The Washington herald., 1911-01-29
TESTS USED BY CONCERNS
WITH APPLICANTS FOR JOBS

didn't know but you might get me mixed
up with them"
Nothing so interests the employer in
his men. young or old, as to find they
are doing more than is technically re-
quired of them. The young man per-
forms certain service TOR which he re-
ceives a weekly sum. Anything beyond
that specified service is in truth a matter
OF investment by him. an investment not
only in self-training but in the good will
of his employer. The placing of this in
vestmcnt is wholly in the hands of the
young man; he may hoard this golden
opportunity like a miser with no returns.
or he may put it out in the form of secu-
rites to give him dividends throughout
life In either case the capital is but
doing more than is required.
Always in Accord.
4 canvass of big employers shows
remarkable agreement of feeling on this
question, and their answer is always in
accord, the men they promote and the
ones that succeed are those who are not
afraid of work. Is it any wonder then
that employers are on the lookout for
young men with this quality which at
once bespeaks an interest in the business
at hand?
advertised for a bright young man. and
to each of the young men who responded
he outlined Il certain amount of work
for him to do. He took no addresses or
names. He preferred to see first in what
shape these young men would make their
reports.
The work of each was similar: il was
a matter of gathering information and
then writing il down in the form Of
Cta np hn fling nf
the reports the various applicants SUBJ
mtted samples of their handiwork, most
of which was written out with pen and
ink. A few reports came in pencil. while
one young man sent his in neatly type
written. All had done the amount of
work requested. and the evidence seemed
to be all in when the young man who
had furnished the typewriter copy sent
in supplementary information by a mes
senger boy not only on the morning OF
the final day but on the afternoon as
well. He had done three times the
amount of work of any other applicant.
The employer sent for him. saying:
ANY young man who works with your
enthusiasm and isn't afraid of doing
more than he is asked TO do ought to
make success of any business. You are
the man I want"
On the other hand, nothing spells fail
Ure quicker and with more certain letter.
ing than the attitude of some young men
who. when starting out upon their life
career. consider the one important thing
in getting a job TO be the amount of
their salary. Such an attitude ignores the
future for the present: Furthermore it
directly ignores the interest of the en-
ployer. substituting therefor the welfare
of the employe.
Quick to Sec the Point.
and profted by it are quick to take ad-
vantage of this point. For instance, a
certain young man a year ago, with an
earning capacity of $40 a week. was sud-
denly thrown out of his place in a COM
mercial house through no fault of his
own. and at once he applied for work in
the same line of business elsewhere
No" said the employer whom he in
terviewed. Il can't afford to hire you"
Yes, indeed you can insisted the
young man. knowing the point of objec-
ton. ''if it's only question of salary.
All | ask is a living wage"
Il know, but that is all can pay YOU"
THAT is perfectly satisfactory. l SIM
ply want a chance to work for you The
time may come when you will see l am
worth more to the firm, but first let me
demonstrate
The young man got his job and to-day
at the end of his year. his salary is ex-
ceeding what he got from his former
iirm. Now suppose that in applying for
this second position he had adopted the
short-sighted policy of insisting upon his
$40 a week?
Oftentimes it is hard for the job hunter
to see the one important man, especially
in the case of a big corporation. The
employer may be hedged about with
clerks and office boys whose duty it is
to keep all applicants at distance.
In a case of that kind the ambitious
young man doesn't give up. He simply
looks around for way of overcoming
this difficulty and if he looks in the right
direction he may discover a valuable aid
at his elbow in the person of Uncle Sam.
Hundred Applications . Week.
There is in New York-one might just
as we'll say Chicago-an Office of a cor
poration into which every week not less
than 100 men walk applying for employ
ment. These men are received not by
the manager himself for whom they ask,
but by a young man representing him.
In turn the applicants are always cour-
teously received and Just as courteously
informed there is no opening for them.
In this respect the week of October J.
1870 was no different from any other of
lHe year, except 1Or one young man In
the company of one hundred. Undismay-
ed by his dismissal he went home, sat
down and wrote a letter to the manager
applying for work and giving his quail
ications. Two days later he received a
reply telling him to call and to bring this |
letter as a card of introduction. He ac-
reported at the Office. and at
The very moment when other men were |
being turned away he was admitted into |
H. l..
At this point 1t may not be amiss to call |
to the widely known truth that |
friends of the right sort can be of in |
aid to the job hunter. In fact, !
when it comes to hiring men. the en- |
plOyer's first move, as a rule, is to inter- |
view his associates for the, purpose of !
IL they know OF The right |
nan or again of the right boy for the !
place. Thus it is that ones friends can !
put in the application with |
success.
There is one objection, however. to this !
theory of getting a position through |
friendship; one hasn't always a friend ,
1t court, in which case II falls upon the |
young man to do the next best thing. |
which is to get a letter Of introduction. |
4 letter Of introduction will always get /
he applicant a hearing, and many times !
hat is the greatest difficulty to be over
.ome.
The carriage Of an electrical crane used !
jy Q French steel firm is mounted on a
IN oirder ono end Of which r,,ra