Choices

Imagine having 3 job offers.  (No, this is not an exercise in fantasy.  In the not-so-distant past, we're talking the late 90s and earlier this century, multiple job offers were a regularly occurrence.  Remember?)  The offers are identical in nearly every way.  The job is the same.  The money -- both base pay and bonus potential -- are identical across the 3 jobs.  Benefits are also the same in each job.  The commutes, while different, are virtually identical in terms of time, distance and degree of difficulty.  And while the job offers are from 3 different companies, the work place itself is nearly identical.  Same office, same work space, same physical environment, same coffee and tea.

So, how do you decide which job offer to accept?  More specifically, what is the first thing you'd want to know before making The Big Decision?  What would be the next most important piece of information you'd need?  What type of information would come third?

Take a moment to scribble your answers.  Be as honest as entirely possible.  Don't be shy to admit even the most potentially embarrassing things that might enter into your decision-making process.

[Insert musical interlude here.  And, no, not the Jeopardy theme music.  Something with soul.  I'm thinking Tower of Power's Knock Yourself Out.]

Now class, let's consider another scenario.  Imagine that you are a manager in a company.  You've been looking for the ideal candidate to fill an important job in your department.  This person will work directly for you.  You have 3 finalists for the job.  They are identical in nearly every way.  They have the same education, the same work experience and identical skills and abilities.  Their resumes are essentially identical.  Their references are all equally stellar.  They each present themselves with equal professionalism -- both in clothing and presence.  They each speak with equal eloquence.  As best as you can tell, they all have the same potential to do the job brilliantly.  You won't go wrong with any of the 3 candidates.

So, how do you decide which person to offer the job to?  More specifically, what is the first, most important thing you'd need to know before making The Big Decision?  What would be the next most important piece of information you'd need?  What type of information would come third?

Again, take a moment to scribble your answers.  Please be as honest as entirely possible.  Don't be shy to admit if age, gender, physical attractiveness, ethnicity, religion, politics or other factors are important to you.  We're looking for truth and, yes, we can handle it.

We ask one last favor:  Please send your answers to alan@schnurconsulting.com.   Your input will be invaluable as we finalize a research effort to study these two questions.

And, yes, we have a number of specific hypotheses that this research will help address.  Either proving us right -- brilliant, actually -- or, perhaps, completely out to lunch.  Or both.

Speaking of brilliant, we urge you to check out a marvelous new feature of Shazam:  LyricPlay.  Tag a song, which is already a near-miraculous capability, and then select 'LyricPlay'.  Shazam provides the lyrics, verse by verse, synchronized with the music.  Absolutely fantastic!  Yet another example of our technology being more advanced than on Star Trek (save for replicators, transporters and warp drive, that is).

If you don't have Shazam, get it.  Then use the app to identify any song you're listening to.  Press 'LyricPlay' and sing along.  When you do, be grateful for the marvelous age in which we live.