Awkward questions you've always wanted to ask someone who works in a specific job...

[PinocchiosLeftNostril]

I thought this would be a good way for us to get answers to those awkward questions we would never dream of asking someone to their face in their place of work.

These are questions relating to my life that i would love honest answers to.

Hairdressers - When someone with bad dandruff/psoriasis sits on your chair, do you shrug it off, or do you quickly have a look to make sure it's not lice? Are you able to tell the difference right away or does it need investigating? And do you really want to know what my plans are for the day, or would you rather work in silence?

Teachers - do you get annoyed when parents write in homework diaries that a specific piece of homework was too tricky for their child? Do you take it as an insult to your teaching skills?

Waiter/waitresses - do you expect people to offer to clean up their children's mess before they leave, or do you just shrug it off as part of the job? If you're busy and haven't had chance to clean a table yet, and a new customer came up and asked for a cloth to clean it, would you be offended?

I'm a trainee SLT so not quite sure if I'm qualified to answer any questions regarding that line of work yet.

But i have experience working in a Subway sandwich store, a library, a gym and as a cleaner. So i can answer any cleaning, book or sandwich questions that are burning away inside you all.

I'm in H.R...and do not think that I ever do anything that an unscrupulous manager wants me to. Then again, I am squarely of the opinion that I work for the organisation, and by default, its management ...so if they want to achieve an outcome, it's up to me to help them get there - legally and with minimal amount of risk.

Sorry, that is a v tedious answer compared to all the rest.

Q for personal shoppers - are you really being honest when you tell us things look good, or are you just hoping we'll buy something/anything so the last hour of your life wasn't wasted?

I work in kids TV! Any questions?

Do you frequently want to punch the "talent" rosencratz? Are the children awful?

3boys that's brilliant, I'd be mortified and suprsed if my knickers could fit in a dog

loving brad the Pit

don't know if this has been asked yet too lazy to check

but I've always wondered how midwives can look at the fanjos of women who don't bother to keep themselves clean, who probably stink of BO etc

I used to like the idea of being a midwife until that thought crossed my mind boak

Used to be a nurse too...no real trouble at all with wee poo, though when there is lots of blood in poo it was a bit more difficult, however thick sputum used to really bother me, I could never have worked on a chest ward! I used to hate having to give people suction to get their secretions out.

Ooo sorry, saw the supermarket one has been answered already. Must pay attention!

willowstar.. I looove suctioning! I realise that makes me a bit of a freak!

rose long shot but don't suppose you work on that pirate Cbeebies one? Someone on here reckons its CGI slime (I've not watched it to see) and I want to know is it true & is so why?

Teacher here. No never compare siblings, they are usually very different strangely
Do I judge comments from parents? Depends how they are written. Some are downright arsey so yes :) a genuine concern is treated very differently

eurgh glitz

I was a waitress and I did get annoyed if a person left a massive mess and then didn't look apologetic or attempt to say "Sorry about the mess." Got very annoyed if there was an air of "Well, it's nothing to do with me!" (Which there often was when I was working in Bath, it was mainly students or wealthy folk coming to the restaurant I worked in) Especially on a busy day when it tracked through the entire restaurant by customers, staff and children.

I also got annoyed when big tables of people would go leaving no tip for the waitress, when that waitress had worked with that one table for three hours without stopping. Or left pennies, that was more insulting.

I'm a nanny now if anyone has questions on that! I have worked as an elf (and Mrs Claus!), in a garden centre, as a watersports and climbing instructor for PGL and a shop assistant for a PO in the past too :)

Estate agents: Do you enjoy doing the photos of homes? Or is it a pitfa when you have people with 'quirky' or messy homes?

I run music classes for preschool children. Any questions?

do you get annoyed at the buggers little kids that do laps of the room as opposed to joining in?

I worked in a bookshop as a student and yes, I think we all judged a little when we weren't too busy to notice anything other than the barcode. But mostly we didn't really care what people bought unless they made an impression on us otherwise i.e. caused us to notice them either by being annoying or being very nice/ friendly or by buying a big pile of books.

I type up police interviews.

Have also worked on a check out in a supermarket years ago, never took particular notice of what people brought - unless it was a hot chicken from the counter as they always smelt lovely. Never judged or particularly cared what people brought or why. It is a very repetitive job and like driving the same journey every day after a while you just do it without really noticing too much what is going on around you.

Also never bothered me children screaming or people getting their children to pay, although if you are going to get your kids to pay for the weekly shop please be sure you haven't put age restricted products in your shop as then we couldn't take money from children and usually ended in tears and annoyed parents thinking you were being a bit of a jobsworth.

thank you Vicarinatutu

have you ever known the police complaints thingy internal audit people to investigate any of your colleagues?

to the poster who asked about complaints/ taken seriously/ how dealt with

this is generally the most challenging area of retail, getting them is never great, and we endeavour to a) satisfy them fast and b) ensure situation/error Never arises again
we communicate honestly, and keep the customer updated, and offer them options for solutions,
listening carefully and seriously are v important
we often find our complainers become our greatest and most loyal customers, as we've proved how much we care
If you get great service in a store be sure to tell them or email the head office as great service should be recognised too, if you tell head office the employee should get recognition, which is a lovely part of a job where a great many talented caring people in hundreds of stores go a bit unnoticed TBH

I'm a podiatrist
Most people who think they have nasty feet, really don't.
I think it's one of those jobs you can either do or not do.
I'm rarely bothered by stinky feet and I don't judge people on the state of their feet unless they come tottering in wearing high heels
Nothing, apart from a badly infected or necrotic ulcer bothers me and then it's only because of the smell.
It makes my bum go funny when I see bone at the bottom of an ulcer.

I would like to ask teachers:

What do you do if a massive, do-at-home art project handed in by a child was obviously done by the mother. And the winning 'art projects' will be displayed in the local art shop?

This irks me more than anything!

Oh tell us babybarrister

Oooh have you ever seen a couple you wih would stay together and then try and facilitate it like a 1950s film?

"do you get annoyed at the buggers little kids that do laps of the room as opposed to joining in?"

Occasionally. I try to keep the session varied and active so they don't have a chance to do that. If they're just wandering around at the back, I don't mind. But if they're creating merry hell and the mum or dad is just gassing with their neighbour, then I really have to grit my teeth, and put on a smiley voice and make some "suggestions" to the parent.

Ok. I admit it. I was a doctors receptionist. Fire away (just shoot cleanly).

I'm a university lecturer! Anybody want to flame me ask me anything?

Daniel do you ever get reeeeeeeally annoyed with NHs internal communication or IT systems?