Anyone remember a game called Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
It was developed by Brøderbund Software in the early 1980’s (Click on the picture above if you want to check out the new App Store version)
Those cool guys at Brøderbund also built Lode Runner…ahhhh, that was a great game…
…but I digress!
In the Carmen Sandiego game you had to track down this seemingly impossible-to-find villain called Carmen Sandiego – she was a great female role-model…like a Bond-Girl who never ended up dead.
It was designed around an idea to get kids interested in Geography, and I guess Travel. But I mostly remember it being difficult, tricky, at times frustrating, and I found the villain – Ms Sandiego – could elude me despite every attempt to track her down! (Disclaimer – I was 8 yrs old in 1983, so Attention Span was a foreign concept to me!)
~
Later on, in my first proper job, working in a Biotech business, the Medical Director was known as the Scarlet Pimpernel by staff and Board-members alike…
They seek him here, they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
Is he in heaven or is he in hell?
That damned elusive Pimpernel!
Just look at that guy?! (NB. This is not a true and accurate representation of the Medical Director in question)
He was steadfastly non-contactable, and more importantly, no-one EVER seemed to know where he was.
Now the Biotech guys among you will probably say “What a great idea, an invisible Medical Director!”
But I can tell you, as someone tasked with learning the ropes from said Medical Director, it was nigh on impossible when they were actually impossible to get hold of by phone or any other means.
Can you see where I’m going with this?
That Gaming Villain and that Medical Director (and the Scarlet Pimpernel) were all cut from the same cloth – totally irredeemably non-contactable.
Ever.
Don’t call, don’t write, don’t ask at the corner store…I’m not here!
But what’s my point here?
When it’s really, really important for people to be able to reach you – for example when you’re looking for work – make sure they actually can reach you.
That’s my point.
~
I just received a great CV, literally 10 minutes before I sat down to write this. Three separate phone numbers and an email address.
And guess what? Both mobiles…sorry, the number you have called has been disconnected. Landline – rings out.
Email? (failed) Delivery Status Notification (DSN). Naturally.
None of the info worked. Therefore: no job for you, excellent but non-contactable candidate. If only you answered that phone…alas.
If it’s important, then make yourself available. And make it as easy as possible.
~
ALEX KELLY – 27th NOVEMBER 2015
