little organisational things...

... in applications

Just a little tip that you should always have a checklist, or a timeline, or a schedule - be it in school, work, or holiday even (unless you're in those tour-group holiday things).

For example, in university applications. There are a ton of new things you have to prepare for the school. And that's only in the applications phase. There is still the acceptance/matriculation phase after, which has all the nitty gritty little things - which are even more likely to be looked over if you're not careful to note down each step you need to do.
Every step matters a lot, from giving you your school network account (the must have in order to even school. no account, what work), to even applying for the tuition grant. (if you can pay less, of course you pay less.).

ASK. Always ask if you are not sure. Some times there may be odd phrasings that do not really makes crystal sense to you - ask first. Email. Or call up if you want to. All universities will have various hotlines up for various issues.

Job applications. 
Always remember first and foremost, relate it to the specific job. It's good that you already have one nice and spanky new resume - first step done. But if you look at one job and realise its specific needs make some of your information extra unrelated words - cut them down. Too much unrelated information will make employers uninterested. (Or become additional fodder for them to put you in a spot.)("How do you think this XXXX will help you?")

Prepare the necessary hard copies of things you may have sent the company via email. Prepare even your ID picture if neccessary.
What is needed - that's what you should take note of.
Maybe they require you to do a feedback after the interview - remember to do it within 24 hours.

In any case - always be active and take initiative. Don't be afraid of seeming a fool (unless you ask if the Earth is round).

Cheers
J

honest opinions

...in Classrooms and Life

When I recently did a "Last lesson of Module" survey recently, for my class of primary kids, I realised an important thing: Feedback is Gold.

It was always a logical thing, that yes, of course feedback is useful, that is the point of it, check the definition. 

But it is another to realise it, and truly appreciate it with personal understanding.

It is rare to get responses in most classes as the students grow up, as they become ... afraid of voicing out. At least for me, in all that I've seen so far in my short life as yet.

Response is: ((by googling, first result)) 

an answer, a reaction to something. 

For me with kind of shaky confidence ((read, false bravado all the time)) I may logically convince myself that I did fine, but hearing the strong response of how much they enjoyed it was a ... surprising wave of relief that went through. I had not failed so terribly. The coin or shoe i was expecting to drop, for now, will not. 

When asked, any suggestion for future? A typical class of say, 16 year olds, may not bother giving truly what they think, or maybe it is because they overthink. Most resort to politically correct answers, or a simple NIL.

I immediately had hands up here and there, and responses were, very frank. 

"Could you make it more interesting?" 

"Speak more clearly next time!"

"Make it more exciting!"

"Let us do something simpler please."

"I want to play with the updated version!"

Some made me realise with embarrassment "Oh no, i hadn't been speaking nor enunciating clearly enough!" and "....how does one both give advanced and simple?" and "Yikes, I've been too boring..."...

Some really sent an arrow through my paper-thin pride. ((Well, at least there wasn't much to fall from so no great damages there)). But i was grateful. 

It is because they responded so frankly that i got to see what THEY thought. We are each individuals, unique, and try as might, we MAY be able to anticipate, infer, predict, cater to, but never definitely, for humans are... with free will and judgement. 

The point of feedback is not to make everyone happy - impossible, without extremes - but to understand, and siphon out what we can learn from it. Responses are NOT commands we MUST OBEY, rather, they are little insights people give to their inner thoughts. 

We learn that some characters may require such methods, some may prefer a different way, or hey! that's a mistake I will endeavor not to repeat! 

Hopefully, not so many will keep losing their willingness to contribute so fast, so early. Or that many more encourage the will to respond.