Friday, May 25, 2012

Sometimes I'm just happy that the jargon is meaningless to so many others, too

From Randall Munroe's webcomic, xkcd (click on the link to see the
cartoon in situ -- and in order to read Mr. Munroe's embedded comment).

I've spent a lot of time reading LinkedIn profiles in recent weeks, trying to see how I can catch the social networking wave and possibly some actual business as well. I am continually amazed by the gibberish that passes for job descriptions. When I read some of these profiles I wish I could actually reach out and grab the person by the neck and throttle him (or her) and scream what do you really do?

But it's not just LinkedIn profiles that are baffling me. I took a deposition of a young man a few weeks back -- nice enough kid -- about the age of Oldest Son. He testified about his job (under oath, mind you) and I didn't understand a damn syllable of it. Something to do with marketing. And he travels. A lot. But I could develop no understanding of what he actually does.

Is this the new economy? As soon as someone figures out what you do, they stop paying for it? Come to think of it, Oldest Son is a consultant -- and I have no clue what he does either.

This might explain a lot about my law practice.

6 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

speaking of linkedin, d#1 is here now reading her ex-boss's profile and discovered he took credit for all her compliance manuals! ouch!

smiles, bee
tyvc

The Curmudgeon said...

There's no false modesty on LinkedIn. Falsehoods perhaps, but no false modesty.

Jean-Luc Picard said...

I'm on Linked In as well!

Anonymous said...

Your blog has turn out to be part of my everyday routine, i am thrilled when i come across a new post of yours on my rss reader, just thought i would let you know. thanks

The Curmudgeon said...

Anonymous, you've really made my day today.

Kacey said...

I have been trying to tell my children (middle aged all) that I think some of the values of the younger generation are misled or just plain missing. They think we are old fuddy-duddies and too old to understand the world today. I think they have been reading those same job descriptions and don't want to admit that they don't understand anything either. I, too, love your writing and your grasp of life in the passing lane.