Tuesday, October 09, 2007

What is your greatest achievement

I m still without a job, and as such I am still looking for a job. My efforts are based mainly online; making my CV as accesible as possible (AAAP if you will), applying to posts advertised on various yet creditable job websites and filling in online application. One particularly notable motoring company included the following question in the application for its graduate scheme: what is your greatest achievement to date? I moved to answer the question, but my fingers could only hover rather pathetically above the keyboard, awaiting instruction and inspiration. For the most part I enjoy a good ramble, and have become increasingly accustomed to telling my laptop experiences I have had in working in a team, or a time when I ve needed to persuade others. But this question left me, not speechless, because that is the wrong word, as I do not, usually, speak when I am typing, but I was certainly all out of ideas. Has I achieved anything of real value? Has anyone who hasn't found a cure for disease, or invented something, like the clock, really achieved anything. I ve passed some exams, even managed to bad mysef a degree, and a Masters as the cherry on top, but is that an achievement that I am truly proud of, or that is great? I hoped that I had achieved something better. Racking my brains, I rememebered once having finished a puzzle, which mapped the world, that was pretty secial. Similarly I considered not being sick after doing a shot of tequila as a reasonable achievement, surely that would impress them, wouldn't it? I ve played some sport in my time, taken a few catches, scored a few goals, missed a few puts, but I' m no professional, my sporting achievements are not great in the grand scheme of things. I began to realise that I was either a difficult person to please, or I had achieved little of any grand value. I suppose to make things a little confusing, I could say that a great achievement would be to convince myself that any achievement that I had achieved is great. I don't think they would buy that for a minute. In the end I moved on, from that question, to return to at a later date. I did, however feel like writing, this question, has provided me with much food for thought, but on reflection, I have not achieved anything that I can consider to be great. But instead, I went to the kitchen and made mysef a sandwich, some real food for thought, chicken and bacon. Often such online application forms require you to recall a time 'when you worked well with others', or when 'you worked as a team to set targets'. Strangely, I have yet to be asked, 'tell us about a time when you have had to talk yourself out of a bad situation because you have unintentionally insulted a girl, whilst making a remark that apparently was 'not funny'. But if and when the time comes, I shall be ready.

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