The manager sat looking through the applications.
He knew he had to get it right. One badly placed employee could bring the business down big time. Especially when the team was made up of such a small group of people. He knows that each one of them needs to be good at what they do. He slowly read through the seven applications he’d received, now that the submission cut-off date had passed. It was always difficult finding someone that was ideal, when it was only based on the submitted paperwork. However, of these, three looked promising. He read them through again, placing the favoured applicant on top. He would let his subordinate take a look at them, after all, the man had been in the business a lot longer than he had. He caught sight of him and called him in.
“Just going over the applications we’ve received. Thought you might give me your thoughts.”
“Sure”. He sat down and dragged the pile across the desk. He tapped the top paper. “Your pick?”
“Yes. Well-presented and seems to fit our requirements.”
The other began to read. He spent more time on the one that had been put on the bottom. Occasionally looking up, the manager noticed this. “I had a job reading that one myself. Dreadful writing!”
The other was smiling.
The manager asked, “I don’t think we should waste our time with him.”
Still smiling, the other replied, “It just so happens that I know him.”
“You do?”
“Oh! Yes, indeed; quite well actually”
“What can you tell me about the man?”
“Ah! About the man… well, he’s the sort of chap that never seems to know what day it is, is never on time, is always losing things, never has a pen when he needs one, is late paying bills, never plans ahead, is late for appointments, is always running behind, forgets to return things he’s borrowed, loses his must-do lists, double-books appointments all the time, misses deadlines, never knows where his money goes, never prioritizes anything, never puts things back where they belong, often wears the wrong clothes for the weather, forgets to call people back, lets his inbox get overcrowded, usually arrives late for meetings, leaves most things until the last minute, regularly gets his signals crossed, and continually loses his phone.”
“Goodness gracious! We can discount him then.”
The other grinned. “I don’t think so.”
“Why ever not?”
“He’s one of the best pizza-makers I’ve ever come across.”
