Welcome back to another episode of the corporate Cowboys podcast my name is Alex I’m your host and I’m joined by your co-host Alex hey yo Alex yeah I should be wrong all right cool try that again hey testing testing yeah that works just fine Alex too today’s proof of life it’s Friday y’all
April 28 2023 almost it’s Friday it’s Friday it’s almost a weekend yeah the [ __ ] body knows it oh my goodness and uh and uh that the parties the parties are cropping up left and right places that we gotta make appearances to as professionals Network you know yeah
Yeah yeah so if you’re not familiar with the format of the podcast I mean we’re deep deep into season uh nine now damn and uh this is episode what is this episode three season nine episode three and the further we get into with the podcast the more critical we become
Right so I mean episode one season one was really PG and then I would say about like episode four it was like PG-13 and then episode what six or seven we started like dipping into these questions from Reddit it became rated R and now that we’re episode uh season nine episode three
I mean if you’re not with the [ __ ] already then you’re lying then then you’re lagging bro you’re gonna get caught lacking if you’re not moving like a corporate Cowboy uh you’re gonna get caught by a corporate Cowboy so let’s be real you know what it is
Um the premise here is that we are corporate consultants in our day-to-day life legal and otherwise but the disclaimer is that anything we say across these episodes and this podcast in and of itself should not be construed as legal advice none of what we say should be taken as promoting
Wrongful activity or uh any wrongdoing right that would be wrong so unless you’re unless you’ve engaged us in a professional capacity or have retained us to be uh your lawyers or or your uh your counselors I mean this none of this is legal advice you shouldn’t come back and blame us for
Uh for for gangster rap it’s not my fault you [ __ ] up all right so today’s question today’s question we’re pulling this from our slash career advice that’s on Reddit right and they’re asking I mean it’s a pretty straightforward question you would think and it starts with I have an in-person interview tomorrow
Afternoon that I’m excited about well that’s good that’s good right I mean like you’re excited for interview I’m assuming you’ve prepared for it some whatever here’s here’s here’s where the plot thickens though is that they’re a finalist so it sounds like they’ve been through like a round or two like a
Couple of rounds of interviews right and they become a finalist they’re at the very end they’re about to get hired and maybe they got one more round right they’re a finalist after all right and they say I’ve been thinking about sending bagels or snacks to the team in the morning
Damn not even Donuts bro yeah I mean like donuts are donuts are cheaper but you’re gonna send [ __ ] that’s not even sweet they better be nothing you’re gonna say you’re gonna send Bagels I mean Noah’s Bagels they better be Bagel sandwiches dog they better come with eggs and bacon [ __ ]
So they say I don’t want I don’t want it to seem as though I’m brown-nosing but I do want to go the extra mile to set myself apart is this a good idea a good idea bad idea opinions opinions and they say they’re always open to hearing alternative slash
Safer quote safer ideas thanks Alex what are you thinking like is this you’re definitely not a safe idea the bagels yeah what are you thinking [ __ ] croissants send breakfast quiche to the whole company and [ __ ] come home bro try to get hired doing that it’s just like all right like look like you’re already in a
Position where an employer knows you want something that they have right a job position yeah so like what the [ __ ] are you bringing Bagels to me for um you know what I’m saying like you’re obviously not doing it because you’re a good person okay you’re doing it because you want something and you
Want to impress me you even asking the question like you want to set yourself apart yeah like it’s it just seems like you just seem like a very simplistic guy okay like a very easy to read guide like you’re gonna bring Bagels because you want me to like you
Because why you don’t have anything else to offer besides some [ __ ] Bagels so then a more professional way to go about this is uh to set yourself apart by being a strong interviewee yeah man like you you gotta like nothing nothing like I mean I I’m sorry I I’m asking
That question like and it sounds so simple like the answer is obvious it’s almost a redundant question but like for the listeners that don’t understand why wouldn’t I send snacks out ahead of me to like go make the impression for me because you have no confidence it [ __ ]
Up your confidence oh okay it [ __ ] up your your image of confidence like everybody who wants to hire somebody wants to hire somebody who’s competent and confident in their confidence that makes sense right yes so if you’re bringing like why the [ __ ] are you bringing me Bagels on your interview
Because you’re not confident and what the [ __ ] you bring to the table right okay okay so it seems like as if you’re compensating for something yeah that you could be interviewing for because and instead you’re trying to have these bagels or Donuts do the talking for you
Like know when to give gifts like you don’t give gifts for sure you don’t give gifts when you want something yeah you give gifts you don’t need anything so after you have the job like so after you got the job you probably could like as a as like an introduction and say
Like oh it’s Alex’s first day and like at the end of that week like on a Friday you pop through with the [ __ ] Noah’s Bagels or some donuts and be like hey I’m just wondering you know show my gratitude for being brought onto the team yeah exactly and you pull up
With donuts exactly okay maybe that’s a little bit brown-nosing but it could also just be like you’re a cool [ __ ] person yeah I mean you’re on the team already like you’re not oh okay so you it’s it’s avoiding the appearance of bribing them to get on like so so because you don’t
Already have the job I’m not trying to like pitch donuts and bagels at the team like pretending like that’s gonna get me on the team yeah okay you’re you’re you’re not you’re not giving something to get something yeah you’re giving something because you appreciate their presence and people can feel that
And they can appreciate that you know what I’m saying absolutely yeah and and so that’s really productive to your to your to your uh employment Capital right yeah like your your Capital within your workplace right to have people appreciate your gestures that’s right if you’re gonna bring Bagels to an
Interview how is that improving your capital image within the workplace is not it’s just making you look like a like a like a [ __ ] uh like a like a outright brown noser like a brown noser who’s insecure about their own like qualifications for the job for sure
For sure it gives off the appearance as if you’re compensating for something where if you truly were a part of the team then the reason they brought you on is because you contribute something yeah right and and the thing is it’s like when you’re working in a team it’s not
That the team is helping you out and you appreciate it so you’re giving to them right yeah it’s that you’re joining the team because you’re it’s it’s it’s multilateral the team benefits from you being there and you benefit from the team being there yeah you know what I’m saying absolutely so
When you’re when you’re trying to like buy your way in it kind of makes it lose your lose your credibility a little bit you know what I’m saying okay so then for the sake of argument you lose your worth first okay so for the sake of argument right down
That line of of of thought Alex when you send these uh Bagels these Donuts out ahead of you and say you do get hired on for the sake of these [ __ ] donuts and bagels what about the day you stop bringing them then you just then you’re just the [ __ ]
Piece of [ __ ] who doesn’t you’re the incompetent piece of [ __ ] okay I know I I get that I get that and I was just trying to take that to its finality where when you start and you join the team because you were uh how am I gonna
Say donating but because you wanted to put up these bagels for the team um and you and you get hired because of it if that’s the sole reason you got hired the day you stopped bringing them is the day they don’t want you on the [ __ ] team
Right no Bagels no team no team that makes sense yeah that may absolutely that makes sense you like it so so do things like if you really want to set yourself apart man yeah like just you really gotta exuberate confidence and not only that you got to exuberate
The type of person that they want in that office I I would agree I think overall that’s been a overarching theme of the podcast is is knowing how to negotiate knowing what points and what terms you’re negotiating so that when they hire you on you both feel like you came out winning
So that if in the first week that you’re starting on I mean it’s worthwhile to come through and bring Bagels like you you you are a top dog that they hired on like that professional that you went in interviewing as comes out as the professional that they hired on yeah I mean like
So if if you’re if you’re coming out man and and you’re trying to to here’s here’s one advice I got and you got to do your research you got to figure out what your job industry wherever you’re trying to get hired what kind of people are they looking for
Right right yeah because I can tell you right now like I did some research you know we’re out here trying to get you know looking for legal jobs of course at a certain point right always they’re trying to look for for some type of work
To pick up yeah so when we’re looking at other jobs or other people to compete with and I’m talking to other employers who are looking for uh attorneys right and they’re looking at people like okay especially since covet right they’ve said all right look one thing we get frustrated about is
People with this work-life balance idea right like all these people they want this work-life balance with zoom and at home work you know and and enjoying their life more cool I get that right but that’s not what employers want to hear no not for the most part they don’t
Know they wouldn’t you know what an employer would love to hear is is if you’re willing to put your life on the [ __ ] line exactly like if I told you hey you’re look you know why you should hire me for why you know you like Shire me Alex why I have no kids
I have no relationship okay I see it and I’m already taking these boxes like you know Alex Alex doesn’t really have any any anchors the time down I have no Hobbies okay okay keep talking I love money okay I got some of that and I want
To perfect my craft damn well I got a job for you you gotta I’m ready exactly and you know what I know I’m not always gonna work 50 hours a week or right now I’m ready for the next few years this season in my life yeah to dedicate to
Learning my craft and working for you exactly business being War most every employer who was in a position to hire professionals they want [ __ ] who are dedicated who are committed at least for some for some committed span of time that they could use them to train them that they could
Use them to employ them for some job or a task that they have for the Enterprise right and and don’t get me wrong don’t get me wrong when you start on and and this corporate [ __ ] is dirty after all business is war right if you do have
Kids if you do have a family I mean in my book Alex I don’t know how you feel but in my book that’s uh having vulnerabilities because uh uh corporate at that point if if you let on too early that you will do what corporate says so long as you
Receive that check to feed your kids man corporate will bend you over and sideways this is true to get to get you to do what they want why because you’re receiving a check at the end of the day but if as a professional as a professional you set yourself apart and
Not by sending Bagels you set yourself apart as a negotiator as a consummate professional someone who it was capable of evaluating their own self-worth yeah right and and and getting their worth in paper getting their worth in in the check getting their worth by whatever Compensation Plan they’re able to negotiate
Then that that elevates the individual that’s the individual professional to the level of corporate where I mean you’re not necessarily working just for corporate but you’re working with them yeah and I mean you you just got to make them hear what they got they want to
Hear right yeah that’s what they want to hear right and and I told Alex everything that that I want that he wanted to hear but in my head really I’m like yeah for sure I’m gonna work I’m gonna get this craft I’m gonna work hella hard but at the same time I’m not
Working for Alex exactly I’m working for me exactly every day I work I’m working it seems like I’m working for Alex but I’m really working to hone my craft so that one day I can move Beyond Alex’s Paradigm and influence I can I can Branch off of my own and find my own
Hustle exactly right in an ideal world I mean in this in this uh hypothetical Alex I hired Alex why because I understand he has that motivation he has those aspirations to move like a consummate professional to move like a corporate cowboy to be creative and how they’re going to
Get ahead in corporate right so if if I’m the one hiring them for a job it’s because I need them it’s not because Alex just needs my money and just needs the the benefits that come with it no no it’s because at the end of the day we
Agree to work with one another so if if and when push comes to shove you want someone in your corner you want someone in your corner that you know you brought on because of their skill set not not because they they came out of their own pocket and sent uh baked goods
To the company right like that that doesn’t do a whole lot I can do that myself and I can write that [ __ ] off and you know it could mean it could mean something at the right time but not at a time of like you don’t like at the time
Of vulnerability you don’t show how insecure you are right you show how confident you are exactly and at a time of power and influence and opportunity you don’t show your confidence you show your compassion I would agree I would agree absolutely and that would be after you get hired on
So if you plan on sending Bagels out in front of you it’s because you’re a stupid [ __ ] you don’t you’re you’re not confident you’re not confident in your ability or you’re not confident in your uh professional repertoire let’s say right and and you might be a newbie you
Might be a novice this this tactic might be something that has worked in the past where I don’t know if you’re going to college and someone says hey Alex come through we’re having a party or something I mean you’re not necessarily being interviewed for the party but you
Feel inclined to bring a [ __ ] 12 or a 24 or a 30 rack of beers or some [ __ ] right yeah this isn’t but this isn’t that a corporate job they’re interviewing for what you can do not what you can bring yes sir what you can bring comes later
On but what they’re interviewing you for is a job specifically what they outlined in whatever job listing they posted and how you apply it and how you’re interviewing now I would agree so that being said is it a good idea or a bad idea I would say it’s a [ __ ]
Horrible idea terrible idea a [ __ ] horrible idea and and uh and just moments ago when I had uh suggested to Alex this this prompt this title for a podcast episode I mean I I did I did I did come off and say that well if you got the money to throw away
But most interviewees if they’re interviewing for a job it’s because they want the job and they don’t have the money to just [ __ ] throw around like that yeah I mean like if you got the money if if like if it’s pocket change to you to pull up with bagels and donuts
Or coffee or whatever like for the team I mean like and and you got it’s if it’s for a job that where you’re getting paid like three four hundred thousand dollars a year like yeah okay you maybe you’re right Bagels probably don’t amount to much yeah it’s not like you’re buying
Them you’re just being considerate exactly you know what I’m saying exactly so the higher the pain the job the less it seems like a bribe and the less insecure you look but but even then Alex tell me yes or no would it not depend on uh how much you know about the company
Because if we’re talking about a gig That Pays 300 or 400 000 a year I mean wouldn’t you uh assume that a firm of that magnitude already has some type of budget already has some type of uh kitchen even on site that has bagels or has breakfast pastries and that [ __ ]
Right so it’s like it’s like at what point at what point does it become brown-nosing I mean really if if if you try to um to compensate and it really comes back to compensating for what you should be interviewing for but if you’re compensating for what you should be
Interviewing for then really you should be uh asking yourself if you have the qualifications to even follow through with the interview because if you find yourself having to set yourself apart only by what you can buy in terms of bagels or snacks or breakfast for your interviewers then then
The technical expertise that you need to interview for the job probably isn’t much probably is not much and and absolutely not I would definitely fear I not getting hired because of it if anything I would turn around and and study what it is that you actually need to interview for and not
What you can buy I mean because then any other person and their right mind could say well then [ __ ] Bagels I’m gonna pull up with uh the griddles [ __ ] [ __ ] Bagels I’m gonna pull up with [ __ ] Denny’s Grand Slams for all my interviewers right oh and does that mean they get the
Job even if they don’t know what the [ __ ] they’re interviewing for you just look stupid yeah no it doesn’t make sense you know what would be smart is if you maybe not people you work for but maybe like if you’re applying for this company maybe there’s other companies that compete with that company
Okay or other companies in that same industry and maybe you hit up professionals that you can talk to have lunch with not ask a job for because you already have a job interview yeah but just ask to ask about the job industry people kept talking about their job and
So then you could kind of try and get an idea of like what’s the job about what are people looking for like what are some of the things that employers hate yeah you know what I mean like actually research the field like don’t spend your time buying Bagels bro spend your time
Trying to figure out how to be an asset to the team oh for sure for sure I mean like how to be the best team player you can be absolutely or at least how to look like the best team player you can be absolutely and and I guess
That’s what really sticks out if if you’re interviewing you see I I guess it goes both ways really because an interview really should be going both ways the interviewer should be asking you questions about well what qualifies you for the job and then you as the interviewee as a professional looking
Out for their own best professional professional interest should also be asking questions about like well what does uh opportunities for advancements or opportunities for promotion look like right sure right so so if it really gets to that and it becomes more informational than uh um evaluation
Then I I don’t see why paying for uh paying for some bagels or a snack would be viewed as negatively but that I that’s only in the context of it being informational if a job isn’t tied to the end of it then really you just become a social researcher and that’s what what
We’ve done in the past is uh audit organizations right where we’re we’re trying to figure out what the hierarchical dynamic looks like where we interview people at the bottom interview people at the top and then try and meet where their power intersects in the middle and what type
Of control they keep and and that’s how you identify opportunities for growth and opportunities for uh creativity opportunities for further development but I mean it it doesn’t come at the end of a [ __ ] bagel no sir I mean it comes with professional interest so if again you’re interviewing for a job
Man be deeper exactly don’t don’t and don’t be shallow shallow as a bagel a bagel doesn’t go as far about as like cream cheese yeah man right uh definitely dig deeper um if you’re interviewing for just information then yeah I mean you’re being perhaps considerate and taking
Their time to interview them but you are necessarily in control of that situation you are interviewing them and so you know being considerate with a bagel or some snacks wouldn’t hurt your case because it would Insight it might incite more in-depth information for for what you’re seeking but um yeah as far as
That that becomes the difference between employment and investigation right yes sir beautifully said so let’s take a look at uh maybe one or two of these comments here and before we continue just want to give you a heads up if you find yourself in a similar situation as
Our hypothetical client here or you know someone who is an associate a friend or a family member you can refer them over on to us and our rates are more than reasonable we we can help you with anything from contract interpretation to negotiation to strategizing corporate uh movements up the corporate ladder right
It takes another perspective if you find yourself in a rut or inside of a box will help you think outside of that [ __ ] and it’s uh you can find us on Instagram at corporate Cowboys with a z on patreon it’s the corporate Cowboys podcast and there are a couple of links available
For donations if you would like to help keep this podcast free for others to listen to there’s a venmo PayPal cash app available should change if you want to write to us or send a gift that’s P.O box 3372 Rancho Cordova California 95741 hands together bless you child
That’s right that’s right so the first comment here reads in regards to the um whether or not it’s a good or a bad idea to send Donuts ahead of your presence right I I I I don’t know I laugh at the idea I laugh at the idea right and donuts ahead of
Your presence yes send Bagels send bagels or Donuts I mean they’re round they got a hole Yeah so a bagels or Donuts yeah where if I’m interviewing let’s say with uh for the sake of argument let’s say I’m interviewing for [ __ ] it McDonald’s that’s super basic right but I’m interviewing further uh
Administrative Department like in human resources or legal department right yeah and before the interview I want to send them Bagels You laugh no well you laugh but our hypothetical client is in that exact situation whether or not they should send Bagels what because Alex is coming through town like hey Alex is in town so watch out he’s gonna [ __ ] send uh uh poppy seed poppy seed bagels and
Blueberry bagels for you to uh uh uh remember him by not it makes no sense it makes no sense unless you were uh interviewing them for something more scholarly something academic if it’s just like an investigative interview I would say don’t jeopardize your prospects of getting hired with the
Appearance of bribing them yeah with baked goods don’t don’t do it this is not a good not a good look that’s not not a good look and the first comment uh kind of says that says her uh lpt that’s uh what is that a a life life Pro tip
Lpt right live pro tip your lawn should be green in more ways than one I mean that’s a that’s a pretty shitty a pretty shitty piece of advice it should be green in more ways than one yes I understand what they’re trying to say but the way they like the way they just
Posted it on its own that’s a life Pro tip your lawn should be green in more ways than one and that is it shouldn’t be green because you brought Bagels it should be green because you are a strong candidate for the position and you interview and you interview like a
[ __ ] see that doesn’t even make sense why I don’t like that because it’s like okay you shouldn’t he’s not saying that you shouldn’t emphasize the fact that I’m trying to bribe are you saying that shouldn’t be the only thing that you should emphasize that I’m trying to bribe you
And I’m saying okay and you’re saying is it you shouldn’t do it at all well I mean we could be the Devil’s Advocate right stupid analogy but we started off with the idea or we started off with the premise that the interviewee right the the uh the applicant is applying to this
Position only because like they don’t have money like they’re wanting to get hired in order to make money so I mean what’s to make us think that they even [ __ ] have money to buy Bagels right that’s true I was saying earlier like if you have the [ __ ] change to throw
Away like that on a box of uh uh a dozen Krispy Kremes or a dozen Noah’s Bagels with with the the works right [ __ ] uh uh egg egg sheets and bacon and and locks and just the works on it right if you have the money to throw away
Then do it it still does not guarantee you getting hired I bet you you could buy breakfast for the for the interview panel and interview poorly and not get hired I bet you if you had the money to throw away like that then you wouldn’t throw it away like
That you wouldn’t be interviewing like that wouldn’t be interviewing like that you have so much happiness you’d be like what a [ __ ] do I need to buy the bagels exactly but I’m a baller Alex that’s that’s only that’s too reasonable that’s that’s too logical I’m a [ __ ] baller
Would I need to buy you Bagels [ __ ] you buy me bagels for houses like Millions for how the hypothetical clients laid it out for us they make it sound like they’re trying to buy themselves like they’re trying to buy their way in to their good graces right it’s just but if
If that were the case if they already had money say they were a trust fund baby just for the sake of argument right then yeah like buying Bagels is not even a big deal like at that point it’s for a very small Niche people who are trust
Very very small niches very small Niche people who are trust babies that’s right that’s right yeah like okay yeah maybe it’s not a lot for you but nobody likes you anyways because you’re a trust baby so even if it is you We’re Not Gonna either We’re not gonna
Like you because you’re insecure because you’re a trust baby that’s right that’s right you know what I’m saying yeah so it’s like not a good look either way no not at all so either either you learn to carry your own water or uh or sorry trust babies but you guys hide yourselves anyways
Because you know that nobody likes you exactly envious yeah yeah I I feel like there is a there’s a lot of stigma that comes with being a trust fund baby and that is that a lot of trust fund kids they’re not really exposed to having to to fend for themselves or advocate for
Themselves right so they think being a trust fund kid I mean if if they can provide uh bagels or a snack for somebody else that that they’ll um have preference with them and and that’s not always the case I don’t know employers tend to be the exact opposite they don’t want somebody
That they need they want somebody that needs them very aptly put absolutely absolutely I mean like sometimes you got to play a part yeah you know sometimes you gotta make your boss feel like he’s the [ __ ] man yeah not because you’re brown-nosing but just because you add a little extra oomph to
Everything put yourself in that interviewer’s shoes put yourself in that in your boss’s shoes right you want someone who paid their way in where the next time you need something done and you ask them for it they’re gonna say nah right because in in their mind they have
This uh this conception of of having power over the team because they never actually interviewed for the position they bought their way in with Bagels right so so they they have this false sense of valuation that these Bagels might be tied to uh a higher what’s the term I’m looking for
A higher valuation than their actual technical or professional expertise that’s required for the position right they they think they can just make up for it or compensate for it with bagels and and that makes no sense because uh for the sake of argument when the bagels run out what they’re they’re just gonna
Get let go whether they’re no longer uh uh a valid employee you ain’t a bagel [ __ ] exact [ __ ] exactly and if [ __ ] ain’t nothing but hoes and tricks they’re gonna get kicked to the curb because they’re out of bagels yeah the [ __ ] you want them for what
You’re here for [ __ ] yeah oh Bagels all right that that about wraps up this uh episode here and um don’t hesitate to reach out to us again uh Alex any last words hey man peace love respect absolutely do it moving like a corporate Cowboy all my [ __ ] named Alex out there
If you need uh advice you can hit us up that’s what we’re here for you take care have a good one thank you
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