????MPW內(nèi)部網(wǎng)絡(luò)是一個邀請最有影響力的商界女性及時解答職業(yè)與領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力問題的在線社區(qū),。本周，我們的問題是：你犯過的最好的錯是什么,？以下是惠而浦公司,、Bed Bath&Beyond公司及Charlotte Russe公司董事格里?艾略特的回答。

????我犯過的最好的錯誤,，是在職業(yè)生涯剛開始時,，我干了一連串“傻事”。

????當(dāng)時我24歲,，是紐約大學(xué)（New York University）的大四學(xué)生,。當(dāng)時，我計劃在畢業(yè)后攻讀法律和商業(yè)學(xué)位,，因此根本沒打算找工作,。我走進(jìn)學(xué)生中心去買一瓶蘇打水，結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)那里擠滿了學(xué)生,，個個穿著正裝,，打著領(lǐng)帶，穿著鉛筆裙,，手里拿著一疊簡歷,。很明顯，我一不小心走進(jìn)了一處招聘會現(xiàn)場,。前來招聘的都是了不起的公司,，而我卻穿著牛仔背帶褲，腳蹬運(yùn)動鞋,，頭上圍了一條頭巾,，因?yàn)槲夷翘煸缟蠜]洗頭發(fā)。我想悄悄穿過大廳的時候,，一位招聘高管伸手?jǐn)r住了我,。他說：“你好，我叫湯尼?麥肯森,。你想來IBM工作嗎？”我回答說：“不了,，謝謝,。我只是想從自動售貨機(jī)里買一瓶可樂?！?/p>

????后來,，我們聊了很多關(guān)于那家公司的話題，但我告訴他,，他不可能說服我,。我已經(jīng)下定了決心,。那天晚上我與朋友們一起吃飯，他們恰好是Cobol語言程序員,。我順帶提到了這件事,，他們都不敢相信，我竟然如此愚蠢地拒絕了這家藍(lán)籌公司的面試,！那天晚上回到家后,，我從垃圾桶里找到了他的名片，給他回了一個電話,。

????經(jīng)過了一系列成功面試之后,，一位IBM經(jīng)理給我打電話，口頭提出了工作邀請,，并表示過幾天將有書面的正式邀請,。我激動萬分！當(dāng)我順便詢問工資情況時,，他含糊地說了一個數(shù)字：18,。在我看來，年薪18,000美元并不高（這可是很多年前?。?，我那會兒一直在利用課余時間打工掙學(xué)費(fèi)。于是,，我告訴他,，我的工資應(yīng)該更高，然后開始就此討價還價,。他大吃一驚,，解釋說所有實(shí)習(xí)生的入職薪酬都是固定的。我并不滿意,，于是我告訴他我要考慮一下,，然后再給他回電話。

????第二天,，我收到了IBM郵寄來的工作邀請,。結(jié)果是我誤解了對方的條件，我的薪酬是每月1,800美元,，而不是每年18,000美元,。這在當(dāng)時可算是高薪，所以,，我接受了那份工作,。我一直沒有告訴經(jīng)理那次的誤解，但幾個月后,，他將我安排到了銷售部門,，因?yàn)槲沂俏ㄒ灰粋€敢協(xié)商起薪的實(shí)習(xí)生,！那一次頗有喜劇性的錯誤，成就了我在IBM公司長達(dá) 22年的精彩職業(yè)生涯,。（財富中文網(wǎng)）

????譯者：劉進(jìn)龍/汪皓

????MPW Insider is one of several online communities where the biggest names in business answer timely career and leadership questions. This week, we ask: What’s the best mistake your ever made? The following is an answer by Gerri Elliot, board member of Whirlpool Corporation, Bed Bath and Beyond and Charlotte Russe.

????The best mistake I ever made was actually a series of gaffes when I was starting out my career.

????I was 24-years-old and a senior at New York University. At the time, I was planning to get a law and business degree after graduation and wasn’t even job hunting. I walked into the student center looking to grab a soda, but instead found a roomful of students wearing suits, ties, pencil skirts and holding a stack of resumes. Clearly, I had accidentally walked into a job fair. There were all these amazing companies, and there I was in denim overalls, sneakers, and a scarf on my head because I hadn’t washed my hair that morning. As I tried to slink across the hall, a recruiting executive stopped me with his hand outstretched. “Hi, my name is Donny McKenthan. Would you like to work for IBM?” I replied, ‘Uh, no thank you, I’m just going to get a Coke from that machine over there.’

????I ended up having a wonderful conversation with him about the company but I told him there was no way he could convince me. My course was set. I went out for dinner that night with friends who happened to be Cobol programmers. When I mentioned this story in passing, they couldn’t believe I was foolish enough to turn down interviewing with this amazing blue chip company! I went home that night, dug out his card from the garbage bin and called him back.

????After a series of successful interviews, an IBM manager called me to verbally extend an offer, which would be followed up in a few days in writing. I was thrilled! When I asked in passing what the salary was, he cryptically said $18. In my mind, I thought $18,000 a year was low (this was a long time ago!), given what I had been earning for part time work paying my way through NYU. So I told him I thought I should earn more, and started to negotiate. He was taken aback and explained that the starting salary for all trainees was set in stone. I wasn’t satisfied, so I told him I’d have to think about it and call him back.

????The next day, I received the offer letter in the mail. As it turns out, I misunderstood the offer — I would earn $1,800 a month, not $18,000 a year. That was a great salary back then, so of course, I took the job. I never did tell my manager about my mistake, but a few months later he asked me to be placed in sales because I was the only trainee who had tried to negotiate a starting salary! That comedy of errors ended up being a wonderful 22-year career at IBM.