The first question you should ask is "Why is Sotheby's Inc. advertising an opening for an administrative assistant on Craigslist?" This isn't your lame old, ornery art auctioneer we're talking about. This is Sotheby's Inc., the world's largest auctioneer of fine and decorative art, the snootiest of the snoot, the assembly of dignitaries so modeled and profound that they dare not ever, ever, ever fail to properly distinguish between the works of Manet and Monet.
But it's there—Sotheby's Inc. requires a "Skilled and dedicated Administrative Assistant … for its New York office"—and they've gone about announcing such on Craigslist.
Which brings us to our second question: How in the hell did the first administrative assistant not know how to properly copy and paste a passage of text?
A Sotheby's job opening posted onto Craigslist Manhattan last night, one that on the surface looked pretty standard. The ideal applicant, Sotheby's wrote, would be coordinating, planning, and supporting daily operational administrative functions. They'd schedule meetings, coordinate travel, and perform all the associated tasks expected of an administrative assistant—only in this case, because it's Sotheby's, they'd perform those tasks with their nose tilted slightly up towards the heavens. The job paid $16 to 20 an hour and was made available to students.
But the iteration of the job offering that you can see on Craigslist right now in actuality is nothing at all like the one that originally went onsite. Evidently, the individual put in charge of that operation had a little trouble formatting the listing.
Update: Here's your answer, confirmed to Gawker by a Sotheby's rep:
We can confirm that it is not a Sotheby’s job posting. We don’t hire for a position of that title, and we don’t use Craigslist as a recruiting tool.We have also checked with our colleagues at Sotheby’s International Realty and they confirmed it wasn’t them either. Our guess is that this is some kind of a hoax.
Here it is in full:
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Sotheby's Inc. requires a Skilled and dedicated Administrative Assistant, Office Executive and Receptionist for its New York office. Applicant would be coordinating, planning and supporting daily operational and administrative functions. Scheduling meetings, coordinating travel and managing all essentials tasks. We require someone who is highly focused and able to identify goals and priorities and resolve issues in initial stages. Highly skilled in greeting guests with a positive attitude and helping them with their needs. Should be proficient in Microsoft Office. Position opens to students. Send in your updated resume.
Mr Debras. Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Copy and paste the job description above in the space provided for it
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Did you get that?
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:03 PM): okay I will do it now
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:04 PM): Compensation: $15-$20/Hr + Attractive Wages
Sotheby's Inc. requires a Skilled and dedicated Administrative Assistant, Office Executive and Receptionist for its New York office. Applicant would be coordinating, planning and supporting daily operational and administrative functions. Scheduling meetings, coordinating travel and managing all essentials tasks. We require someone who is highly focused and able to identify goals and priorities and resolve issues in initial stages. Highly skilled in greeting guests with a positive attitude and helping them with their needs. Should be proficient in Microsoft Office. Position opens to students. Send in your updated resume.
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Copy and paste the job description above in the space provided for it
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Did you get that?
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:03 PM): okay I will do it now
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:04 PM): Compensation: $15-$20/Hr + Attractive Wages
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:07 PM): I am trying to copy and paste the information
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:09 PM): Okay
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:09 PM): Let me know when you are done with that
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:10 PM): I'm having problems copying and pasting the info. I try to highlighted adn then go to edit and click copy. can you help me please?
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Sotheby's Inc. requires a Skilled and dedicated Administrative Assistant, Office Executive and Receptionist for its New York office. Applicant would be coordinating, planning and supporting daily operational and administrative functions. Scheduling meetings, coordinating travel and managing all essentials tasks. We require someone who is highly focused and able to identify goals and priorities and resolve issues in initial stages. Highly skilled in greeting guests with a positive attitude and helping them with their needs. Should be proficient in Microsoft Office. Position opens to students. Send in your updated resume.
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Copy and paste the job description above in the space provided for it
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Did you get that?
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:03 PM): okay I will do it now
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:04 PM): Compensation: $15-$20/Hr + Attractive Wages
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:07 PM): I am trying to copy and paste the information
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:09 PM): Okay
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:09 PM): Let me know when you are done with that
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:10 PM): I'm having problems copying and pasting the info. I try to highlighted adn then go to edit and click copy. can you help me please?
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:11 PM): Just click and drag the content I sent to you from our conversation menu and as soon as the job description i sent to you has been highlighted press "control + c" or right click and click on copy
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:12 PM): Hope am clear?
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:12 PM): is there an easier way to do it
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:13 PM): Am afraid there isnt. Unless you have to type it out
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Sotheby's Inc. requires a Skilled and dedicated Administrative Assistant, Office Executive and Receptionist for its New York office. Applicant would be coordinating, planning and supporting daily operational and administrative functions. Scheduling meetings, coordinating travel and managing all essentials tasks. We require someone who is highly focused and able to identify goals and priorities and resolve issues in initial stages. Highly skilled in greeting guests with a positive attitude and helping them with their needs. Should be proficient in Microsoft Office. Position opens to students. Send in your updated resume.
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Copy and paste the job description above in the space provided for it
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:02 PM): Did you get that?
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:03 PM): okay I will do it now
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:04 PM): Compensation: $15-$20/Hr + Attractive Wages
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:07 PM): I am trying to copy and paste the information
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:09 PM): Okay
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:09 PM): Let me know when you are done with that
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:10 PM): I'm having problems copying and pasting the info. I try to highlighted adn then go to edit and click copy. can you help me please?
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:11 PM): Just click and drag the content I sent to you from our conversation menu and as soon as the job description i sent to you has been highlighted press "control + c" or right click and click on copy
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:12 PM): Hope am clear?
mejia.saima (Apr 29 2:12 PM): is there an easier way to do it
Mrs. Debra Delman (Apr 29 2:13 PM): Am afraid there isnt. Unless you have to type it out
Sotheby's Inc. required a skilled and dedicated administrative assistant, office executive and receptionist for its New York office. Applicant would be coordinating, planning and supporting daily operational and administrative functions. Scheduling meetings, coordinating travel and managing all essentials tasks. We require someone who is highly focused and able to indentify goals and priorities and resolve issues in initial stages. Highly skilled in greeting guests with a positive attitude and help them with their needs. Should be proficient in Microsoft office. Position open to students. Send in your resume.
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The superfluous discourse was deleted Tuesday morning. What's left is the listing.
Here's another skill Sotheby's may want to add: Must know how to properly post to Craigslist
Image via Twitter/MichaelHenley