judgements, appearances, and predispositions

I had an interestig experience recently at work. We're in the process of trying to find a new employee for our company. Without having ever met the most recent canidate or having spoken to him or even really looking too hard at his resume i was already predisposed to disliking him.

Reason 1: His Name
Let's just say he had a very old and traditional name such as say something similar to Claudius Snootfiggle III.
Alright, now odd name, so what? nothing really unusual about that in as diverse a land the United States is, so
that by itself really isn't incriminating. That is, until it's taken in conjunction with Reason 2.

Reason 2: His Resume
Ah the resume, the deal maker or breaker for even just getting you an interview. This beast causes much gnashing of teeth for just about everyone. Interestingly enough it wasn't a matter of misrepresentation of his skill set, or a lack of work experience. It was a problem of the supporting detailes, WHERE he'd works, and what he'd done while not working. Work experience (though valid forthe job) was at places like yatch clubs, high presteege golf clubs, and any numbe of places where most of us couldn't get within 10 feet of without a special invite to clean the pool or some such. And oh yeah, i don't have any work experience listed for the past year or so because i've traveling around the world (but i survived on my own).

Now all this lead myself and a few others to believe that this kid was going to be a snot nosed brat who never had to work a day in his life, pampered all to meep and living off family money. It was quite interesting to suddenly realize today while waiting for him to arrive for the interview that i had predjiduced myself against him due to..... what? was it jealousy that he'd obviously grown up in a much more priviledge childhood than myself? Was is a class based mistrust founded on what was precieved from what was written? Or was it a level of snobishness that was never vocalized but just implied in his resume and his name?

Mentally i rearranged my views of the situation and tried to approach the issue with a clear mind free of distrust. In the interview he didn't seem to be of an arrogant nature, well only mildly so.

It was an interesting situation reverse of many things that you hear, being prejiduce against someone for being too well off, or at least being too closely associated with success. Just because the swarm likes a complete tale, especially if it involved human suffering i'm sure you're all happy to know that no, he's not getting the job.

--goat