Page 191 - James Caan - Get the Job you Really Want

then their return was delayed, so they weren’t actually working
in the business for a month.
While they were away, I was talking to their manager,
asking, ‘How’s that function going?’ I expected him to say,
‘We’ve got a few issues, and I’ve had to bring in some cover to

make sure everything stays on track while so and so’s away.’
Instead, he answered, ‘Actually, it’s fine.’
I said, ‘What do you mean, “It’s fine”?’

By telling me everything was fine, what I was hearing was
that we were employing somebody who could be away from
that job for a month without it making any di≠erence.
That evening the line manager’s comment really bugged
me, so the next morning I went in and asked him, ‘Can you do

me a favour? I want to review exactly what the output of that
job is.’
When we looked at his review, we all came to the conclusion

that there wasn’t a job there. Technology had evolved to such an
extent that the job had become a process role, and the manager
had demonstrated that there was enough bandwidth in the
department, that we didn’t really need that person any more.
Funnily enough, that job no longer exists . . .

So, you can apply an attitude of persistence and persever-
ance not only to getting a new job but also to the job you are in
right now. You have to understand that there is no organization

that I’ve ever come across that doesn’t have its own politics. If
you have an achievement, you should make it known so that
when the next promotion comes up, there are people other
than your manager who think you are talented.

179 perseverance