Question of the week #1

This question might sound like something that pops out of a handbook for beginning recruiting. Or worse, a high school morality quiz. Still no one has come up with a convincing enough answer. This one is going to stir a mad debate. But then that is the intention. 🙂

Who would you rather hire? A management graduate with the best academic record or a college drop-out with the best performance record. Give reasons why.

Send in your reply as a comment to this post. Those who are in to read, read the comments to this post.

Comments

3 responses to “Question of the week #1”

  1. Vikash Avatar
    Vikash

    I would hire both of them. To get my work done in time and most effective way second one will do and to present it to the stakeholders or the public or the consumers or other investors first one will be perfect.

  2. Hiren Shah Avatar

    It depends on what kind of work you want to take out from them. One of my bosses had one subordinate read management books and give the jist to him. If that has significant importance, than the academic but if not the other person with the best performance record. Eventually, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and in practical life, functional talent or operative skill alone matters which often has nothing to do with qualifications as you have rightly pointed out.

    The latest research in America, however points to what you are doing, Mr Roy. It is all about enjoying your work. Since a majority of waking hours are spent at work, only if you enjoy your work, you are likely to do well in all situations and inspire those below you. I read the article on you in ETEMPOWER. I must congratulate you on having the guts to follow your conviction and chart your course in mid life. Though I know several American examples, you are among the first non celebrity Indian examples.

    I have written published articles on “enjoying your work “- 12 articles in all in the Times of India and four other articles in three different magazines apart from winning the top prize at yadoo Q and A on this theme- the links to all these article are there on my blog- Make your passion your profession

    A couple of days ago, I recd an email from the Harvard Business school website appreciating some ot the work on my blog.

    I assist my father in portfolio management which I don’t exactly like. I too am looking for a change. Let us explore a possibility, if any. I am Delhi based. My email is hirenshah50@gmail.com.

    In case you are unaware, Mr Roy, somebody like you should participate in an HR discussion forum like
    http://www.citehr.com/

  3. Mohan Chandran Avatar

    I would hire a college dropout with the best performance record. As the saying goes, ‘past is no indication of the future.’ The fact that the management graduate performed excellently in academics is no guarantee that he would perform well in job too! Similarly, it doesn’t mean that the college dropout will not perform well in job just because he didn’t complete his studies! I think, in today’s world, what ultimately matters is “performance.” That is the key word here. As goes an adage – ‘Bedroom or boardroom, it is performance that matters.’ When the college dropout has an excellent track record of performance, he should be given preference over a person who just has academic knowledge, which may or may not translate into actual work performance.

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