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Edward Caruana Galizia

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How do you measure passion?

How can employers measure an employee/applicant's passion for the job?

I read an article in a magazine advising employers on how to be as empirical as possible when sifting through CVs and suggesting what boxes to tick. None of the boxes mentioned had anything to do with having the passion for the job.

The practice of ticking boxes has lead to people simply ticking the boxes just to get ahead, regardless of how passionate they are about it, seeking the money and not urged on by the need to do the job and enjoy the effects of the work done.

Most of the time the best for the job is not the most competitive, and those who are the most competitive are not always the best for the job and have no passion. The result is a total waste of potential of those who actually are in it for the right reasons.As someone pointed out on an earlier post,Edward Debono called this "ludecy". - the ability to play by the rules of the system for maximum personal gain.

But what is the alternative? You can't just say you are passionate about the job. So is there any way for an employer to measure the passion of an applicant?

Topics: Employee Engagement business education effective teaching employment passion unemployment problem university work
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    Debra Smith 200+

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    Sep 20 2011: There is a maxim in psychology that the best way to predict future behaviour is to look at past behaviour. In sorting the passionate from the empty talkers I would look to see what they have actually done along this line of work. Is it actually an interest of theirs and have they done anything spontaneously around that issue.

  • Id iot

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    Sep 20 2011: What are your job duties? i.e What's your real profession?

    Sorry in answer to the question, I don't think employers can measure an employees passion for a job. Most normal people are not passionate about their jobs, but more about the rewards a job will give them to enjoy their real passions in life, which generally have nothing to do with their work! If your lucky enough to work at your hobby then there maybe a lot of passion going into the job, the kind of jobs that entails are usually in professional sports.

    I don't see bankers, accounts, architects exactly going out at the weekends enjoying a night out counting money or drawing etc...

    • Edward Caruana Galizia

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      Sep 20 2011: "Most normal people are not passionate about their jobs"-That's true, but I see that as a problem. Those who are passionate about their jobs seem to generate more wealth, have a more fulfilled life and are generally happier. As someone pointed out lower down, those who are passionate about their jobs don't have the " can't wait till the end of the week" attitude. I would hate to live my life waiting for the weekend only.

      Yes, people like a job that pays them so that they can make the money to enjoy other things, but what are these other things? And why aren't they making them their job instead? That would be a lot more fulfilling for them.

      I am an actor fresh out of drama school, but as my day job I teach English to Foreigners. Yes, I wish I could spend every day I had working on scripts and performing. Not because of the attention I get, not for any prestige, but because it s what gives my mind momentum, drives me to be better and ignites life into my whole personality. As a teacher of English I get to connect with people, listen to their perspectives and gain better understanding of the world we live in and its people. I use this to enrich my imagination, and that also gives my mind momentum which I love.

      And incidentally, yes I do see architects drawing when they are out having a coffee, and let's not give accountants such a bad rep- some really do enjoy their job. Everyone has to relax and have fun from time to time, but that doesn't mean they love what they do any less.
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    shrishti choudhary

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    Sep 20 2011: passion is considered when you dont consider the work you are doing as a work rather you consider it as aim of your life, the stuff you love to do even you are damn tired, the thing which make you inspire to indulge into it even when you are not well, that something which makes you dedicate enough to pour your everyhting into it, which makes sense for you, your existence, the way in which you are serving society, your credibility, your integrity everything. if somebody askme would i ever left considering social benefit in any business venture which particularly aims to earn profit only, as being social entrepreneur..... i will firmly say NO!!! thats what the passion is....
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    Ana María Pérez 200+

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    TED TranslatorAssociate
    Sep 20 2011: People who don't love what they do can't wait for the weekend. For example, I measure the passion when I'm doing my job duties and I don't care what time it is.

  • Mr Kebabsoup

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    Sep 18 2011: To be able to measure passion more efficiently, I feel we need to take money out of the equation, or somehow use money differently.

    Of course it's dumb, but let's imagine a world where everybody gets the same amount of money at the start of a month, and you actually have to use part of that money to auction for a job. You spend a certain amount of money to "buy" the job you want, and you try to make a living with what is left. Of course you get no salary, just the given amount of money at the beginning of the month.

    There you would measure passion. But then I already see several other problems that would raise in such a society lol

  • James Kindler 20+

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    Sep 18 2011: I am passionate about my work as I am in the helping profession, it's not like going to work it's going to help people. I think the only way to measure passion is less or more. I know people who have less passion about everything and I know people who have more passion about everything
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    Si Xie 10+

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    TED Translator
    Sep 18 2011: I think that passion is something that you keep doing it and seldom get bored about it. You develop the love of this job, and try to make this position more interesting and colorful, you may read a lot of information about it, and do a lot of stuffs about it, just want to full in your own satisfaction of the job, just because you are passionate about it.
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    Gisela McKay 30+

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    Sep 18 2011: I don't think passion can be measured without a probationary period.

    I started with the title question and then added in the "in an interview". Given what I assessed as accurate measures of passion for a particular task, I can't see how you would be able to ever gauge that in an interview format.

    • Edward Caruana Galizia

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      Sep 18 2011: Agreed. The suggestions mentioned below are all valid in their own right. However, none of them can be used.
      You can lie about what sacrifices you have made, you can magnify any action you have taken, so that in an interview you sound passionate. Once again people are simply ticking boxes.

      Sometimes I wonder how many people are actually doing a job they want to do. Apart from those underdogs who are stuck in a job to make ends meet, there are also those in jobs just for the money, blocking the way for those who really want to do the job.

      Is it just me or is that a real problem?
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    Scott Armstrong 50+

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    Sep 18 2011: If you are talking a "job" as in working for someone else, then measuring how I am treated while doing my job - that will give you some insight into how passionate I am about it.
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    Benny boy

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    Sep 17 2011: at least we say what we think...
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    Kent Spencer 10+

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    Sep 17 2011: passion is measured by progression.
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    Benny boy

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    Sep 17 2011: passion is a love of turning being into action.
    sacrifice is not love.
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    anthony bruni 30+

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    Sep 17 2011: Passion is measured in sacrifice. Always has been always will.
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