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Desperately Seeking Actors...
Nov. 13th, 2007 06:15 pm...in the first few days of my hopping the fence from taking money off people to finding out how to get them more.
No longer working for HMRC, I am now deeply ensconced in training at Nationwide. The training videos irk me.
I'm sure you feel my pain, having probably watched similar utter drivel as part of your business' ongoing personal development package. Two until five alone with a stack of DVDs, a player and a TV, watching wannabe actors who really, really should know better. All kinds of gimmicks to try to make you believe that what you're watching is true to life. Success rating - 0% or less: I spotted a major error that I'm going to have to report to my supervisor before I can rest easy.
This whirlpool of pony acting continued until towards the end of the session, and a program on employee fraud.
It was done in the style of a police drama, complete with locations and timescales . Here we go again, I thought. A few minutes later, I found myself thinking it wasn't quite as bad as it could have been. Then I found myself working through the plot and working out who was responsible. Then I caught myself leaning out of my chair and following the chase through the office. Then I looked at my watch and saw it was ten past five. Then I realised I'd been enjoying this training video enough to lose track of the fact I was late finishing.
Pause for applause.
I didn't recognise any of the actors, but they did their job well. The plot was engaging (if straightforward when thought was applied to it) and employed legitimately sold twists in order to maintain attention. Tension was actually built up, culminating in a well delivered punchline and decently put across message. I'd been falling asleep, but managed to leave work quite awake and pleased with the way the day went, and remembering the methods they used to catch the fraudsters.
Let this be a lesson to those who would make educational material: Put some time and effort - moreover, a scriptwriter and some acting talent - into what you do. Your employees might actually learn something.
18:45 ADDITIONAL: Some other employers, however, are simply raving fucking wankstains.
No longer working for HMRC, I am now deeply ensconced in training at Nationwide. The training videos irk me.
I'm sure you feel my pain, having probably watched similar utter drivel as part of your business' ongoing personal development package. Two until five alone with a stack of DVDs, a player and a TV, watching wannabe actors who really, really should know better. All kinds of gimmicks to try to make you believe that what you're watching is true to life. Success rating - 0% or less: I spotted a major error that I'm going to have to report to my supervisor before I can rest easy.
This whirlpool of pony acting continued until towards the end of the session, and a program on employee fraud.
It was done in the style of a police drama, complete with locations and timescales . Here we go again, I thought. A few minutes later, I found myself thinking it wasn't quite as bad as it could have been. Then I found myself working through the plot and working out who was responsible. Then I caught myself leaning out of my chair and following the chase through the office. Then I looked at my watch and saw it was ten past five. Then I realised I'd been enjoying this training video enough to lose track of the fact I was late finishing.
Pause for applause.
I didn't recognise any of the actors, but they did their job well. The plot was engaging (if straightforward when thought was applied to it) and employed legitimately sold twists in order to maintain attention. Tension was actually built up, culminating in a well delivered punchline and decently put across message. I'd been falling asleep, but managed to leave work quite awake and pleased with the way the day went, and remembering the methods they used to catch the fraudsters.
Let this be a lesson to those who would make educational material: Put some time and effort - moreover, a scriptwriter and some acting talent - into what you do. Your employees might actually learn something.
18:45 ADDITIONAL: Some other employers, however, are simply raving fucking wankstains.
