Or as Gayle wisely pointed out it might be interview sectioning to
differentiate those who "cut out" on an interview.
While there is no right or wrong to this question, I'm still not convinced that
it is a useful tool for you or HR to just have a routine "can cut (section) on
rotary microtome" check box on application the same as you do for a "current
address" or "reference contact" check box on a form. As I pointed out in my
original stupid reply, willfully breaking my own internal rule to avoid taking
up these gray (not black and white scientific) discussions, it would depend on
the circumstance (unknown person from unknown parts vs. someone from part of
the "histology community" well known). If I call "x" who I've known for years
about an applicant "y" who is applying and worked with "x" and am told "Oh! "y"
worked for us for last 4 years. He/she along with "z" and "zz" were our 3 who
sectioned (#) blocks a day. Devastated to see him/her go but know they had to
move along with husband/wife. Great cutter and everyone liked him/her". Having
him/her sit down to now cut 10 blocks to see "if they can cut" as a routine
question accomplishes WHAT?" If someone mysterious with no background walked
in, sure have them cut although there have been numerous fantastic options
already posted how to weed them out prior to sectioning a finger off. A
(purposely) mis-processed block with tissue now shrunken in from block face and
a question of "we need a recut, what would you do for this block" will let you
know in about 2 seconds whether or not this is a histotech impostor. Or looking
at a blandly stained, necrotic section under microscope and asking "interpret
this section" will tell you something of who or what this person is.
Personally, I'd far rather have a person who is energetic, scientifically and
intellectually confident and talented, personable, works well within the
"symphony" of histology and cuts 8 blocks and leaves a few wrinkles in this new
environment set-up than a (female or male) diva who cuts 10 perfect blocks but
who has that nearly imperceptible tint of not a complete team player or dubious
personality. A routine check box "can cut" I think is just a waste of time and
resources unless a particular circumstance warrants it.
Someone asked "would you hire a secretary without a wpm typing test".
Absolutely, beyond any doubt. If the transcriptionist next door wants a
secretary position and routinely types 3 times faster than is required as a
secretary; why a wpm test? If I call someone I know across state where this
applicant worked for last 10 years and "she's an immaculate and fast typist
beyond anything we've ever had and so sorry she had to move", I'd rather then
concentrate on more esoteric matrices than wpm. If he/she was a secretary 25
years ago and has been a house-husband or house-wife for 25 years and starting
back now or if someone walks in off the street to apply then beyond any doubt;
they take a typing test.
Someone pointed out that all musicians play their instrument in application to
test for the orchestra. Of course but for a completely different reason. You
could give an "oral test" to 1,000 musicians of which 999 would know how to
transpose 3 pitches up by 7 semi-tones or define a diatonic scale or identify
the composer if listening to an excerpt from the Overture-Midsummers Night
Dream. That's not what the interviewee is looking for. They are looking for the
ONE in 1,000 who has the exact pitch, timbre, affannato, vibrato, arioso and
legato from their specific instrument that only that particular person's
instrument and ability possesses. Only a finely trained ear (the conductor) has
that God-given ability of relative/perfect pitch or undefinable gift to
identify that one instrument and one ability to fit into the total music
experience. And there is only one way to find out; have him or her play.
Totally different scenario than in a histology lab unless the object is to see
how well the speed and noise of one person's cutting blends in with the
symphony of 75 other microtomes being used in the lab at the same time.
Then you start to ponder, as did a fine mind out there who understood the
butterfly comment, if a current 30-year superstar of histology walked into a
lab looking for a histology job, would they take a cutting ( sectioning?) test?
If Yo-Yo Ma or James Galway or Itzhak Perlman or John Cerminaro had ever walked
in to "test" for an orchestral position, surely they wouldn't be tested just to
see if "can they play" a cello or flute or violin or French Horn or even how
well they play on that particular day in that particular environment.
Maybe what I'm mis-understanding is that apparently there are A LOT of
histology wannabees, walking in off the street trying to "sneak into
histology"? and if so that seems like there should be some manner of response
to that situation although not sure what it is. But something short of sitting
down to cut and have them slice a finger. And if accredited histology schools
are putting out graduated students with HT certifications, and have never cut a
block or only 3 blocks or trained to routinely cut thick and thin, then that
seems a matter for the school, NSH, NACCLS, ASCP, CAP, state agencies, etc and
not the histonet.
In the end, I think there are potentially far better ways (and there have been
numerous great suggestions already) to ascertain information about an applicant
than a routine (check-accomplished cutting 10 blocks) check-off box although
depending on the situation, I'm not at all against cutting blocks at
application if warranted.
If the Samurai Pathologist is out there reading still; any idea over your
career, about how many glass slides have you viewed under a microscope since
the first? Your replies are always top-notch, entertaining and informative. And
hope with each new job you don't have to show someone you can pass a test of
which slide shows normal liver and which slide shows cirrhotic liver in your
interview.
One day about a year ago, I sat down and did some fairly accurate (I think)
estimation of "how many blocks have I cut in 45 years in pathology" . Came up
with a number a bit above 1,100,000 blocks (paraffin, frozen OCT, glycol
methacrylate, EPON). So if I come looking for a bench histology job, hope I can
skip the routine, required "can section?" check box. Would rather spend the
time talking about the greatest sports franchise in the history of all sports;
The St. Louis Baseball Cardinals. Summer of 1967 cut my first paraffin block
while on high school summer break (after a few weeks learning to hone my steel
knife with a Belgian stone and sharpening/stropping with a barber razor strop).
And in summer of 1967 I also watched an unhitable Bob Gibson lead the Cards to
yet another World Series.
Ray
Phenopath Labs
Seattle WA
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