I told him I was a Yankees fan. I’m surprised he still hired me.
I’ve been recruiting for ten years so I think it’s a safe statement to make that when I’m on the other end of the process, acting as a job seeker, I feel very comfortable going in to an interview.
I felt this way the day I interviewed with Anthony, one of the Senior Directors of Talent Acquisition, who would be my boss if I was offered the position. Right off the bat, I felt at ease with him as we spoke over the phone about my background and what I wanted to do with my career.
Then he asked, “So, where do you live?” I told him New Jersey and asked the same of him. When he said he was in Massachusetts, I quipped back, “Well then, I’m sorry, I have to say it now. If I’m offered the job, I won’t be able to accept. I can’t work for a Red Sox fan.”
We laughed and connected in that moment. I had hoped he would appreciate my humor and I appreciated that he got it. And, despite the fact that I was aware of this major flaw Anthony had, choosing to route for a team who is named after an article of red clothing, I found it very refreshing to have the opportunity to work for someone who I could turn to for professional guidance and also enjoy some lighthearted moments with.
I think one of the best things about Sodexo is the fact that we welcome all points of view and provide an environment in which our employees can be respected, even if they differ from one another. Through programs such as our diversity network groups and our mentoring programs, employees of different cultures, orientations, and backgrounds work together to not only understand one another, but educate and empower those around them.
Only after I was hired did I find out that Anthony wasn’t the only one on our leadership team with this love for all things Boston. Arie Ball, Vice President of Talent Acquisition, was also revealed to me with this passion for the team with a record of 7 wins in World Series history (FYI – Yankees have done it 26 times). What had I gotten myself into? A few months after working with my Red Sox Nation Manager, I was moved to a new team – and to a new manager, Lisa, a Yankees fan, who now joins this friendly rivalry with thoughtful emails like “Yankees move ahead by two games.”
I guess the morale of my interview story, and my experience here at Sodexo, is that it doesn’t matter whether or not your team inexplicably traded away one of the best players of all time, Babe Ruth, or that in 1986, your first baseman let a ground ball roll right through his legs, costing you the title. What matters is that you work together as a team and support one another with respect and appreciation (kind of like the Yankees did 26 times – not sure if I mentioned that).
And one more thing to add to all you Red Sox fans out there: seriously, socks? You can’t think of anything better? I mean, if you’re not getting a hole in one, you’re always coming out of the dryer one short!
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Michele Posehn started with Sodexo as a Senior Recruiter in February 2007. She currently recruits for culinary related positions for the Hospitals division in the New York metro area. Michele welcomes anyone out there looking for a company that is diverse and full of opportunity to follow her on Twitter.
3 comments:
Great post Michele. You write so nicely...for a Yankee fan. You must have had a Red Sox fan proofread and edit.
While through some unexplained lapse in judgement, I still decided to hire you, it wasn't long before we were able to reassign you to the other Yankee sympathizers on team-Garden :-)
Still, your morale (What matters is that you work together as a team and support one another with respect and appreciation) rings true on our team even among those with irreconcilable baseball differences.
You know...I think Anthony and I talked about baseball during my interview as well but I think he just laughed at me when I told him I was a Cub fan from Chicago!
I love our Team at Sodexo! We always find ways to come together despite our differences in who undoubtedly BEST time in baseball history is. It has been proven and documented, (Which is what HR people love :), that the Yanks are truly THE best and most winning team in baseball...
http://tiny.cc/w5uKJ
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