Leadership's Future: Trina Thompson, Wuss Or Winner?
by Miki SaxonHere’s the Millennial solution for new grads who can’t find jobs: sue your alma mater.
That’s what Trina Thompson is doing to the tune of $72000; $2000 of which is compensation for the stress engendered by an unsuccessful three month job search; she graduated in April with a bachelor of business administration degree in information technology.
I’m not sure what planet Thompson is on, but she seems to think that her attendance record combined with a 2.7 GPA makes her a great find for any company.
Thompson finds major fault with the Monroe College Career Center…
“They’re supposed to say, ‘I got this student, her attendance is good, her GPA is all right — can you interview this person?’ They’re not doing that. They favor more toward students that got a 4.0. They help them more out with the job placement.”
Apparently it never dawned on her that it’s the companies who look for better GPAs.
And when did education come with a guarantee? Especially one that transcends all factors—economic conditions, grades, intelligence and, especially, attitude?
Apparently this business major hasn’t noticed the recession and has no understanding of the global economy.
She did show up, although learned very little based on her current actions.
Jim Gordon, who draws mY Generation for my other blog, graduated with a degree in industrial engineering and a similar GPA; he landed a three month internship and just received a full time offer.
What Jim has is a solid gold attitude, the kind that all managers want on their team; he doesn’t think he knows everything, wants to learn, assumes that attendance is a given not an accomplishment and that hard work is the name of the game—in short, he’s an aMillennial.
Thompson thinks that any new grad who doesn’t find a job should sue.
“It doesn’t make any sense: They went to school for four years, and then they come out working at McDonald’s and Payless. That’s not what they planned.”
After all, the world owes you—just ask Trina Thompson.
This follow-up to the article came Wednesday.
The Ski Channel has offered Thompson an entry level job. According to Founder/CEO Steve Bellamy, “Either Ms Thompson is a cunning out of the box thinker and we want he or she isn’t, and her position would not last long. Either way, the law suit would no longer be clogging up the courts because there are now no damages. She now has a bonifide job offer. She just needs to call us and go over the details. But it is real and valid. If she is this feisty, we’ll try her out. But if she is playing the victim card and pushing her problems onto everyone else – then her job wouldn’t likely last long.”
It will be interesting to see if Thompson accepts the position and, if she does, whether her efforts will go beyond good attendance.
Be sure to read the comments, two really stand out, “She’s not “a cunning out of the box thinker”, she’s a brat with a sense of entitlement.” And “I know the girl and don’t think it is a wise hire.”
Many said it was a great idea because it will remove the suit from an overloaded court (But what happens if every new grad that doesn’t get hired follows suit?), while others said that Ski Channel should expect a lawsuit if they do fire her.
I’ll keep you posted.
Hat tip to Andrew Gordon, who sent me this irresistible article and the follow-up.
Be sure to see what my buddy Mark Jabo has to say about Trina over at Biz Levity.
Apologies to those of you who expected the interview with KG Charles-Harris, founder of M3, today. The interview will be next week.
Your comments—priceless
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Image credit: adamci on sxc.hu
August 6th, 2009 at 5:56 am
You called this one exactly right. The number one thing I can teach my students are the simple behaviors that can lead to success. You have to show up, on time, every time, prepared to make a value added contribution, and assume full responsibility for yourself.
Well done.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Hi Bret, of those three it seems that she got the first, is iffy on the second and completely missed the third.
Thanks for stopping by and adding your thoughts. And keep up what you’re doing in spite of all the Trina Thompsons you’re faced with!
August 6th, 2009 at 10:12 am
[…] Thanks and a tip of the graduation cap to Miki Saxon over at Leadership Turn for pointing out this […]
August 7th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I think Trina’s a visionary; Imagine all the doors she’s opened for other sue-able offenses! If I don’t ever become an astronaut/fireman, maybe I could sue my 5th grade art teacher for telling me I could grow up to be whatever I want. Or perhaps I could burn some porkchops I bought from my butcher and sue him for promising me they’d be delicious. Thanks Trina, for reminding everyone how profitable complacency can be!
August 7th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Hi Brock, that’s a great idea. Would-be hockey pros could sue their parents not conceiving in April/May, so they would be born in Jan/Feb (see stats in the book Outliers).
And to take non-accountability a step further, perhaps people could sue themselves for their next hangover or hangnail.