Ethical Question. Cancel The title field is required!

1. Jeffrey Gyselman

   

   2 posts
   
   1/14/2013 12:01 PM

   I received a forwarded e-mail the other day that was originally sent to our HR/Admin. department. The e-mail was from a fella that was interested to obtaining an assistant or superintendent's position at the club that I am at. I am the superintendent at this club and I have an assistant and there was has not been any postings or openings for these positions. Along with his resume, this gentleman was saying how qualified he was and what a great candidate he would be for this club. You know the typical thing you would say to sell yourself to the people that do the hiring. The club has been very happy with my department and with everyone in it. What I am getting at is that I find this e-mail, the way that this person went about inquiring about these positions, unethical. I am sure that he did not mean any harm, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I would like to hear your thoughts on this. Am I out of line or am I correct to find this unethical? Thanks
   
   Jeff Gyselman
   Golf Course Superintendent
   Black Bull Golf Club
   Bozeman MT

   
   
   
   
2. Mark Van Lienden

   

   14 posts
   
   1/14/2013 12:01 PM

   I too feel that the way you have presented the situation would be unethical and I would email this person back and tell them so.

   
   
   
   
3. Anthony Nysse

   

   1 posts
   
   1/14/2013 1:01 PM

   I wouldn't hold back. This seems to be happening more and more with the economy and I think it's the duty of the GCSAA to make it clear that this is unethical and will not be tolerated.

   
   
   
   
4. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   1/14/2013 2:01 PM

   My question is, is this person a GCSAA member? If so then let GCSAA know about it, if I remember our code of ethics, it does state that members will refrain from soliciting positions that have not been posted. Of course I might give the guy the benefit of not knowing this. I remember when I was coming out of school, I wasn't really aware of the proper way to go about job hunting.
   
   If he is not a member, I don't know what GCSAA could do in that regard, but maybe you can contact him about it. Maybe GCSAA can give us some tips on how to let our HR dept. and other management team members how it is typically done in "our" business. I would give thanks to your HR person forwarding it to you.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
5. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   1/14/2013 5:01 PM

   I would contact him and explain your position. If he is after your job that is against our code of ethics and if he is applying for any assistants job or crew member position the applicaiton should have gone through you not HR.
   
   I would be firm but keep in mind he may just be looking for any job whatsoever and not know about our code of ethics.

   
   
   
   
6. Venne Gregory

   
   1/15/2013 6:01 AM

   Jeff,
   I would agree that this would be unethical. I would also have to say this is also a didn't know better. I am very aware of your course, and the situation it has been in. I used to live and work in that area. There were many rumors going around that there was no one in your position, and the position was looking to be filled. I too looked for any information as to who was the super. I eventually did find the info out, but I would dismiss this as someone who was just sending their resume assuming the rumors to be true. I wouldn't take it to heart as someone trying to take your job, just someone who was misinformed. Hope this helps.

   
   
   
   
7. Ashton Alan W

   
   1/15/2013 8:01 AM

   Gregory Venne said: Jeff,
   I would agree that this would be unethical. I would also have to say this is also a didn't know better. I am very aware of your course, and the situation it has been in. I used to live and work in that area. There were many rumors going around that there was no one in your position, and the position was looking to be filled. I too looked for any information as to who was the super. I eventually did find the info out, but I would dismiss this as someone who was just sending their resume assuming the rumors to be true. I wouldn't take it to heart as someone trying to take your job, just someone who was misinformed. Hope this helps.

   
   
   Jeff,
   
   Even with this information from Gregory, it is still up to the member to check if a member Superintendent is currently in the position... I would check with GCSAA to see if this person is a member and then reply accordingly.

   
   
   
   
8. Jeffrey Gyselman

   

   2 posts
   
   1/15/2013 9:01 AM

   Like I mentioned before, I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I am not worried about someone trying to take my job from me, but feel he should have gathered up more information about the club before submitting a cover letter and resume. I heard about the opening at this club last year. Not knowing the official status of the previous superintendent, I called sales reps. etc. then I contacted the GM of the club to have it confirmed or denied. Then I went from there. I did not want to step on any toes. I believe he meant no harm, but sending out mass e-mails to clubs all over with out knowing their status is the wrong way to go about it. My name is listed in the GCSAA Membership Directory and so is his. I know because I looked it up.
   I appreciate all of your thoughts. Thanks.
   
   Jeff Gyselman
   Golf Course Superintendent
   Black Bull Golf Club
   Bozeman MT