Breanne Potter over at the Brazen Careerist network has a gripe about job applicants who write “see resume” on forms:

On an application, never write the words “See Resume.” If I wanted to look at another piece of paper I wouldn’t have requested the information on the application. I may have a good reason for wanting the information written in your own handwriting (i.e. background check paperwork) or I may not (I’m crazy like that). Either way, if you want the job- when a recruiter says jump you say how high! The underlying impression I get if you act like filling out paperwork is a bother is that my efforts are not worth your time. I worked my bootie off for a star candidate, and I expect nothing less in return!

This is in her list of 15 things from inside the mind of a hard core recruiter.

I couldn’t disagree more. Here’s why:

• any recruiter who insists on the same information written in multiple spots in a job application above and beyond the resume is not working her “bootie off.”
• any recruiter who can’t flip to the resume with the answer probably isn’t smart enough to get great placements
• any recruiter who insists (or simply believes) that demonstrably working hard is highly important in the interview process is the kind of recruiter who probably doesn’t understand the kind of working culture where results are rewarded, regardless of face time for work
• any recruiter who disparages an applicant for filling out forms isn’t hungry enough to make it in sales

A real life story:

When I first moved to Los Angeles, I did contract work.  Registering with a recruiter is a tedious process.  I probably have dyscalculia but definitely am mathphobic and after taking my distribution requirements in college for math and doing well, I promised myself never to take another math test again.

At the recruiter’s office, they had a dumb test: spelling, filing, and math.  I did the spelling, the filing, and left the math questions blank.

The receptionist told me to fill out the math test.  I told her I wasn’t interested in any placements requiring math skills. She said I couldn’t meet with the recruiter until I’d filled out all the forms. The recruiter came out and asked what the problem was.

I told the recruiter that any job that requires I fill out a math test is a place I don’t want to work, and any recruiter that required I fill out the forms is a recruiter I don’t want to work with.

The recruiter looked at my resume, saw where I’d worked in New York (all Fortune 500 companies) and the kinds of skills I’d demonstrated and she decided that the dumb test was pretty dumb because she could place me right away.

And she did.

[Full disclosure: I identify as ENFP on the MBTI and Breanne identifies as ISTJ, for those who know or care about such things.]

[Images by SocialISBetter via Flickr under a Creative Commons License.]

Today launches, for the holiday season, at least, something I didn’t know dontown LA didn’t have.  Taxis that stop when you hail them:

This seems to fit right in with the late night Metro I wrote about earlier which I believe also starts today.

As a kick-off to the program, L.A. Live will be hosting a “Taxi Driver Appreciation” event on its plaza at 11am on December 8th to thank the drivers in advance for helping turn Downtown LA into a “real downtown” where you can hail a taxi.

So what makes a real downtown is being able to hail a taxi?

Interestingly enough, although signs up in downtown LA hail this hailing a taxi as new for the holiday, the LA Times announced a 6 month trial plan, um, six months ago:

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a six-month test program Wednesday that will allow taxicabs to pick up fares at more places in downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood. Here’s how downtown Councilwoman Jan Perry put it after the momentous vote: “Common sense has prevailed. Now we can hail a cab like they do in other cities.”

Yes, she was being sarcastic. Like others, she thought this was something the city should have done a long time ago.

The new rules allow taxis to stop for or drop off customers in red zones and curb lanes that the city has designated as anti-gridlock zones – as in, no parking there during rush hour. Cabs are also now allowed to double-park to pick up or drop off a client. The one place they’re not allowed to go is bus stops – something that has been a sticking point between the city and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the last few months.

..

“The old rules that applied to taxis were the same ones that applied to private vehicles,” Rouse said, pointing to the fact that those rules pretty much prevent taxis from doing what taxis do best – pick up people looking for a ride.

So whatever happened to the trial program? Or is it beginning… now? Right… now? and… now?

My mother used to use this shampoo when I was small.

And yes, I did too.  And it did smell great.

But I never saw this commercial in Spanish, and it’s a total riot how the mujer teaches el hombre how to say the cheesy product name.