[Publib] interview thank you letters

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings,

Growing up, we always made eye contact and said hello
to people we came across. We even waved and smiled at 
other drivers. In Rhode Island, people seem very 
fearful of making eye contact with people they 
do not know very well. And, when someone waves at 
you when you are driving in the greater Boston
area, it is often only with one digit.

Appropriate interpersonal contact may be affected by gender,
age, region, caste, class, religion, language and physical characteristics.
Eye contact between male and female non-relatives is
often forbidden. So are conversations.

The notion of what constitutes harassment
has led lots of people to questioning what 
is appropriate and what is wrong. But, in general,
what is 'appropriate' is very subjective.

I think when you rely on 'fit' you are
saying that the person's interpersonal behavior
matches your cultural norms.  I feel that
'fit' can be used as a method of discouraging cultural
diversity. Perhaps relying on 'fit' mostly assures 
that employees are in their comfort zones with each 
other as a homogenous group. 

Employing different sorts of people 
means that your staff will actually be able to 
relate to a broader population. It also helps to 
encourage divergent thinking and problem solving.

I would much rather hire the applicant who is the most 
intelligent, over the most smarmy.  I can always coach 
people to learn how to fit in with cultural norms.

*************************************************
Robert L. Balliot
1-401-441-5763
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
*************************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Dianne Harmon
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 5:25 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] interview thank you letters

 
The job candidate barely looked at the other person and only responded to
me, no matter who answered the question.

Dianne Harmon                       
Associate Director                   
Joliet Public Library                 
815-740-2679 
fax 815-846-3131
www.joliet.lib.il.us 

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