MPW內(nèi)部網(wǎng)絡(luò)是一個(gè)邀請(qǐng)最有影響力的商界女性及時(shí)解答職業(yè)與領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力問(wèn)題的在線社區(qū)。本周，我們的問(wèn)題是：你犯過(guò)的最好的錯(cuò)是什么?以下是惠而浦公司、Bed Bath&Beyond公司及Charlotte Russe公司董事格里•艾略特的回答。
我犯過(guò)的最好的錯(cuò)誤，是在職業(yè)生涯剛開(kāi)始時(shí)，我干了一連串“傻事”。
當(dāng)時(shí)我24歲，是紐約大學(xué)(New York University)的大四學(xué)生。當(dāng)時(shí)，我計(jì)劃在畢業(yè)后攻讀法律和商業(yè)學(xué)位，因此根本沒(méi)打算找工作。我走進(jìn)學(xué)生中心去買(mǎi)一瓶蘇打水，結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)那里擠滿了學(xué)生，個(gè)個(gè)穿著正裝，打著領(lǐng)帶，穿著鉛筆裙，手里拿著一疊簡(jiǎn)歷。很明顯，我一不小心走進(jìn)了一處招聘會(huì)現(xiàn)場(chǎng)。前來(lái)招聘的都是了不起的公司，而我卻穿著牛仔背帶褲，腳蹬運(yùn)動(dòng)鞋，頭上圍了一條頭巾，因?yàn)槲夷翘煸缟蠜](méi)洗頭發(fā)。我想悄悄穿過(guò)大廳的時(shí)候，一位招聘高管伸手?jǐn)r住了我。他說(shuō)：“你好，我叫湯尼•麥肯森。你想來(lái)IBM工作嗎?”我回答說(shuō)：“不了，謝謝。我只是想從自動(dòng)售貨機(jī)里買(mǎi)一瓶可樂(lè)。”
后來(lái)，我們聊了很多關(guān)于那家公司的話題，但我告訴他，他不可能說(shuō)服我。我已經(jīng)下定了決心。那天晚上我與朋友們一起吃飯，他們恰好是Cobol語(yǔ)言程序員。我順帶提到了這件事，他們都不敢相信，我竟然如此愚蠢地拒絕了這家藍(lán)籌公司的面試!那天晚上回到家后，我從垃圾桶里找到了他的名片，給他回了一個(gè)電話。
經(jīng)過(guò)了一系列成功面試之后，一位IBM經(jīng)理給我打電話，口頭提出了工作邀請(qǐng)，并表示過(guò)幾天將有書(shū)面的正式邀請(qǐng)。我激動(dòng)萬(wàn)分!當(dāng)我順便詢問(wèn)工資情況時(shí)，他含糊地說(shuō)了一個(gè)數(shù)字：18。在我看來(lái)，年薪18,000美元并不高(這可是很多年前!)，我那會(huì)兒一直在利用課余時(shí)間打工掙學(xué)費(fèi)。于是，我告訴他，我的工資應(yīng)該更高，然后開(kāi)始就此討價(jià)還價(jià)。他大吃一驚，解釋說(shuō)所有實(shí)習(xí)生的入職薪酬都是固定的。我并不滿意，于是我告訴他我要考慮一下，然后再給他回電話。
第二天，我收到了IBM郵寄來(lái)的工作邀請(qǐng)。結(jié)果是我誤解了對(duì)方的條件，我的薪酬是每月1,800美元，而不是每年18,000美元。這在當(dāng)時(shí)可算是高薪，所以，我接受了那份工作。我一直沒(méi)有告訴經(jīng)理那次的誤解，但幾個(gè)月后，他將我安排到了銷(xiāo)售部門(mén)，因?yàn)槲沂俏ㄒ灰粋�(gè)敢協(xié)商起薪的實(shí)習(xí)生!那一次頗有喜劇性的錯(cuò)誤，成就了我在IBM公司長(zhǎng)達(dá) 22年的精彩職業(yè)生涯。
MPW Insider is one of several online communities where the biggest names in business answer timely career and leadership questions. This week, we ask: What’s the best mistake your ever made? The following is an answer by Gerri Elliot, board member of Whirlpool Corporation, Bed Bath and Beyond and Charlotte Russe.
The best mistake I ever made was actually a series of gaffes when I was starting out my career.
I was 24-years-old and a senior at New York University. At the time, I was planning to get a law and business degree after graduation and wasn’t even job hunting. I walked into the student center looking to grab a soda, but instead found a roomful of students wearing suits, ties, pencil skirts and holding a stack of resumes. Clearly, I had accidentally walked into a job fair. There were all these amazing companies, and there I was in denim overalls, sneakers, and a scarf on my head because I hadn’t washed my hair that morning. As I tried to slink across the hall, a recruiting executive stopped me with his hand outstretched. “Hi, my name is Donny McKenthan. Would you like to work for IBM?” I replied, ‘Uh, no thank you, I’m just going to get a Coke from that machine over there.’
I ended up having a wonderful conversation with him about the company but I told him there was no way he could convince me. My course was set. I went out for dinner that night with friends who happened to be Cobol programmers. When I mentioned this story in passing, they couldn’t believe I was foolish enough to turn down interviewing with this amazing blue chip company! I went home that night, dug out his card from the garbage bin and called him back.
After a series of successful interviews, an IBM manager called me to verbally extend an offer, which would be followed up in a few days in writing. I was thrilled! When I asked in passing what the salary was, he cryptically said $18. In my mind, I thought $18,000 a year was low (this was a long time ago!), given what I had been earning for part time work paying my way through NYU. So I told him I thought I should earn more, and started to negotiate. He was taken aback and explained that the starting salary for all trainees was set in stone. I wasn’t satisfied, so I told him I’d have to think about it and call him back.
The next day, I received the offer letter in the mail. As it turns out, I misunderstood the offer — I would earn $1,800 a month, not $18,000 a year. That was a great salary back then, so of course, I took the job. I never did tell my manager about my mistake, but a few months later he asked me to be placed in sales because I was the only trainee who had tried to negotiate a starting salary! That comedy of errors ended up being a wonderful 22-year career at IBM.
