/01/2020 11:18

With all my years working in HR, in a range of organisations, I've never heard of this.

Probation reports are standard...but not an essay.

milliefiori · 09/01/2020 11:19

I'd employ @7Days on the strength of that one! Grin

UYScuti · 09/01/2020 11:22

Making you write an essay seems like a way of treating you like a schoolchild?

Original poster
Youwotnow · 09/01/2020 11:23

Hepsibar

If you do think it's unreasonable, dont go for the job: if you dont think it's unreasonable, do the essay

Friend didn't know that an essay would be required when she applied for the job. It's internal audit apparently. I wouldn't even apply if I saw that on a job description, I personally find it pretty infantilising... something you'd do as an intern at the end of your summer placement, not as a 30-something professional!

Cohle

It depends on the job but I don't think it's a particularly outrageous idea.

Is your friend bothered?

She's taking it in her stride but said it's a bit odd and she's never had it at other jobs either. It was kind of dropped on her out of the blue and at first she thought it was a joke. She says she's going to have to just get in with it as she doesn't want to hurt her chances of passing probation.

The closest thing I've been asked to do is a presentation on how I would approach a role, but that was at stage 2 of interview, not a month in to a new job!

OP posts:
Lilsginpalace · 09/01/2020 11:31

I worked next to a very toxic department with a bullying boss.

They had a new start, who had a Phd and a lot of high-flying experience in the technical area that department dealt with ( but told me she wanted the new job as it was close to home as she had to care for her ill husband). For the first month she was given nothing to do then told to write an essay about the department for the department boss. Unfortunately she didn't suck up enough about there boss in the report so she was suddenly transferred to another site (which was a difficult commute for her). She was told to sit at a desk that had just been put in a corridor away from everyone else, cold-shouldered, ignored and given nothing to do. So she resigned.

The good news is she ended up with a really prestigious job representing her country at conferences and international committees, her husband recovered and the horrible boss eventually was made redundant.

DesLynamsMoustache · 09/01/2020 11:31

Is it really an 'essay'? Or just, as PP said, a critique of her first few weeks? I've had jobs before where you have an appraisal and have something to fill in, including where you write about what you've learned, what's still to learn, what you would like some more support with, etc.

Original poster
Youwotnow · 09/01/2020 11:33

DesLynamsMoustache

She specifically said essay, no forms etc to fill in.

OP posts:
DesLynamsMoustache · 09/01/2020 11:35

I would suspect a miscommunication tbh. I doubt they want an essay, probably just a few paragraphs about her role, if she needs support with anything, if she's satisfied with the training she's received, etc. If she doesn't know what they want and why, can't she just ask?

thecatsthecats · 09/01/2020 11:36

I'm a manager, and getting genuine information out of some employees is like blood out of a bloody stone.

I genuinely want to know if they have struggles, need help, have any niggles, areas they want to spend more time on.

I'm not saying this is the best way, but I can see someone wanting to get more info out of staff and resorting to this as a suggestion.

FruityWidow · 09/01/2020 11:37

Did they specify a word count? or is it just a half page summary that they are referring to as an essay?

PlanDeRaccordement · 09/01/2020 11:37

Depends on the job. The closest I’ve had to that is a situational report on a failing department I was hired as director specifically to bring it up to standards. About the two month mark, my line manager wanted this report on everything I had found along with proposed courses of action to correct with timelines.
Technically I was in the probationary term at the time, but it wasn’t the driving reason for the report.

CSIblonde · 09/01/2020 11:41

7days essay is my kind of response! To me it reeks of a boss who sees himself as headmaster & his team as naughty schoolchildren. It'd make me question my personality fit there as that attitude gets my hackles up. I'd prob do it as a v v v long PowerPoint presentation, complete with SWOT & bar charts, ostensibly to be 'professional' (in reality, to take the piss).

Bluntness100 · 09/01/2020 11:42

It's not that uncommon, my daughter is a trainee solicitor she had to write an essay basically at one of her assessment centres in response to a legal question they posed, under time limit, I think an hour, with a word count.

I did wonder who the hell had the time to read them.

Ellisandra · 09/01/2020 11:45

If the info was coming directly from you OP, that would be one thing. But it’s all a bit friend of a friend. Who knows what she’s “actually” been asked to do? It’s not unusual in my experience for graduate scheme entrants to be asked to write something, to be shared with other prospective graduates. The sort of short piece you might read in a company newsletter. That’s not an “essay”. So I wonder what her boss actually said, and what is expected.

Piglet89 · 09/01/2020 11:50

@Bluntness100 as a lawyer, I think your example is distinguishable from the OP’s: your daughter’s prospective employer was aiming to see how she thinks through that legal problem and that will be a very important skill for that particular job. It’s not so much an essay as the example the op has given, and it has a definite objective. Not quite sure what the prospective employer is trying to “test” with this essay.

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