Expressions with the word BESIDE

You're the boss of a big company and one day you have to do what any boss is supposed to do soon or later: hire a new employee. Out of many candidates there's someone you've known for a while and have a relationship that goes beyond business. So what should you do? Hire him for personal reasons even though you've interviewed other better skilled people?

While discussing that issue with some of your business partners, you finally decide what's the best thing to do in that situation and here's what you say: I know he's a nice guy and he's closer to me than any other candidate, but that's beside the point. I have to be professional here and hire the one whose profile fits better for this company.

When you say something's beside the point, you're saying that it's in no way connected to the subject that is being discussed. So even though you pointed out the reason why you were having a hard time trying to decide whether or not to hire that known person, you think that shouldn't be connected to your decision.

Now keep pretending you're the boss of a company. You opened places for new managers and have received many resumes. Among all those hundreds of resumes, one of them attracts your interest. Like many other bosses, you want to search that candidate's history before calling him over for an interview. So you look for his last job experience and get the phone number from his last boss. Then you ask him why he's no longer working for him and whether or not he'd recommend him to you.

What you got as an answer doesn't make you very happy though. Despite being apparently your best choice, that candidate didn't write a pretty story in his last job. He didn't get along with most coworkers, would always call in sick and get late for work, get into many arguments with clients and the list could go on and on. So here's your reaction: Too bad that guy has a black mark beside his name. He seemed to have everything to make it here.

When you have a black mark beside your name, it means there's something negative associated with you. Talk to you next time. Take care!