Keith Said:

i think this is a disgrace?

We Answered:

It's disgusting. Just small-minded people making an issue as they have nothing better to do. What if their child was born with one arm? I think children need to know from a young age that everyone is different.

Suzanne Said:

Could you please correct the mistakes you will certainly find?

We Answered:

If I don't know who will read the letter, I usually say Dear Madam or Sir,

I am confused with your sentence:" I'm confident that I have a lot to share with both children, carers and staff. " I would put just..... both, children and staff

Anyway, I did the spell check and made small corrections. I hope it is usefull. Why not asking your Scottish husband to help you? He might be better than any of us in here :))




Dear Madam or Sir,

I am a 32 years-old Brazilian who has lived in London for the past 4 years. I am married to a Scottish man and we have a two year-old daughter together. I am currently working on a part time basis as nursery assistant in a private day-care nursery on F *** Road (The ** Nursery).

I am interested in joining the E***C*** team because I am a flexible team player and hard-working person that likes spending time with children. I am confident that I have a lot to share with both children carers and staff.

I would like to apply for the Check In or Bar Staff Position at E***C*** as I have experience teaching and playing with preschool children and dealing with their parents/carers. However, I am experienced in catering as well and I can deliver a great customer service.

I am legally allowed to work in the UK. I hold a permanent national insurance number and I have a bank account. I hope you will take my application in consideration. I am available for interview at your convenience.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Shirley Said:

Recent graduate, cant find a basic job lost and overwhelmed about the future, your advice please?

We Answered:

careers.scienceontheweb.net - I found such internship info here. It has lots of internships, job openings and scolarships for college students.

Kevin Said:

Advice for a new manager, please?

We Answered:

I was the general manager of a medium-sized but very busy bookstore back in college and certainly found HR to be the toughest, most high-maintenance aspect of the job. Some strategies I remember being helpful are:

1) If not wanting to be the Bad Guy is a problem for you, it can be helpful to think of your position in terms of a *role* you have to perform that's ultimately in the best interests of everyone--one which may have very little to do with who you are as a person, but is required to keep things running smoothly and give your employees the sense of clarity and consistency they want and deserve. No one likes those lay-down-the-law moments, sure, but the day-to-day consequences of working under a manager who shrinks from that responsibility are far worse.

2) Don't micromanage--delegate! Besides slowing things down and distracting from focus on more urgent problems, micromanaging also sends the damaging message that you don't really trust your people to understand the goals of merchandising (or whatever task) and work out their own time management and operational strategies for addressing them. Almost always, the best efficiency strategies come about from managers listening to employees and putting into practice their feedback about what works and what doesn't.

3) First thing when you get to work every day, go around to all the people you're in charge of and ask How's it going, What are you working on, Any merch (or whatever) problems you've noticed we need to address, etc. Resist the temptation to plunge into your emails or reports or the like first. And after that, do your own quick walkthrough to see what tasks you should be directing your people to address that day, and get back with them right away about it.

4) Regular team meetings, even if informal and conducted on the salesfloor, are a great idea too (be sure to document what the main issues that came up were and do follow-up). Also maybe try regular merch walk-throughs to brainstorm together on what's working, what isn't, and how we can best divvy up the workload to make sure problems get addressed--that way, you empower them to take responsibility themselves.

5) Don't get too obsessed with the one or two employees who are always grumbling and dragging their feet. Have a talk or two with them if you've noticed they're measurably bringing down their own or others' performance (and be sure to document that), and for sure, immediately cut short any subversiveness they display in front of other employees by firmly reminding them that policy is policy and while you're open to constructive input, that doesn't change the fact that there's a job to do and requirements that limit the ways you can do it. Nevertheless, most employees know perfectly well who the unhelpful grumblers among them are, and hear their comments in light of that--so long as they feel the communication channels remain open and consistency is generally being provided.

6) If you're getting feedback that employees are getting conflicting directives from you and another manager, get with that manager (perhaps together with your GM) right away to hammer out the problem.

Good luck!

Brandon Said:

Recent graduate, cant find a basic job lost and overwhelmed about the future, your advice please?

We Answered:

education.mypressonline.com - I found such internship info here. It has lots of internships, job openings and scolarships for college students.

Margaret Said:

Art School Dream has come true but I have doubts (Long but pls read)?

We Answered:

Stop taking courses and GET A REAL JOB. I hate artists who, instead of making art, just take art classes. If you really consider yourself an artist, then make some fcking art.

Jesse Said:

Art School Dream has come true but I have doubts (Long but pls read)?

We Answered:

Boy does this sound familiar. I too earned an undergraduate degree nearly ten years ago from a private art school. After which time, I spent my life bouncing around the country going job to job. At around 28 years old I decided to apply to a grad program. Low and behold, I was accepted (based off of my undergrad work alone) Literally the day after I enrolled I found out that I was going to become a father. My girlfriend (now wife) quite unexpected was with my child. She also had two small children from a previous marriage. So the road got a lot tougher. I have to work a full time job, commute two hours a day, and be a dad. Its hard, I'm not going to lie, but when I'm working in my studio or commenting in crit, I know that I am exactly where I ought to be. Joseph Campbell always said, follow your bliss. If you do, doors that you didn't even know existed will open for you. Thats what happened for you. A door has been opened. There is no sense feeling guilty for walking through it. The only reason to feel guilty is if you squander the opportunity by not putting forth your best effort. I decided when I started the graduate program that even though it was going to be hard, I wasn't going to let anyone out preform me. I have thus far taken full advantage of my time in the program and now even more doors are opening for me. I don't know what the future holds, but I can tell you this, I have never been so happy in my life. Follow your bliss. Rest assured that anxiety and insecurity is par for the course, but it can be overcome.