Awkward (and other) questions about MNers jobs-following on from *Pinocchio's 1st thread.

[mignonette]

Following on from this thread by Pinocchio -

"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"

Pinocchio I hope you don't mind me C+Ping your original post but wanted you to have the credit for this follow on as is such a great thread!

I'd like to hear from someone who is a search and rescue helicopter crew member, that always looks fab from the telly!

That makes perfect sense. When I did the casting round for a bit as a teenager not for long, and unsuccessfully we always had it drummed into us that our being cast would largely depend on the colouring/features of the adults that had already been cast, which was consoling when you got yet another rejection

I've just found this thread, found it fascinating.

I don't have any questions but I'm a customer service manager if anybody wants to ask anything doubt it. Dh is a credit analyst though, I can answer some things money/credit related if it helps.

Aha Goats are you more helpful to those who complain nicely or those who scream and rage?

We're always being told that asking nicely gets you further when there's an element of discretion involved. Would you agree?

It depends really on what their beef is. If they have a genuine complaint then fair enough I will bend over backwards to help them. I will say I am more willing to help if they are nice to me but all customers get the same treatment I might just moan about the nasty ones when they have gone

ReturnPlacenta, talk to me about whether I am imagining this thing: sometimes in a film there is a certain look that all the characters have (you often get this with the women), even though they are not notionally related. but it seems as if the casting director likes, eg, big-boned leggy dark women who look like the ones in the Robert Palmer video, or small-featured fair women who all look a bit like Nicole Kidman. So as the plot progresses (especially if I am sewing name tapes or something), especially if it is a bit thrillery and people put on different hats or go under cover or something, suddenly I no longer know who anyone is. Is this just me (ie am I just a dickhead) or is this a thing?

return that is really interesting.

doctors do you mind always being "on duty" so to speak. I.e. able to step into any emergency situation if needed. Does it annoy you if you have a specialty and people whip out a boil/spot/rash which is not within your specialty and ask for an opinion?

Any paramedics - how do you prepare yourself for a horrific scene you may arrive at?

I am a solicitor in private practice. Civil specialism, not criminal.

Goats, if there has been a fuck-up, is there a standard tariff of compensation, eg vouchers or something, or is this entirely discretionary?

Or, in other words, if I am pissed at at something that can't be literally compensated (because it has cost me in time or convenience), if I were to stick my neck out and ask for a particular material compensation (because time is money) would they be likely to agree or not?

I think that entirely depends on the person you are dealing with and their attitude I'm afraid.

Me personally, if I feel the customer has in any way been inconvenienced then I'm happy to give out compensation to the customers satisfaction. The standard usually is vouchers, gift card etc at my place of work. If it means they are more willing to come back to us because their experience has been helpful then I'm all for it.

The thing is, there is always somebody above me who can override everything I have said so yes some of it is discretionary.

It is worth sticking it out if you feel like you have not been compensated enough for your trouble though. I don't mind helping the customers who kick off at me if they have had a really bad time of it, it's the ones who are shouting abuse at me over nothing that don't get anywhere.

ReturnPlacenta, talk to me about whether I am imagining this thing: sometimes in a film there is a certain look that all the characters have (you often get this with the women)... So as the plot progresses... suddenly I no longer know who anyone is.

I've not been asked to do this, in fact I've had discussions before about there being a danger of too many characters looking too similar, and we address that during the casting process. I've watched things though, where I've had the experience you describe. And I iron my name tags on.

Serial killer-type stories sometimes have a theme when it comes to looks for the 'victims'.

Great thread.

Until recently I was an Archaeologist... any questions?

Ooh, yes! On Time Team it seems to be endless crouching in ditches to dig up small walls, or things visible only to archaeologists. Are some digs more sought after than others, in terms of what you're likely to find?

I could only put up with the cramp and the cold if there was definitely going to be a mammoth under there.

Teaforme I'm envious. Is archaelology as hard to get into and as badly paid as it is reported to be?

I'm a private tutor if anyone has any questions about education and learning etc

terror I trained as a mh nurse, 1 year general nursing then 2 years mh. We do get to choose 1 specialist placement towards the end. I chose forensic mh.

You can swop and change though, a friend of mine worked in acute settings then changed to child and adolescent

Are some digs more sought after than others?
Most archaeologists tend to have a period they specialise in or just simply enjoy more than others. I loved working on Iron Age sites rather than anything more recent, e.g. mediaeval, for the opposite reason to the one you mentioned... Much less likely to find lots of stuff so less to slow me down from digging a bloody big hole

I have worked on an episode of Time Team (some time ago) and it was not fun at all! I was constantly moved between trenches as they wanted a woman in every trench they were filming at the time. Their recording of what they found was done to a much lower standard than normal digs even though they must have a bigger budget.

Sorry it has taken a while to come back to the thread ladies...I will try and catch up with the Q's

BabyLabrinth No one knows apart from my DH. It wouldn't be terrible if others knew or found out, but I just find it easier having just DH know. I have to say I do worry about what people would think, but then at the same time I don't do anything to be ashamed of.

Chocchaffinch The pole does get cleaned in between dancers yes, as it tends to get slippy due to others fake tan etc rubbing off on the pole. With regards to tippers, we don't really get tipped but we do get some big spenders. The girls always know who the regular big spenders are, but we all work on a whoever gets there first sort of basis, its always gutting when you miss out though. Stalkers, no gladly I have never had one but you do get guys who come in to see you especially.

Mineisapintowine Well I got into because I needed extra income and with already having a full time job and DC's I wanted to spend my evenings with made my second job possibilities quiet narrow. I used to be a dancer when I was young (granted not this type of dancing though lol) and I knew of a club in a nearby town and I just thought I would try my luck. As far as the interview went, well it was fine all they really wanted to see was what I looked like and check my ID, I did't have to dance thank god...think I might have died of nerves. The first night I worked I was petrified, mostly though I was worried about getting on with the other girls given that I was older and I assumed that the girls would just be bitchy. I was surprised though as I get on really well with the other ladies and the dancing really isn't so bad.

Thedietstartstomorrow My DH is absolutely fine with it, he actually gave me the confidence to give it a try. He is really supportive of it and especially since I am not doing it just for me, I am doing it for us so we can have a nicer future as a family. He doesn't ever come in the club though as he is at home looking after the DC. If he did come in the club though I wouldn't act any differently or dance any differently as other than flirting and dancing its not like I'm doing anything rude or disrespectful...as far as I am concerned I am just doing my job. I always tell him what has gone on at work and we often have a laugh together about some of the funny/strange people or just funny things that happen.

As for the money there are times when it can be very good yes, but there are also times when it is crap as you actually pay a fee to work and then the club takes a commission on top of whatever you earn. It is entirely possible to go home with nothing, thankfully its rare but happens. What makes it so lucrative though is not how much you make overall but rather what you can make in such a short space of time. If I took on a second part time job it would take me weeks to earn what I can in the space of a weekend. For me its something I can do that doesn't take me away from my DC's as they are asleep and don't know I am gone, where as if I had another part time job along with my full time job they would hardly see me and I would find that very hard.

Long post...sorry

educatingarti I did an archaeology degree and volunteered at a local council`s archaeology unit during some of my holidays. By getting known by the people there I then managed to get paid contracts doing the same work. It would be very hard to get paid work without experience so most people have done the work as a volunteer before. I think a lot of people who are interested in doing it don't realise how physically hard work it can be so only do one day before deciding it's not for them!

It's VERY hard to get permanent contracts and if you don't have one then it's generally quite seasonal work so you need to find something else over the winter.

As for pay, no it's not good and that, along with the lack of permanent contracts, was one of the reasons I moved on. I also couldn't imagine carrying on working on site in 20 years when my joints are failing etc. The academic side of things isn't my cup of tea so I now do something completely unrelated!

womban did you do lots of research before you went in to it? Visiting strip clubs yourself? Maybe I'm naive but I wouldn't have a clue what was expected of me when I turned up for my first day!

TeaForMe I didn't really do any research other than having a look online and also having a look at some pole dancing stuff.

The idea was that I would go on the first night and see what it as like as each club is different and each has their own rules. Before my first night of work I did go an visit the club I intended to work in and just watch how things were done and see if it felt ok to me.

I'm lucky that the club I have chosen to work in is very clean and has strict rules, I have since learned from the other more experienced girls that not all clubs are like this and stuff goes on behind the scenes. I think if the club had been one of the more seedy establishments I know I would have walked in seen an eye full and walked right out and I would never have even considered trying anywhere else as I would have just assumed they were all like that.

I've been a biomedical science researcher, if anyone wants to know about daily life in a lab, getting research published, animal experimentation, etc.
Or advising the Government on stuff (civil servant), recycling, waste, the food chain (from the farm to shops, hospital and school meals, wherever)

Return are the people you're interviewing out of this world good looking? I knew someone who worked in film and she said what looks good on film quite often looks very weird in real life so a lot of actors were a bit odd looking! But I can't see how that is.

So a slightly different angle. I don't work. I have M.E so I can't work. Anyone have any questions about that, either living with M.E or life not working?

Szeli You can manage BiPolar 2 but most longitudinal studies do indicate that the condition tends towards lifelong. Please try not to be too disconsolate about this- making sure you eat and sleep well and use the support of all around you when faced with life stresses goes a long way towards reducing the likelihood of relapse.

Bipolar 2 tends not to produce the Hypermania of Bipolar 1 so can fly under the radar when it comes to others understanding the potential impact of it. Making sure you comply with medication whilst working with your CPN to address any side effects is also important.

Take extra special care of yourself if you become unwell with a cold/flu etc as this can sometimes tip the scales but otherwise get on with living your life. I wish you well.

Itstart. What is the pattern of your ME if that is not too personal? If the workplace facilitated your working according to your illness what would you like to do?
Are you involved in any support groups?
Is there a 'Mentoring Scheme' for more 'experienced' people with ME to be in contact with newly diagnosed people to assist them with benefits, lifestyle modification, support and contact? I think this would really help others.

Itstarts, it's definitely true that there are people who the camera really loves. They don't necessarily look weird off camera, they sometimes look like normal people.

Posted too soon! Some actors and actresses are indeed hugely good looking, but often it's bone structure, good skin and good hair rather than looking like models.