Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

The story of the Discovery of Referential Authority.

I wrote the post below as part of a phase we were going through, i.e. application of the principles of the Wakefield Doctrine to situations encountered in the ‘real’ world. It was truly a remarkable time, here at the Doctrine, during the first three or four (or five) years. Everything was new, and the world around me was filled with blank canvae and nude models, all urging me to take note of how the Wakefield Doctrine has an attachment to everything.

But, before I wax too philosophical, here is the abashed edition* of that post:

(May 3rd 2012)

In our First Post, “Won’t you have a seat, Mr Andrews will see you in a moment“, we examined the strategies available to a person seeking a position in what is often referred to as ‘the corporate world’.  In that first Post, we focused on the ‘pre-Interview’ phase of the employment process. With today’s Post we will stay with this convention, as it seems that, if the first episode is any indication, most Readers find the Applicant’s efforts to deal with the appointment process entertaining and instructive.

Small Business Environment:

….a small restaurant, in a coastal town which is also home to the State University. With only 10 tables and an open kitchen layout, the Owner, (who is also the cook), is able to greet and interact with all the patrons. It’s quite evident he enjoys what he does, is reasonably skilled and, as a result, the business is successful. The increase in business has been rapid and the Owner is finding that the part-time help from family and relatives is insufficient, and so, the ‘Help Wanted: Waitress’ ad in the local newspaper.

…The Interviewee:

The wife of a faculty member at the University, following a Sabbatical from Field Work, you have been unable to find employment in your area of expertise, Paleo-sociology (and) Urdic Languages. Rather than spend another summer in the overly-large home that you share with a husband and two cats, decide that being a Waitress wouldn’t be the worst thing to do, at least until the market for Sociologists (fluent in Farsi) improves. So you call the number in the newspaper and get an appointment to meet the Owner. Wearing your best Interview suit (a subdued brown pinstripe) and carrying your trusted iPad, you set off to the restaurant, confident that you will be able to recall your undergraduate days of work-study working in the school cafeteria.
(…. oh!  do we need to mention that you are so a roger?)

…(Second Interaction)

…you have been sitting at the table 15 minutes (30 minutes later than the scheduled interview). The ‘breakfast rush’ has finally quieted down and the woman at the cash register brings you coffee, asks (again!) if you would like something to eat and tells you that the Owner will be over in a minute.

Do you:

• ask the woman questions about the restaurant, how long has it been in business, what background the Owner has in the restaurant business
• Look annoyed and ask her if it is always this busy
• smile, hand her the Application for Employment that you have completed (and somehow stapled your curriculum vita to the slightly grease-spotted form) and say, “Thank you so much! I am sure that I will enjoy working here!”

The Question: if you are a roger, which of the above is likely to be your initial reaction and which, (of the three actions above), should be your reaction, in order to increase your chances of being successful in this Interview?

Well that should be enough to get us started! As with the first Interview, consider not only which of the three personality types the people in our scenario are, but tell us why you think they are (clarks or scotts or rogers )… and while it is helpful to know the correct way to get this particular type of job, add what you can about what the Wakefield Doctrine gives our Interviewee, in terms of tools or aids that will allow her to get whatever the hell it is that she wants…. (yes, Molly and Claire  that is a totally leading question!)