I had a job interview for a graduate trainee programme at a world-renowned corporation. The first question asked by the HR manager was: “Suppose you successfully hacked into Donald Trump’s X account, what would you do with his account?”
To this question, I responded: “I would do nothing.” The HR and the other two senior figures at the interview were obviously disappointed at my response. I said: “Any remark released by influential figures such as Trump can lead to large-scale commotions.”
The group of three frowned simultaneously in the video conversation, saying: “You don’t have business acumen and really lack a sense of adventurousness. You put too many restrictions on your ambition. If I hacked into Trump’s X account, I would post tweets which could lead to political events and hence make profits from the turmoil.”
Hearing this comment, I immediately switched off the video conversation and quitted the interview. Although I had never succeeded in the previous 100+ job applications, I never felt any sense of remorse for giving up this opportunity. The ambition of the senior employees at this corporation showed its malicious colour. They were promoting a value: a successful employee should be a genius who dare to pursuit their ambition at any cost.
In the 100+ failed job applications, I witnessed quite a few employers harbouring similar uncharitable values. They only assessed the intellectual level, ambition and talents of an applicant, hoping every applicant would be a copy of Elon Musk or Bill Gates. As for responses caring about the repercussions of an adventurous action, these hrs regarded them as a symbol of mediocrity and incompetence. The biographies of successful business tycoons delude many entrepreneurs and HR to believe that employees and job applications should be superheroes in Hollywood: they are supposed to be fearless and audacious to ignite a “master stroke”, and then make gigantic profits with their ingenuity and ultra-high IQ. But the question is: who will pay for the cost of their fearlessness and audacity?
Once in an interview for a graduate position at a famous financial institute, when the HR ridiculed me for my prudence and timidity in an imaginary business scenario, I riposted: “If your risk-taking decision fails eventually, who will pay for the loss, which can be tens of billions of dollars? Is the money your asset or the bank’s asset, or is it the savings of your clients?” The HR didn’t respond to my question. They stayed silent for a long while.
I don’t know if Elon achieved his profits genuinely via performing audacious stunts to cause chaos in the market, as many employers believe after reading his biographies. I have never met him in the flesh, so am not eligible to comment on his deeds and achievements. Suppose he did establish his enterprise and successes by risking the interest of the public, I wouldn’t feel pity if his businesses fall apart one day. Leaving the admiration for Elon aside, I recognise “business responsibility” far more than “talents” or “business acumen”. A corporation that strives for hiring geniuses without subjective “moral confinement” will become a pest for society.