Open Sesame from Beavery's blog

“Open Sesame.” The phrase thought by some to have originated from ancient Babylonian magical practices which in the fable One Thousand Nights when uttered opened the entrance to a magical cave containing the treasure of the forty thieves. While there are probably those who would argue that they know how to find the cave but would not waste their time doing so since everyone knows Ali Baba has taken the treasure. Most would be very skeptical and others would simply tear such a braggart apart.

What if I were to say there is a magical phrase which does not open a hidden cave but is very capable of opening some doors which conceal their own treasures for some people. Some I'm sure would laugh and walk away and if you are inclined to do so I would recommend that you do so now because the three words will probably not open any doors for you anyway.

We live in a very complex world and seem to be but a small part of an extremely complex optimization algorithm seeking the answer to the question, “What is the optimal configuration of a life form?” We share a planet with seven billion other people, innumerable microbes and who knows how many other creatures all evolving in an attempt to become the solution, or maybe it's something else altogether. The non organic portions of the universe are just as complex yet somehow, some people seem to think they have all of the answers.

 It takes very little intelligence to establish that these self proclaimed masters of the universe (HE-MEN) are anything but. While it can be entertaining to ask these types of complex questions and watch them squirm around trying to bullshit their way into producing a solution they have convinced themselves you will buy, it usually is not very productive unless entertainment is one's objective. This is especially true when interviewing someone for a technical job and probably others as well. The question is asked, the candidate's mouth becomes dry, sometimes they sweat and then they proceed to supply a bullshit response which they foolishly believe you will accept simply because they do not know or in some cases are simply incapable of admitting they do not have the answer.

 The net result, they simply establish that they cannot be trusted and when the interview is over, their resumes are unsanctimoniously discarded, they are thanked for the interview and immediately forgotten. As for the three magic words which would have opened the door to the opportunity and rewards held therein. Hmmm ...I don't know.