014 -- A Hiring Guide

Excerpt from "Cimbrian Foreign Service Administrator's Handbook, Chapter 12: Labor"

The Hiring Process

Foreign service administrators know that good management can only go so far in the establishment of a service division. The personnel choices made at the beginning of a post's history can lead to the success or failure of their diplomatic mission. Good decisions result in a smoothly running outpost, while poor ones can result in a situation even so troublesome as to lead to diplomatic miscues and eventual dismissal. The key, then, is to understand the human resources that are available and how best to utilize them . . .


. . . Ideally, a post's staff would be composed entirely of Cimbrian citizens, due to their national loyalty, work ethic, and general intelligence. However, this handbook recognizes that this is possible at only the largest and most well-funded embassies, and that in most situations it will be necessary to rely on labor drawn from the local work force.

The condition and suitability of the local work force can vary greatly depending on where a post is located. Population density, hostility, level of education, presence or absence of wealth -- all of these factors must be taken into account when beginning to draw from the labor pool. Also, diplomatic administrators must consider the increased importance of some tasks as compared to others. In all cases, security (both personal and national) is of paramount importance, and the employees chosen for these sensitive positions should receive the most in-depth evaluation process. Other tasks, such as grounds-keeping, do not warrant such careful scrutiny . . .


. . . Native populations will usually break down into several groups. The following is a brief analysis of these groups and their suitability for various levels of employment by the Cimbrian Foreign Service.

Cimbrian Citizens

As mentioned earlier, the ideal employees for the foreign service. Products of the Cimbrian educational system, their intelligence and loyalty to the state are usually quite high. The average Cimbrian's moral strength and work ethic being stronger than a comparable native, make sure to fill your most vital positions with Cimbrian nationals. It can be expensive, however, as most must be enticed into the less-civilized portions of the world with lucrative wages.

Foreign service policy forbids non-citizens from holding several civil posts such as prefect, public relations director, communications director, and any other task that involves handling of sensitive data. Please see appendix 12-3 for a complete list of these regulations.

Cimbrian Convicts

The dregs of Cimbrian society, these convicted felons have chosen a term of exile over death or imprisonment in Cimbria proper. Caution is advised. Close study of their character and case history can lead to discovery of a few valuable persons amenable to rehabilitation, but the vast majority of such convicts are useless for anything but menial record keeping and facility maintenance. Under no circumstances should a person suspected of subversive tendencies be employed in any capacity!

Agathians

Agathians, while widely considered as being almsot as intelligent as Cimbrians, suffer from an unfortunate lack of proper nationalist commitment. Their people have a centuries-long tradition of disrespect for authority that can make them dangerous in certain diplomatic capacities. It is recommended to employ them only in roles that involve impartial analysis due to their tendency towards radical thought. Do not be afraid to remove an Agathian from his post if he shows any signs of suspicious or subversive behavior.

Agathian Slaves

Agathian slaves are an unpredictable labor force at best, and will only be an option to the foreign service administrator in certain locales. Either contracted or bought outright from a dealer, they come is several classes depending on their skills and health. Due to the nature of Agathian slavery, skilled slaves can often be found to fill clerical positions, intelligence analysis, and low-level administration posts as well as more common menial tasks.

If an administrator chooses to employ slaves, they should be sure to familiarize themselves with the local slave grades, as well as make sure to find a reputable dealer. The foreign service recommends contracting over an outright purchase of slaves as the infrastructure costs of feeding and maintaining slaves can become prohibitive.

Citizens of Asfar

The citizenry of Asfar is generally divided into five houses, or tribes: Josite, Ebelite, Abdun, Endite, and Artmar. It is generally impossible to distinguish between them physically (although the Endites are usually characterized as having darker skin) but most have some sort of marking on their clothing or other accessory displaying their house affiliation. Of these five, the Josite are usually considered superior in intellect and work ethic, although still generally inferior to the Cimbrian. Ebelites can be considered as well. The Artmar are often possessed by a religious zeal that renders them useless as far as diplomatic employment is concerned, while the Abdun and the Endites are so unreliable as to be useless as well.

A notable exception: when traveling in Asfar, Abdun and Endite guides are vital for passage through the desert and along the rivers, respectively. The rampant crime in Asfar makes these precautions necessary. It is advisable to make your payment to such guides in small sums over time, or else your guides may sell your location to the very bandits you hire them to avoid.

The Tel

The Tel are a primitive, tribal race from the North/Northeastern regions of Eos. Easily identifiable by their brown complexion, dark hair and eyes, Tel are generally considered an inferior work force. The foreign service cautions against casual employment of Tel in any occupation other than the manual labor to which they are well-suited.

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