Gofer
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- This article describes jobs that include running errands; for other senses, see Gofer (disambiguation).
A
gofer or
go-fer is an
employee who is often sent on errands. The term originated in
North America, with the phrase
dogsbody being a similar
British term, and
dog robber an
American military one. ("Gofer" reflects the likelihood of instructions to
go for coffee,
dry cleaning, or stamps, or to make other straightforward or familiar procurements.) While often regarded by employers as a
menial, many gofers see the job not only as an achievable position (similar to "working in the mailroom") for "starting at the bottom" of an industry, but also (especially in the entertainment industries) as a means of gaining the attention of influential figures who may be dramatically helpful to the gofer:
Edward Burns's submission of his first self-financed production to
Robert Redford is described as a successful use of the strategy.
Likewise a "gopher" may refer to a junior member of an organisation who generally receive the most vexing and thankless work. Firms with a top-heavy management structure, having not enough junior lawyers to take care of menial yet necessary tasks can be referred to as having "too many loafers and not enough gophers".
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