Oh yes, more complains...

So, here's the thing, I understand that when you are applying for certain jobs that certain requirement/education are needed. When applying to a particular job, it is IDEAL to have the required degree/certification.

So, here's a posting for "Administrative Assistant"

What you bring:

* Business administration background and/or Administrative Secretarial course.
* Post-secondary education is considered an asset.
* 3 years of experience performing similar duties.
* Requires in-depth knowledge of various computer applications (Windows XP, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, GroupWise, Visio).
* Knowledge of COMPANY is an asset.
* Highly developed administrative and organizational skills.
* Advanced written and oral communication skills.
* Professional reserve and diplomacy.
* Ability to deal efficiently and effectively with sensitive situations.
* Ability to work with minimal supervision.
* Excellent organizational skills, solid decision, sense of initiative.
* Accuracy and attention to detail.
* Teamwork and interpersonal skills.
* Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks.
* Excellent initiative and problem-solving skills.
* Ability to work under pressure, meeting deadlines, a sense of priorities.
* Must be able to work overtime as needed.

Let's start with the FIRST line... there are things called Administrative Secretarial courses!? What do you learn in these course?? How to answer a phone? How to fix printer? How to greet people at the desk? How to use Purolator/FedEx for shipping? How to photocopy paper? How to make coffee for other people at the office? Really, do you even NEED secretarial training? And if you do, you probably don't have the social attitude for it anyway. And do you REALLY need 3 years of experience in administration?

Here's what comes to my mind when I see "Administrative Assistant"
You...
- answer the phone
- reply emails
- probably make coffee in the morning if you're one of the first in the office
- photocopy paper
- send fax
- make shipment via postal outlet or Purolator/FedEx/UPS/DHL
- make schedules for meeting
- make calls for confirmations or book conference rooms

Does it really need a course for this stuff?

Job Search Rejections

Let me ask you this question... what the hell does it mean when "although we were impressed with your application, we decided to pursue other candidates"

Please, if you get someone who's not qualified, do not send them an email. I'd rather not hear from you then to get your generic email. First, what the hell did you mean by "we were impressed?" If you were impressed by someone, doesn't it mean you want to the person? How can you be impressed with someone but don't want to see them?

Here is an example... word by word...

"Your qualifications are impressive and no doubt a strong reflection of the knowledge and experience you would bring to any organization. However at this point in time, we are proceeding with a couple of other candidates that more closely meet our requirements.

Your profile will continue to reside in our database. We encourage you to continue visiting our website for new opportunities."

As I said before, how can you be "impressed" but still reject them? It's almost like telling a loved one, "I really love you and I know you'll bring joy to my life. However, at this time, I have found someone else." WTF? Why do company send these terrible rejection letters? These types of email just makes me want to puke.

You know the saying, if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all. If you're going to reject someone, just don't send them an email.

Bryan Marchment Autograph

Back in 2003, I worked for a catering company at the Molson Indy Toronto. I think it was Sunday that there was this guy that walked to our beer tent. One look and I knew it was Bryan Marchment. He had a distinctive broken nose that he got from playing in the NHL. It's not often (for me) that an NHL player would drop by where you were working. So, I wanted an autograph and the only thing I had was my worker pass and he signed it :) I didn't have a camera to take a photo but I remember. I think he had like 3 beers that day courtesy of the manager probably...

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.


Macbeth, V.v.

I hate rush hour

Can anyone give me a legitimate reason for traffic jam during rush hours? Because it annoys the hell outta me that I'm driving on 401 from one end of Toronto to the other and we have slow down in around the 427 to 400, and from Allen to 404/DVP. Now, I can see why traffic jam happens when 400 or 404/DVP traffic merge onto 401 but really why should there be traffic jam in any other area?

But what annoys me even more are the stupid people that decided to SLOW DOWN AND LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED ON THE SHOULDER. Buddy, it's just someone pulled over, or just some accident. WHY are you slowing down to look? Would you like people to look at YOU when you do something stupid like that?

Oh, and if you DO go on the highway and not keeping up with traffic, do EVERYONE a favour and STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE of the lane. Don't drive 80km/h and hog up the left lane. YOU cause more accident driving THAT slow then people driving according to the traffic speed.

And I propose one thing that could ease up traffic, I propose a BAN on trucks on high way during rush hours, 7am to 9am and 4pm to 7pm. If ban is not a good idea then I propose that they are restricted to the right lane ONLY. No lane change, no express.

Are you a RPG, FPS or RTS person?

Each genre of game provide an interesting add to life.

I think life itself is an RPG. You work to gain experience (like leveling up) to become better (stronger). The only except is you do not run around with swords and/or magic staff to kill people. It would be awesome to have the ability to turn your boss into a sheep or a toad.

I play a lot of FPS. My favourite aspect of FPS is weapons that don't exist. I'm not much of a fan of war FPS like Call of Duty as I play the game to get away from reality and hence why I find it more fun to play Quake Live. Now, I wouldn't want to live a life where I am trying to survive but wouldn't it be cool to have a lightning gun? Alternatively, some of these games' physic engine are build so that the more hop and jump you do, the more speed you game. Do triple-jump athlete game speed while running and jump?

So, back to weapons... another favourite game of mine is Ratche & Clank series on Playstation 2 & 3. I really don't need to explain, just watch the following commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgwNyb80L0s

The START button

Ever wonder what would happen if life was a game? It could be a good thing and a bad thing.

So, for this first blog I will start with the START button (yes, PUN was intended)

The START button.

For any console games, when you press the start button, it pauses the game. How handy is that?

Need a pee break? Press START.
Stuck and need help? Press START.

Now, if you can put life on START. You are heading off to work for a meeting. Wouldn't it be nice that if you're nervous and you can press START and PAUSE it for a bit. When you're ready to continue, press START again.

Wouldn't it be nice while in that meeting, someone ask you a question that you are not sure how to answer, you can press START to pause that moment and head to a computer to google? When you find the answer, press START and resume. It would be seamless.

Alternatively, when you press the START button, a menu pops up. It is the option within the game.

Let's see... OPTIONS, SAVE GAME, LOAD GAME, and QUIT GAME.

Options: Sound, video, game difficulty.

Well hello, look what we have here - GAME DIFFICULTY. Life's too hard? Let's put it on VERY EASY. Not interesting enough? Put it on HARD. Still not interesting enough? Try NIGHTMARE or GOD. Just don't cry foul when you changed to GOD difficulty.

SOUND and VIDEO.
I would love to adjust the volume around me. If you've ever been to a Chinese restaurant, it is always loud. It would be ideal to be able to turn down the sound or be able to adjust the music and SFX. Or even better if you have someone who just talks and talks and you can just mute them while you nod. And what should I make of the VIDEO option? Too sunny? Turn down brightness. Afraid of the dark? Turn up the brightness and gamma ratio.

SAVE GAME, LOAD GAME, and QUIT GAME.
Save game could come in handy. Because if you run into any difficult spot, you can always LOAD GAME from the last save point. Had an exam that you failed? Now that you know the answers, it would be nice to LOAD from the previous SAVE point that was before the exam. At least, I hope you SAVED it as you were heading into the exam. Or you can just QUIT and come back to the last SAVE point when you are ready.

So, if you have a START button. What would be your favourite part?