When I left my first consulting position in Vernon, CT, I cast a wide net, seeking to land a job with a larger consulting firm in the Hartford area, or perhaps some place within a 100-mile radius. I was pleased to be contacted by Arthur Andersen Consulting, and looked forward to my scheduled interview. On that evening, I met a gentleman in one of the restaurants in downtown Hartford. He was staying there for a long time while working with a client in the area.
From the outset, he wasn’t as cordial as I had assumed someone in his position would be. He seemed to take an immediate disliking to me for one reason or another. A bit into the conversation, I understood what was occurring. He was fishing around to see whether or not I was the same faith that he was.
Adept at Discrimination
He was smart enough to not play his cards outright, but I was sufficiently aware to determine that he was seeking to eliminate me and, apparently, all others who did not share his faith. He was adept at discrimination, with such a subtle manner that one could never make the claim. In carefully chosen words, he let me know that I didn’t have “what it takes” to be an Arthur Andersen consultant.
Paradoxically, our discussion revealed, if anything, that I was abundantly qualified. Indeed, on critical consulting issues, I was more qualified than he. Of course, when someone is predisposed to discriminate in a job interview, it doesn’t matter how qualified the applicant might be. In this case, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I was better than he was; on some level, he knew this to be the case.
As years passed, I bore no ill-will to Arthur Andersen Consulting. Moreover, in my travels as a management consultant, and then author and speaker, I had encountered numerous Arthur Andersen Consulting partners and associates in my audiences. It is particularly rewarding to receive “raving fan” type letters, kudos of high praise from such individuals.
Gone and Not Forgotten
Arthur Andersen Consulting subsequently filed for bankruptcy following the fallout from the scandal at one of its major clients, Enron. Nevertheless, I proudly display such kudo letters when any consulting firm inquires about my speaking availability.
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