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In my work life, I managed a group of people. So I’ve been asked multiple times to serve as a reference. For most of them, it was easy. There were many good things and examples I could use to sing their praises.
Recently, I heard from someone who had just lost the job they got after being let go at our company. Being told you aren’t wanted always sucks so they were kind of down about the whole thing. So I offered up that they could use me as a reference if necessary. And I got a call today from someone asking for some feedback.
Now, the problem is that if you were going to define an “average” employee, this person would be it. There was never anything wrong with what they did. I never got any complaints from the project teams they sat on. I’d certainly hire them again.
And that should be fine but the downside is nothing really stuck out. I got asked to rate them on a 1-10 scale which is the first time I’ve had that sort of question. I suppose I could have just said 9 and been done with it. But the problem is that even though I want to help, it doesn’t seem right to be less than honest. I had plenty of 9’s and a 10 or two in the group and this person just wasn’t there.
Like I said, that shouldn’t be a problem. Nothing wrong with 7’s or 8’s. There should always be a place for people who come in and do the job even if they aren’t flashy or finding ways to stand out among the crowd.
It just reminds me of one of the bigger disconnects in the work world. At least at my company, they made a big deal about hiring “the best” (whatever that means). Like we were some kind of exclusive club that only an elite few could get into.
But then when it came time for the performance appraisals, they pushed to make most people average. I guess you could argue from their side that we still bring in the strongest but, even in a group of strong people, most will appear average. That seems to strain logic just a bit.
I do hope I helped in some way because I do think this person would be a good fit somewhere. It does make me super glad that I’m no longer in the workforce and having to deal with this kind of stuff.
Facing Diagonal Wall 
I would say that the company was doing an elite type deal but made them seem average during review because then they dont have to push put that extra money for a raise. I’ve seen that so many times at places I’ve worked and only eas giving out that “soda pop” type of raise of only .05 – .10.
We had a budgeted amount for the group and going over required multiple levels of approval so you had to stay within it. Plus you had salary bands by position. Crazy thing was you often ended up giving more senior employees smaller raises even if they excelled because you’d be bumping up against the salary band. Hated the whole process.
Yup thats kinda what I was getting at. And is kinda how the whole world revolves if its a big company, not so much money to go around but wants everyone to go above and beyond for that raise. A lot of times they don’t look for what goes on environmentally for the employee either. I remember one time getting kicked from my position because of some one in seniority wanted my job, lost all my benefits when they transferred me as well.