Had my interview today with one of the govt departments. I mentioned in there that people would always say to me "Oh, I'm not really big on minutes. I don't like doing them." My response was ALWAYS "Show me someone who does! Minutes aren't enjoyable but they're a part of the job!"
One of the panel members in my interview actually ENJOYS taking minutes. First person I've ever met who does. LOL The panel chair actually said to me "Well, now you can go back and tell everyone you've finally met someone who DOES enjoy minutes." *snort*
I'm the second person, then. I rather enjoy taking minutes and then knocking them into shape into a document someone might, if not enjoy reading, learn something from and/or serve as a record discussions and actions.
I've always maintained they would be more interesting if they were allowed to be written in present tense, active voice. Past passive is a ticket to yawnsville.
I wouldn't say I enjoyed doing them (frequently, in most of my jobs for 30 yrs plus), but they do have the advantage that taking them keeps you awake. If there's no way of getting out of the meeting, and usually there isn't.
Also, if you have an axe to grind a POV, writing the minutes enables you to put some shaping on what happens next and how. And to write history - not just a privilege of the victors. For persons involved in the political side of their jobs, that's a plus. At the very least, it enables the minute-taker to force some organisation onto chaos (been there, done that, for sure).
No, I didn't enjoy doing them. But I got quite good.
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Had my interview today with one of the govt departments. I mentioned in there that people would always say to me "Oh, I'm not really big on minutes. I don't like doing them." My response was ALWAYS "Show me someone who does! Minutes aren't enjoyable but they're a part of the job!"
One of the panel members in my interview actually ENJOYS taking minutes. First person I've ever met who does. LOL The panel chair actually said to me "Well, now you can go back and tell everyone you've finally met someone who DOES enjoy minutes." *snort*
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I know, I'm strange.
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I wouldn't say I enjoyed doing them (frequently, in most of my jobs for 30 yrs plus), but they do have the advantage that taking them keeps you awake. If there's no way of getting out of the meeting, and usually there isn't.
Also, if you have an axe to grind a POV, writing the minutes enables you to put some shaping on what happens next and how. And to write history - not just a privilege of the victors. For persons involved in the political side of their jobs, that's a plus. At the very least, it enables the minute-taker to force some organisation onto chaos (been there, done that, for sure).
No, I didn't enjoy doing them. But I got quite good.
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