Being an entrustee (2)

Enthusiastic and non-enthusiastic Human Resources (HR) approaches

According to my experience in many companies I have worked for abroad (United States), the main issues that are more of interest than salary when starting a job are fringe benefits. These are the rates on health insurance. It is very important for the employee whether the tooth or eye is in the scope or not. More permanent issues such as the retirement package or down payment support in the purchase of a house can also be included in the side payments, it is a common expectation as a priority for employees.

Again, a company that I started working abroad would pay 20% of the down payment if I bought a house within the borders of the municipality where the company is located within the first 6 months. When I wondered why it was the first 6 months and asked, it was because if I bought a house in the same region, my children would go to school in the same region, so he wanted to connect me to the company for a long time. It was an interesting approach, but effective. Company loyalty is not dry, potential employees should be embraced with such permanent social initiatives.

Although many of our managers have studied and worked in developed countries, I always ask myself; Why don't these people apply what they see and learn in Turkey, why are we so far from solutions? The answer to this should be a sociological study and is not within the scope of this article. However, I would like to share some of my intuitions with you.

Let me tell you from the beginning that I will say the last thing. The issue of sending scholarship students or researchers abroad from Turkey should be addressed from the beginning.

As someone who did my post-secondary undergraduate, master and doctorate education in England and America, I know what I'm talking about very well. I was able to do these trainings without taking a penny from my family and my country. I have both experienced and observed that this is possible.

Especially in the USA, the student profile in postgraduate education is almost over 90% foreign students. Recently, a large proportion of them are Chinese and Indians. Almost 100% of them benefit from TA/RA (Teaching/Research Assistant) programs, which are defined as assistantships by the university. These programs usually provide tuition waivers and a small living wage. Participating in and continuing with this type of program requires serious effort and competition. This is a factor that motivates a person to constantly work hard and achieve. You see, if you want to finish that program, you must have burned the ships.

It is very difficult for those who come from a carefree and relaxed environment to compete with these people. Those who have guaranteed scholarship from their country are definitely determined and hardworking people. This is not an issue. The subject we want to emphasize is a bit of a sociological situation. Accessing or understanding the social life, how the institutions work, and the understanding of culture of the country of education is only possible by working and living under equal conditions in that society. In a mechanical or technical situation, the best way to perceive is to do and experience a job.

In my observations over the past 15 years, I have seen 3 types of postgraduate students.
1. Those who make use of the assistantship setup and do not enter any social area,
2. Those who have full scholarship and live comfortably but remain superficial in social areas,
3. Those who work and study, and those who naturally take part in all aspects of society.

According to my impressions and observations, those in the 1st and 2nd categories are those who are successful on their behalf and either never return to their country or who have a job guarantee when they return and work with a public understanding.

The main thing to focus on is that it is necessary to understand the social aspects of the country of education very well. This is as important as the training received. Unfortunately, those who do not have different social thinking skills will not be able to go beyond being in the shadow of someone.

The main gateway to this overshadowing in companies is HR units. If HR units are not built on solid principles, we will be among those who win some battles but lose wars. For this reason, it will be useful to give some HR examples within the scope of our article in order to shed light on HR issues.

You may find the HR education approach of a friend I work with interesting. A group of employees attended an external training organized by the HR unit. The training took place in a beautiful, decent and quite expensive luxury hotel environment. The circle of friends reflected on me as follows:

- The atmosphere was very nice and motivating.
- The fact that the participants were from different units also added color to the atmosphere.
- They gave us eight colors of paint and canvases for drawing.
- Everyone would draw a picture in their own way.
- After everyone has done their drawing,
- It was suggested that we exchange the drawings we made with the friend next to us.
- The subject they want to achieve here; Without understanding and feeling the work you have done with so much effort, someone else was painting over your drawing as they wanted.

In fact, what they want to say is that after you put so much effort on a subject, the continuation of the job is to dominate the subject. If it is continued by someone else, the result may not be very pleasant. That was the main theme. Although a suitable scenario was chosen, another subject told by my friend caught my attention.

- Each participant was given the same set of eight colors.
- While his friend was drawing, he had done his work by mixing colors and getting different colors.
It was thought-provoking that this issue was not taken into account at all. Because I felt that creativity was not given any importance.
- At least, I would expect him to see that awareness, even if it's negative, to criticize or appreciate it.
- What the hell, they didn't even care, they didn't even notice.
- When I tried to express it to them later, it was a typical HR approach that it was ignored because it was irrelevant.
- We know best and you just do what you're told.

This is what I understood from here, unfortunately, this is what happens when HR jobs are done by non-HR people.

Knowing is not enough

I experienced one of the real HR approaches in America. I would like to describe the approach of the HR manager in a company I have been working for in hiring me. I went to a career day announcement that was announced in the newspapers weeks ago. Many famous companies set up their own stands. The emphasis was on marketing and sales. Thank God I had CVs with me that I prepared for different business areas. There was a company that I had my eye on somehow, and I wanted to reach the person responsible for hiring. I talked to a representative in the stands area and the subject of technical sales intrigued me.
- What position are you here for?
- Technical sales or marketing.
- Your CV is sufficient for this subject, but if you wait, we will put you in touch with our manager.

After routine pre-interviews such as recognition and introduction, those who seemed suitable were interviewed by the responsible manager. I waited my turn and 15 minutes later my name was called. I was taken to an office in the back quarters.

- Here you go, after a warm welcome such as hello and welcome,
- There was some questions and answers about the subject and my area of ​​interest.
- The manager lady in charge seemed like someone who knew very well what she was doing.
-Finally she told me that they are not looking for an engineer. The subject position would be too light for an engineer, she said.
- He said good luck and sent it politely.

I mumble to myself that I really want this job and give the lady a reproach.
I wanted to say to you that I love this job because I am an engineer. I would have understood if he had told me that you were incompetent, but it was difficult for me to decide what to do or not to do. While I was thinking in my head that if I joined another unit at that time, then I would be transferred to the unit I wanted, I found myself in front of a different representative of the same company. The same pre-interview process and I found myself waiting to do the main interview again.

- I was shocked when I got to the back office.
- Not the same responsible lady I just interviewed!
-We laughed a little and she was surprised too.
- While looking at me slightly reproachfully because I told you not to be an engineer...
- I said I came for another position.
I'm aware of that, but this position has nothing to do with you.
- I know I thought I'd get into this job and then transfer to another one, but I said,
- No, thank you, but he said sorry and sent me again.
- .......
Let me not prolong it, the same scenario happened for the third time and this time;

- As soon as the lady in charge sees me.
- I think you won't give up again, he said and as if thinking that he would say get out...
He said, "Sit down," and right after that, it seems that you want this job very much.
- Your perseverance and persistence are important to a salesman and you showed it.
- Fill out these forums and we'll get back to you.
- If nothing else happens, wouldn't you say you were hired?
- I was shocked and went out with joy.
- .....
- We worked with the same lady as my responsible manager for a long time.
- When I asked about the way I was recruited,
- We also attach importance to unexpected situations and behaviors, apart from the issues that we are not prepared for.
- You reminded me of hiring someone who doesn't even speak the language 5 years ago. The person who doesn't speak that language is our top sales representative and partners with us today.
- Your insistence reminded me of him... I decided to hire you, thinking that I had found a second mine.
- In fact, they were very pleased as long as I was working with me... Of course, I learned a lot, too, and this job was the job I loved the most in my life.
- ....
- At that time, I was accepted to the doctoral program and unfortunately I had to leave that job (unfortunately, it is not because I quit my job, but because I have to do a doctorate due to reasons such as visa status)
- I made the biggest mistake of my life and quit the job I loved so much!
- ......
- I don't know if now is the time to tell... I will tell you the rest of this later.

Conditions and unavoidable conditions can sometimes lead us to unfamiliar places. As long as we don't do whatever we do for the sake of doing it. Doing it with faith brings peace, happiness and success.

Whatever we do, no matter what office we come to, we should always question ourselves. It is not enough to say that I know everything. Our Powers If we do not question our responsibilities within the scope of this, we may know a lot, but we can be nothing. If we are, we will be in the shadow of something. When that thing we lean on is not one day, that shadow will not be either. Let's not forget that "unauthorized responsibility is craziness."

Success is inevitable if you persevere in the subject of belief without being arrogant with the saying "It is not a shame not to know, it is a shame not to learn".

Pretend to give a corporate perception

I had just returned from abroad and did my short-term eight-month military service at the headquarters of one of the force commands. I made many friends during this process. What happened in my case was of two kinds; There were either those who performed that duty very, very top to the bearer or those who had very valuable competencies in a certain field. But we were all worried about ending our military service as soon as possible. Anyway, the point is not to tell about my military service, what I really want to tell is my attempt at another job that will set an example for inadequate HR.

One of the friends I made during this eight-month period was the marketing manager of one of our country's high brand value electronics companies. In his dialogues with me, he was suggesting that I should join their company. Everyone who had completed their accreditation was returning to their work and home, hugging each other. The friend I mentioned had taken my CV from me; I think he must have talked to the top managers of his company about me, because about a month later, a phone call came from the company's HR department.

The HR staff on the phone was calling me for an interview. There was something strange that I wasn't used to. What is different is that in the phone interview before the face-to-face interview, no pre-interview type questions were asked. I was asked to come directly to a city where there is an HR unit located quite a distance from my city. We agreed on suitable dates and times for the appointment...

A few hours after my appointment, the detail of my going to another city got stuck in my head and I called the staff who gave me an appointment from the HR of that company:

- Saying hello, how are you, and reminding that I was the person to come for the interview a few hours ago,
- I stated that I had a few questions about something I wanted to be sure of and that I would like to ask them if they were available.
- Of course, it was a reasonable understanding that you can ask.
- What is your question?
- I'm coming from a city quite far away,
- In this case, I asked what kind of transportation I should choose.
- You can come however you want.
- If I come by plane, is it ok for you?
- Why not, no matter how you come, as long as you are here at the appointment time.
- Okay, there is no problem with that, but will I buy the plane ticket and you will pay me in return for the invoice or will you buy the ticket?
- By making you feel that you don't understand how... we don't interfere with how you come here.
- There is no ticket or expense coverage.
- I wanted to make sure that by keeping the prudence.
- It seemed absurd to me at that moment to go to another city with the thought of why I had to go all that way for a situation where it was not clear whether I would start a job... at your expense.)
- Yes, you have to meet the answer when you get the answer,
I asked if I was hired.
- We'll talk about him when he gets here.
So nothing is certain.
- Yes, you will be informed at the end of the meeting.
- .......
- Then I would like to present a situation to you.
- Here you go...
- I do not want to work in a company that will invite me for a job interview and not cover the costs.
- That's why I want to cancel the meeting appointment if you will not be able to meet.
- ....
- A silence... by asking someone more authoritative, I suppose.
- You know, it was said.
- And the job interview appointment was cancelled.
- ......
- I conveyed the situation to my soldier friend who recommended me for his information...
...........
Then I started another job... This job I started was in the big city where I was invited to interview before, so I had the chance to meet a few times with the friend who encouraged me to take me into their company... we talked a bit about the recruitment and appointment process. He told me that there are no such travel expenses, accommodation or flight tickets in our country. I also stated that it would not be fair and therefore it does not matter whether you work in such a company or not.

Two or three months had passed, my friend called me and said that I might receive a surprise phone call. Just like he said, the next day he got a call. And the person on the phone said hello to me by my name in very proper English and introduced himself. As I understand it, he was the company's number two from the top. I think this person once asked my friend after the cancellation of my job interview:
-    How is your friend? He asked if he was fit for the job...
- When my friend said, which friend was a little surprised in the passing time?
- You know, the soldier friend you recommended... I had instructed HR to meet with him and start in a suitable unit, that friend...
- Oh yes that friend...how can I say.... My friend He did not start here because his namesake refused to meet.
- The manager, who was surprised why he refused,
- Since my friend was in a distant city at that time, he requested transportation and accommodation from the company... and when he stated that they did not have such an application in the company... our friend also canceled his appointment...
- .....
- As of that moment, the manager asked for my phone and my CV and told my friend that he would call me and told me to be informed...
- As I said, he called himself the next day...
- Since he was raised in the state where I am abroad, he understood my situation...
- He explained the situation due to the wrong methods and methods on the subject and invited me to the company...
- ....
- We made an appointment for two days later and when I went to the person's office... A manager from HR was also there...
- After a little chat and introductions... directly,
He asked if it would be a problem for you to leave your job.
- I stated that my 3-month probation period has not expired yet.
- After informing me that you have examined my CV in detail and that it will be mutually beneficial if I work in their own company,
He asked if you would like to work with us.
- I said yes to the place where I work, if it happens after a month's notice period.
- After instructing the HR manager next to him on the necessary procedures for me to start working as a Project Manager a month later, I shook hands and left...

Unfortunately, this is what I understand, albeit late: Although I had competencies, I started to work as a bearer. To tell you without taking your time, in the last company I worked for, even if you have competence, you are not even called for a job interview if there is no connection from the top, and the worst thing is that even if you do not have any competence, you are recruited in unimaginable positions, such as 'order cuts the iron'.

I personally sadly witnessed hundreds of my true stories about the two types of business ventures I described above, when I later became the HR manager. Worst of all, it was the place where I worked, which was semi-public.

What I understand from these two stories, which I have told without giving the names of institutions and individuals, structures that are not built on fair competencies leave big debris behind and become a hindrance to production.

Managing with the perception of myth

The reality of an event is different from being a myth. The general belief is that the myth is more inclusive.
Most of us have heard or heard the life story of eagles. Legend has it that when eagles reach a certain age, their claws and beaks lose their tearing sharpness. Naturally, because such a situation would reduce its hunting abilities to a minimum, the animal would soon be doomed to die. However, some brave eagles were able to change such a fate between life and death. It takes courage and self-sacrifice to make such a painful and painful change. Eagles that succeed can add a lifetime to their lives.

We have said that this change is painful and troublesome. In order to achieve this, eagles maintain their aging nails and beaks by hitting and rubbing hard rocks for days, waiting for them to fall and to be replaced by new ones. The pain of this method is that it can only be possible with hunger, patience and courage. Those who succeed will be able to open their eyes to a new life. What has been said so far is to raise an exhausted life from its ashes again.

This story is one of the most frequently told motivational stories to new and middle managers in companies. It is usually very effective, depending on the agitating role of the narrator or addressing people's feelings. As you can see, it is giving intravenously to people who are ambitious. It has been seen to benefit some people with a temporary motivation. But the realities of life do not always happen as in the above story, but also cause many disappointments.

In fact, the story of Kartal told is not real, but a mythological story. Those who do not build their career ladders on the basis of merit and competency perish with similar myth-type approaches by senior management.

As a result of this chapter, there are 'management tin soldiers' in every non-corporate company. Managers see their work through these. It doesn't matter if they are spent, as long as the main core management gang can hold their ground.

We all know that authorities and titles are given to the bearer due to reasons such as delivery to the address, convict, good cop, bad cop, incompetent ambition, unauthorized responsibility, cringing, blackmail, fear and anger stemming from ignorance, discrimination and similar reasons.

Unfortunately, we need to open a separate chapter for each of the issues such as inefficiency, production and employment problems and dissatisfaction arising from such situations. I don't need to give examples by commenting on such issues... but I know very well that these lead akers are used and thrown away like a dirty handkerchief by the company management...

It's up to your character to decide whether to be an eagle or a dirty cleaner.