I told you to use Google Maps...

For those of you who may not precisely remember your college physics class [stifles laugh], the first law of thermodynamics begins something like ‘energy can be neither created nor destroyed.’

Addresses are…not like that at all. They are both created and destroyed. Routinely. If you put a building in an area where there are no buildings, odds are good that area is not yet going to have a useful cache of addresses ready-made for, well, buildings. Addresses need to be created by people whose job it is to create new addresses. Those people, shockingly enough, are not going to waste their time making up addresses for areas that are undeveloped because, well, there aren't any buildings there to be found.

*Collective gasp*

On a completely unrelated note [sarcasm], a recent client acquired a new building with a new address that has only recently been added to Google Maps and is, for all intents and purposes, completely non-existent on every other GPS application known to man.

[Sidebar: Not all map/GPS applications are the same. They also don't receive new information at the same time. *Another collective gasp.*]

With no small amount of trepidation, I scheduled an applicant to go out and interview with the supervisor at this new facility. Knowing that the address was still new and had not yet been added to other map/GPS applications, I explicitly told her on the phone: "Please ensure you use Google Maps when you type in the address. Other apps do not yet have this address listed in their databases. You must use Google Maps." The candidate confirmed she understood what I said, and I emailed her the address. To be on the safe side, I included an attachment with driving directions on how to get to the new facility when approaching from any of the four cardinal directions. (That's North, South, East, and West, people.)

Next day, three minutes before this lady needs to be at her interview, my coworker messages me and says she has the applicant on the phone stating she is lost and can't find the facility. I tell my coworker to transfer the call to me so I can assist:

Applicant: I'm lost. I typed the address into my GPS and it brought me to some dead end by a Kwik Trip.

Me: Yes, because you aren't using Google Maps. I remember telling you yesterday that you need to use Google Maps to find the facility as other apps don't have the address in their databases yet.

Applicant: I'm using the GPS in my car.

Me: Yeah, which isn't Google Maps. Anyway, you're about five miles out.

(Then I proceed to guide her to the facility. Mind you, I am giving her fairly explicit instructions. See below:)

Me: At the end of the exit ramp, you will turn left on West Broadway and go under the bridge. Drive until you pass a Holiday gas station on your right, then take a right at the stoplight right after the Holiday. That will be 93rd St.

Applicant: You want me to turn at Holiday or the stoplight after?

Me: If you turned at Holiday, you would end up at Holiday. You need to take a right at the stoplight. Once you take a right, drive until you go over the bridge. Once you're over the bridge, you will take the first right. That's Decatur Ave. (Pause to give applicant a chance to drive a bit). If you see a church on your right side, you went too far.

Applicant: St. Joseph's Church?

Me: Yes, you went too far. There's only one street between the bridge and the church. Turn around. Decatur Ave will be on the left before you get to the bridge. If you see a cemetery on your right or get to the bridge, you went too far.

Applicant: Turning around...Ok, there's 3rd St. 4th St. 5th St. 6th St. Oh, there's the cemetery!

Me: *Sighs* Decatur is on your left. The streets you're listing are on your right. Decatur is literally right across from 5th St.

Applicant: Ok, turning around. Man, this place is hard to find!

Me: (thinking to myself, it's one of three stadium-sized buildings in a field...)

Applicant: Ok, turning onto Decatur.

Me: You will take the first right. There should be a huge gray building on your right, right now. As soon as that building is past, there's a street going right. That's 95th St. There's a sign on the corner, huge white sign, that says '610.' You can't miss it. Turn right.

Applicant: Ok, turning right.

Me: In front of you, off to the right, is a huge blue and white building.

Applicant: I see it! Wow, that was difficult to find, but I think it'll be easier going home.

Me: I'll notify the supervisor that you'll be inside shortly.