I have heard countless times from people on the verge of losing their jobs or newly unemployed that they “will take any job”. I have nether seen a person who makes such a pronouncement actually taking “any job”. Most likely this falls into the category of “honey, I will do anything for you!” in other words a deceptive lie to confuse, placate, get a temporary advantage and in general buy more time.
Taking Any Job?
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Hi Ben. (I'm here via the link you posted on TE Networking.) I don't know the circumstances of the countless times you hear people say they will “take any job,” and then not do so. I don't have any idea what sort of jobs they are refusing, or what their reasons are.
I think you may be overlooking something when you classify statements like “I will take any job,” as deceptive lies. In many cases, they are made by people who are so frightened they can't think clearly. They may be perfectly sincere in their willingness to do any sort of work they can imagine somebody hiring them to do, but their fear, or whatever difficulties led up to the crisis point, limits the range of their imagination. Most people expect “any job” to be understood as “any job for which I am qualified, which I can do without injuring myself or others, which is not against the law,” and I don't think there's anything deceptive or self-serving about that.
Likewise, a person who says “Honey, I will do anything for you!” can be sincere without having enough understanding for it to be a plausible offer. I once saw “I know my smoking bothers you, so I'll just quit,” turn into an enormous mess. The guy said it because he wanted to make his fiancee happy, and had thought it would be no big deal for him to quit smoking if he really wanted to. He wasn't lying. People use a lot of cues to detect when somebody is lying, and they just don't work to catch somebody who is sincerely mistaken.
Laura, there was an element of humor in my post. I am aware of the fact that the reality might more fragmented and complex.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you on this one. I think that you are taking an unnecessarily literal approach to this comment. While it is true that these people are being somewhat disingenuous, and the might not take any possible job, I do not believe that they are making a conscious decision to confuse, placate, get a temporary advantage over anyone. Someone who says they will “take any job” is saying two things: one, they recognize that they might not be able to find their dream job and are willing to consider jobs from a wider pool, and two, they recognize that having any job is better than having no job.
It can be frustrating for someone who has a pointed resume but an open mind to find jobs outside their proven realm of competence. Saying that they “will take any job” is a way of expressing that desire. Yes it's poorly worded and tinged with fear: the fear that they will not get the option on any job. Perhaps you could consider people in the precarious position of joblessness or near joblessness with a bit more compassion and a bit less cynicism. I think we all could use a bit more of that.
Rosa, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I was trying to inject some humor rather than sarcasm in this situation. I think humor is the pinnacle of compassion, it allows us to cope with joblessness and most other calamities.
lol. i don't know anyone who would do that, but i know some people who say that i will take any job…including me, and yet here i am not doing a telemarketing job or working at mc donalds for the summer. i just figure that if i get desperate enough i will do just about anything. i think that someone has to be pushed that much further to find a solution to that need/desire. i mean everyone wants a job because we need to be self sufficient…but at what cost? sometimes i think it's because of my ego, my laziness, my requirements that is preventing me from not working right now, but i don't think that's the entire story. i mean i know some people who have done some horrible things just to survive…including me, but i just think that need has to be there for the scales to tip.
you right about your concluding point about the tipping scale
Sorry. I completely missed the joke. One of the problems of written communication is that often others will read a piece very differently than we intend to write it.
You are right Rosa, it is easy to me misunderstood.