I've been lucky enough never to work with a Melissa type myself, but I bet there are so many out there.

I reckon they get jobs by bigging themselves up on their CVs and then getting the corporate-speak right at the interview.. and then once they're in, they're v difficult to get rid of - cos they're exactly the type to complain to HR/go to tribunals etc.

Weird to think of how many real-life Melissas (both male and female) are out there in high-level jobs, earning decent salaries when actually they're useless/

Anyone here worked with/for one?

And I wonder who Melissa will work for now. Surely no-one will touch her with a bargepole after this?

I think Melissa came across quite well on YBF; I think having a year to reflect on things and see how badly her behaviour-a-year-ago came across has definitely had an effect.

Yes I agree. She has changed her appearance as well.
She worked for Tesco. They had a bust up with northern foods Rakusen products (see Google). I wonder if she had to do with it.
Tesco now has to import from the US an inferior food product and most likely at a higher price and lower profit margin.

I would have thought Melissa to be totally unemployable......but her makeover would fool anyone, it makes her totally unrecognisable. Ronnie Biggs would have killed for such a transformation when he was 'on the trot' in Brazil.

I have worked with a few Melissas in the last 10 years, her inability to see her weaknesses and learn from others is commonplace. She does have an over inflated opinion of her talents, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
She actually reminds me of my grandfather in so many ways, stubborness, irritability, poor listening skills, confrontational etc.

He is a truly sh*t driver and a danger to any other road user and pedestrian......but does he listen?
His retort is always the same, "If I'm such a bad driver, why have I never had an accident"?
Unfortunately, last christmas, during dinner, I'd had a couple of glasses of pinot too many and said "I know.......but no doubt you've seen thousands in your rear view mirror"

He refused to kiss me as he drove away from our house........Kangarooing down the road whilst knocking over two parking cones.

Large organisations, both private and public, seem stuffed with idiots like Mellissa One problem is that once recruited its very hard to then get rid as that would be admitting you were mistaken to have taken them on in the first place. Eventually they often end up being "promoted out of harms way" - which is even more galling as competant people end up in lower paid jobs simply becouse they are good at them and crap people end up in well paid jobs as they are useless

Anyone know what she's doing now?

I work with one, we don't earn loadsa of money and she isn't that powerful but she puts in a grievance against anyone who dares to challenge or disagree with her.

She is lazy and spends all her time waiting for others to trip up and then she is in there.

I've dared to challenge her behaviour and lack of motivation and been called aggressive and a career climber.

Melissa's behaviour was despicable on leaving the boardroom.

these types are a pain...all you can do is keep detailed notes on what happened for when they file their "grievances"....

Unfortunately, I've worked with people like that, and rather than deal with their behaviour, bosses often try to keep them happy and put them in a cushy role where they can't do much damage.

One I worked for kept complaining I was "negative", every single time I pointed out a possible flaw in our business practice. I was usually proved right, but that was never acknowledged, she just made it an opportunity to change everything and present what people had been trying to tell her all along as her own ideas.

You can't win with someone like that, so I'd advise people to look for other jobs and get out before they drag you down with them.

Lol, hilarious, love the bold bits

I thought the opposite - truly astounded at how she continues to delude herself. Loved it when she couldn't help herself saying "oh yeah i've done loads of successful pitches since the show" something that no one with an ounce of sanity could believe.

She was the most annoying contestant ever on the show and that is saying something with that freak Laura on this years show not to mention the other cretins down the years.

I haven't watched any of this series of the Apprentice, but I happened to see the last five minutes of this week's episode while I was waiting for another programme. I was amazed at how horrid Melissa was, and it was obvious from the first 30 seconds that she was going to be sacked. I think I might even go and watch the whole episode on i-player just to see how awful she was with all the other people.

Er, ah do dis for a livin!!??

Yes of course you do, but simply doing something doesnt mean youre good.

I have worked with someone similar. He thought he knew so much more than he did and was literally bursting with confidence. What was so dangerous about him was that he thought he could bullshit his way through the day. I had to wrestle the telephone from him on a couple of occasions because he was talking utter tripe to clients. On top of this he had a habit of nodding off at his desk, working whichever hours he felt like as well as using some of the company time to carry out his other business. I kept a list, with the approval of one of my bosses, and it was enough to get rid of him. I was then given his job!

A common problem at work is encouraging people to take responsibility.

The opposite problem is those who too willingly take responsibility, and then totally c*ck it up.

Sorting that out is called good management, and when it happens to goes virtually unnoticed, with no credit to the manager.

[quote=billio;45280825]One I worked for kept complaining I was "negative", every single time I pointed out a possible flaw in our business practice. I was usually proved right, but that was never acknowledged, she just made it an opportunity to change everything and present what people had been trying to tell her all along as her own ideas.[quote]

My boss calls me negative if I try to point out the potential flaws in a proposal. It's not that I'm trying to be negative, but sometimes when an idea is suggested, you can see glaring great holes in it that you could drive a truck through! However, by pointing these out I'm being negative and not a team player! In those situations, all you can do is let them go ahead, wait for it all to fall apart and then bite your lip VERY hard, to avoid saying 'I told you so!'

Sheer genius.

I think the trick is to say "that won't work, but if we try this it will" - being someone who comes up with solutions is always going to be more impressive than someone who only comes up with problems