Today, I was informed by a federal government department, one with which I interviewed for a position, that I did not obtain the pass mark for the following essential merit criterion, as assessed at the interview: Ability to communicate effectively orally [in English]. As a result, the department “cannot give further consideration” to my application.
Oh, dear.
I am successful in my field because I am able to communicate effectively in my mother tongue — English. Everyone has their schtick and this is mine; it’s what I do. With seven years’ experience at the Master level, and a total 15 years’ professional experience in the field, I am confident that I can “communicate effectively orally” in English. Yet, according to Canadian federal merit criteria, this is not the case.
Then, a colleague had to mention that my mistake is that I am a white male Anglo. Well, yes, yes I am. At least, that’s what I see in my mirror each morning.
Well, to the feds and to my colleague, I can only say this: You’re full of bullsh☺t. I’d say it in person, but I mightn’t communicate the idea effectively.
Or does one need to get on one’s knees? —Say what!?
This article appears in Nov 4-10, 2010.
Cab drivers in the city have to pay $75 to take an English test to get their cab license…and if they don’t speak English they are allowed to bring an interpreter with them, and if you have a masters in English and have spoken it all your life you still have to take the test and pay the $75 bucks, just so it’s fair to everyone. Money Grab?….I think so.
When we moved to smalltown USA for a few years back once-upon-a-time-ago, my wife & I had to take language exams at our new university. Seems we made a mistake on the form when asked to identify our mother tongue. We responded ‘English’. Wrong. The correct answer was ‘American’. Somehow, we managed to pass the language tests 😉
I dunno, saying that English is your first language doesn’t mean you can communicate effectively but that’s just meee.
OB, fuck off or stop bullshitting us, there is obviously more to this story than you’re letting on or you’re the same butthurt shit-stirrer who was posting all those anti-immigrant bitches a few weeks ago.
Sorry, the crippled non-white lesbian with a speech impediment got the job.
She beat out the transgendered Budddhist from Albania.
Affirmative action.
I missed out on a program because I’m not visiably handicapped, shit happens. I moved on, you should too.
appearences can be decievine o.p., just make the best of who and what you are. fuck the rest of them.
OP your an idiot! The Government has criteria that your assessed on when it comes to Oral Communication. Just because you speak English, doesn’t mean that you automatically pass that part of the interview. You have to be able to convey ideas and information clearly and concisely, you also have to actively seek to understand the information communicated by others, make use of proper grammer and keep the audience’s attention. What exactly were to talking about in your interview? Was it something that the interviewers understood? There’s a whole bunch of reasons why you may have failed that essential part of the test. Give it some thought next time!
whatever happened to nepotism?