Should I or shouldn't I?

[Riverkilt]

Any hints of "vindictive" or "catty" will cost you - not him. Good suggestions so far.

[Lyle1]

I think it was more than admirable of you to direct him to a body of literature that he could read to learn at least some of the information he should know for the position that you both seek. I'm not sure I would have provided any assistance at all if I were going to apply for the position, myself. If I were interviewing applicants for a position, I would look poorly on any applicant who disparaged another in any way.

[James Hood]

Never compromise your integrity. Ever.

Best of fortune.

[Bill aka Mole]

I think it was more than admirable of you to direct him to a body of literature that he could read to learn at least some of the information he should know for the position that you both seek. I'm not sure I would have provided any assistance at all if I were going to apply for the position, myself. If I were interviewing applicants for a position, I would look poorly on any applicant who disparaged another in any way.

Never compromise your integrity. Ever.

Best of fortune.

Combined, this is golden advice.

A position opened up at my last job for the supervisory position in my shop. I and another gent in the shop both applied for it. He was 20 years my junior and had no formal training in our field. He was selected for the position. He lasted two weeks. The position was never opened to current employees again. I was asked during my interview how I felt about my co-worker applying for the same position. My answer was that I was certain the company would hire who they thought was better suited for the position. If I was not chosen, I would be able to work for whomever was chosen for the position. And no, I was not the cause for the other gent to quit. He found out that he underbid himself.

[ohiopiper]

While I wouldn't undercut him based on what you know, I might use the information to update and polish my resume' to better suit the job requirements of the position.

Sometimes resume's are general so as to be suitable for a wide variety of applications. Since you know what is required of this particular position, no harm can come of making it better reflect your qualification for that particular job.

[warrior]

Well I am somewhat chagrined to have posted the question in the first place as I really knew the correct answer all along. I shall not mention it.

I sometimes allow my competitive nature to bump hard against what I know to be right.

[Chas]

David, don't put yourself down. Job-hunting is a moral mine field and doing the right thing often leaves a bitter-sweet taste. I rather like the paramedic motto in times like this - "Do no harm". I think that sums up how all our interactions with our fellow human beings should be.

Regards

Chas

[Bing]

A position opened up at my last job for the supervisory position in my shop. I and another gent in the shop both applied for it. He was 20 years my junior and had no formal training in our field. He was selected for the position. He lasted two weeks. The position was never opened to current employees again.

This.

Don't be too surprised if someone vastly less qualified gets the job over you. It's been my experience that managers rarely hire the best qualified person, and certainly not the acknowledged expert in the field.

You would know more than the boss, and he would know that too. Your knowledge would be bad for his self-esteem because he doesn't have the knowledge himself. Better (in his view) that he hires someone he can train for the job than face the prospect of butting heads with the expert. With you there is always the potential that he will lose on the facts and have to resort to "because I said so" to get what he wants done.

Management is rarely about doing the right thing, it's about doing something, anything, and then relying on your authority to argue that even if it's wrong, it really is correct.

[ForresterModern]

I think it would be appropriate to help the bloke out with a few simple references, especially if they are ones you have written, regardless of whether you are "in competition" with him for the same position, just make surehe knows that they are your works. I would pretend that you never met this person as far as your interview is concerned, unless you run across him interviewing at the same time, in which case I would say openly "Hey it is good to run into you again. I hope those references on xxxx I recommended to you helped you prepare for your interview. Good luck with the process." You should only be seen as a team player, as you have stated that your background and writings in the area should stand out for themselves if presented in the greatest light possible. Although you may consider yourself the best candidate for the position due to your background, realize that it is the employer who will make the final decision, and they may not have the same priorities in their decision making process as you might believe. I truly hope you get the position, but it is best to do the right thing, help out your fellow man (even if he is unaware or unsuspecting of your background or simultaneous interest in the same position). If you were not up for the same position, would you hesitate to help this chap? If this were your brother or best friend, and you were not up for the same position, would you help him? If the roles were reversed, would you not appreciate any assistance you could get from a local "expert"?

Your application will be weighed on the merits the hiring company needs as shown in your CV and background history in the field and in your interview. May the best man FOR THE JOB get the position, based on the company's needs.

But good luck wishes are wending your way anyway.

jeff

[creagdhubh]

David, don't put yourself down. Job-hunting is a moral mine field and doing the right thing often leaves a bitter-sweet taste. I rather like the paramedic motto in times like this - "Do no harm". I think that sums up how all our interactions with our fellow human beings should be.

Regards

Chas

Quite!