Vice Guildmaster

Career

Qualifications

Though most of the baseline requirements for such a position match the expectations of an outside observer (reading, writing, arithmetic, etc.), once the specifics become involved things quickly diverge. Though a guild is of course interested in potential vice guildmasters who have a familiarity with their subject area, general business acumen, and social graces, these are now secondary concerns compared to initial connections. Vice guilmastery is seen as an excellent training ground for the children of nobility to learn the tools of their eventual trade with significantly reduced consequences for failures, no disruption to the status quo in taking responsibility from another to give them, etc. and so most guilds have their pick among young nobles from their area, and often even several from further afield vying for the position. Almost always it is the most prestigious of these who is appointed to the position rather than the most qualified. Only in extreme circumstances is a commoner seen in such a position.

Career Progression

Due to their abnormal recruitment pool, very few of the world's vice guildmasters have a connection between their time in the role and their future position beyond the potential to lose out entirely if their performance is noticeably bad, or perhaps worse than a siblings'. For those few outside the nobility who take such a position, it represents an opportunity for advancement so great that they could write their own ticket, and the potential for one of the greatest professional falls that can be experienced.

Payment & Reimbursement

The usual occupants of vice guildmaster positions often draw tiny salaries or none at all due to their familial wealth sources and the connection being forged through them between the two great enterprises. Those few outside the norm are often there due to an overwhelming need that only they can meet, and so are usually compensated accordingly.

Other Benefits

The nobles who often hold the position derive effectively no prestige or social recognition for their work simply because it is so ubiquitous among their peers. The commoners who hold it are almost universally viewed as extremely competent, and often further increase in status due to rubbing shoulders so frequently with the aristocracy.

Type

Administration / Management