Passing the torch

I have discovered that it's sometimes difficult to pass the torch to your successor.

Because I'm starting a graduate program in August, I have to leave my job as communications assistant. As my team prepares for this sad event, we are faced with the challenge of hiring a replacement.

Seems easy enough, right?

Well, I've worked here for three years. So I know a lot. And I do a lot. And I've done pretty well, if I do say so myself.

All of the applicants are getting ready to graduate soon, made numerous grammatical mistakes in their resumes, boast about things I doubt are true ("I have an expansive knowledge of...") and just don't seem as fantastic as I do. Aw, shucks.

Maybe it's because I don't really want to leave this job that it's so hard for me to find someone who looks worthy of filling my big shoes. If I wanted to get out of here stat, I might not care so much what my successor is like.

But I have no choice, so we've got to find someone. Luckily my boss makes that decision.

But I do get the opportunity to giggle gleefully at the writing test results when they come in. I designed the test, and I giggle thinking of the mistakes hidden throughout it.

If all the applicants flail around while figuring out how to cut the text from 445 words to 190 and find all the fact, capitalization and grammatical errors, I can't help but continue feeling like whoever succeeds me can't succeed.

But if someone really nails that thing, well, that person can have this job--and I'll feel good about passing the torch.