Caution…

.....................................................................................................................................................................

A high profile company once invited applications for the job of a “Personnel Manager.” I do not know if such a post actually exists in industry, but I’m told that those applying for this post must be very knowledgeable and should be able to handle various problems effectively. These include handling complex psychosocial issues that somehow affect the employees directly or indirectly. Leadership qualities are obviously desirable.

Now a donkey applied for this post. He was given an appointment and was instructed to be present at least thirty minutes before the interview.

The donkey reported exactly thirty minutes before the scheduled time.

Soon he was called in for the interview.

The donkey decided to knock before entering the cabin. In an attempt to do so, he knocked the door rather loudly. Spooked, the interviewer literally jumped from his seat and nearly hit the ceiling.

“Come in,” he said regaining composure.

When the donkey tried to open the door, its handle suddenly came off. Poor donkey stood in front of the interviewer with the door handle in his hand! The interviewer appeared impassive; the donkey thought that he had probably not noticed the wreck. He quickly hid the handle behind his buttock.

Next, the donkey decided to walk towards the interviewer with an air of confidence about him and thereby, thoroughly impress him. But he didn’t know what to do with the door handle. He wanted to get rid of it as quickly as he could. Nervously, he dropped the heavy metal handle on the floor. The loud clang startled the interviewer, but he just didn’t understand what happened.

The donkey gave him a boorish smile and scratched his buttock twice.

“Sit,” he said coldly after a minute.

The donkey tried sitting on a chair, but slipped, and landed on it firmly with a loud thud. He yawped in pain.

“Be careful!” said the interviewer with profound surliness.

Soon began the interview –

“What’s your name?”

“Donkey” he replied.

“Where do you stay?”

“At home” the donkey retorted with tinge of vengeance and a bit matter-of-factly.

“What have you studied?”

“Books” he grinned.

Silence. The interviewer stared at the donkey for few minutes. The donkey stared back at him with blank looks. Both of them had an awkward mask-like expression for sometime.

“What is your greatest strength?” the interviewer asked.

“The fact that I know my weakness”

“Really? Tell me your weakness then…”

“I have gases.”

I didn’t wait any longer to find out whether the donkey was recruited. I decided to leave and mind my own business. I had just walked a few steps, when I heard a loud thud. This time I was sure it wasn’t a door handle.

Moral of the story: If you have gas, be careful when you try opening a door. The handle might just come off.