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Please can some of you check this for me?

(34 Posts)
Anne58 Tue 09-Jun-15 15:33:01

Afternoon all.

I have been set 2 tests shock namely:

The first is simple but a skill that is not held by everyone, being your ability to compose and write in a clear and readable manner. This isn’t essential but small biz need all the talents we can get.The second task is analysis.

(this has been C&P'd from his email)

Now, I was looking for something that would show ability to compose etc, and suddenly remembered and exercise that we did at school. We had to provide written instructions on how to do a reasonably simple task, with no diagrams. I choose "how to put up a deck chair"

I have written this :^Begin by laying the deck chair flat on the ground. You will notice that it comprises three sections. The middle section has fabric that goes the length of the frame and is secured at both ends. The other two sections join onto the fabric covered section and are not fixed in an immovable way, but can be rotated around the bolts that join them to it.

Of the two sections that do not have fabric, you will see that one section is approximately the same size as the middle section, and has a plain, smooth finish. The shorter section has notches or grooves along both lateral sides of it. These notches must be uppermost.

Take hold of the centre of the fabric covered section at the end nearest to the plain one, and lift it upwards. As you do this, allow the notched section to lie flat on the ground. With your other hand, guide the end of the plain section until it rests on the notched section, and ensure that it is resting firmly on notches that are parallel to each other.

You can further raise or recline the deck chair by placing the bar of the plain section on notches higher or lower than those initially selected.^

I will also send him something that I have previously posted on here, but probably NOT any of the underwear related things, or falling in the wheelie bin for that matter blush

Do you think that you could put up a deck chair following those instructions, even if you had never done so before?

Thanks in advance!

JessM Tue 09-Jun-15 15:44:42

That looks great but if I were you I would ask GN to remove post. In these days of googling recruiters might not want you submitting a team effort.

FarNorth Tue 09-Jun-15 15:46:48

I probably could.
One suggestion, to say allow the notched section to lie flat on the ground with the notches uppermost.
As a novice to deckchair putting-up, I'd find that handy as I may have forgotten that it was already mentioned.
Otherwise it seems an excellent description.

Anne58 Tue 09-Jun-15 16:06:34

Thanks ladies!

Don't know why my ^ didn't work?

rosesarered Tue 09-Jun-15 16:09:19

Nope, not for me, I could never put up a deckchair!

Anne58 Tue 09-Jun-15 16:13:22

roses grin as someone on here has been known to say "it's not rocket surgery!"

Grannyknot Tue 09-Jun-15 16:27:22

Hi Phoenix, good idea, good description.

I suggest adding what the chair is made out of "three sections made out of" - e.g. "wood". Then where you say "the plain one", you could be more specific and say "the plain wood section".

I also don't think it's necessary to start the second sentence with "You will notice ..."

Maggiemaybe Tue 09-Jun-15 16:29:49

Perhaps add a cautionary note about being careful not to nip your fingers? It's been a while and I can't remember at what stage this happens, but for me it invariably does. grin

Nelliemoser Tue 09-Jun-15 16:30:51

phoenix With things like this you do need to state the detail. Often those giving instructions know what they are doing and don't see how others can possibly not get it.

rosesarered Tue 09-Jun-15 16:36:35

Phoenix, add at the bottom of the page
get Mr Rosesarered to put it up for you, it will be faster and there will be no swearing.grin

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 09-Jun-15 16:37:52

If you make it a deck chair with arms, you could just say, "lay it flat, grab the arms, and lift".

Good luck anyway.

Nelliemoser Tue 09-Jun-15 16:39:42

The talk of deckchairs has just reminded me of when my Dad, then head steward of the Chapel, invited the new Minister round for afternoon tea.

My dad put up the deckchairs in the garden on a nice warm day.
Unfortunately it seems the Minister got the deck chair with the weakened fabric which slowly tore as he sank to the ground. My Dad and the minister saw the funny side but my poor Mum was horrified.

Better put in "check the overall condition of the said deck chair."
grin

Anne58 Tue 09-Jun-15 17:31:35

Nellie that reminds me of an old family story. My Grandfather spent some time renovating a deck chair, using shiny brass studs on the fabric etc, and declaring that this was HIS deckchair. Come the day, he put the chair up in a sunny spot, collected a glass of beer and went off to settle down. My Grandmother and my mother were watching from an upstairs window and giggled to see that the fabric was so "ripe" that it gave up on the first sitting!

shysal Tue 09-Jun-15 17:45:56

My goodness, you picked a tricky subject! Sounds OK to me, but then I was always an expert deckchair putter-upper! smile I remember at school being asked to do the same for making a cup of tea. It went on for pages!

Ana Tue 09-Jun-15 17:51:57

I'm beginning to think this deckchair thing may be a bit beyond the remit of the exercise! grin

Grannyknot Tue 09-Jun-15 18:09:55

nellie my Italian stepmother (now long gone) who was - well covered, plonked herself down on one of those cheap white plastic garden chairs after a good rain had soaked the uneven lawn and down she went in slow motion. It's a bit like watching "You've been framed" - you don't know whether to laugh nervously or in mirth!

Anne58 Tue 09-Jun-15 18:24:45

I know what you are getting at Ana, but knowing the chap (by reputation only) rather than going back to him again (I had already asked for clarification re did he mean handwritten or not) but if you re-read his "brief"
(which isn't the clearest/could be read in different ways) I was thinking of trying to cover all the bases.

A bit of background, this job was only put in the cabinet at the village shop that gives news of parish council meetings, offers of gardening & baby sitting etc (ok, a bit more than that, but you get the general idea) the chap has run an exceedingly successful and (I would think profitable) business that seems to combine shrewed acumen and true talent and creativity. The advert said that they needed an administrator to help the "creative people" concentrate on the creative stuff, rather than filing etc.

Ana Tue 09-Jun-15 18:30:27

What does he mean by 'creative stuff' though, I wonder? Is it advertising/selling?

Ana Tue 09-Jun-15 18:32:12

It's hard to judge without knowing the nature of the business, which I realise you can't very well do on an open forum, phoenix. Go with your instincts, anyway - and good luck! smile

Anne58 Tue 09-Jun-15 19:38:34

Thanks Ana (and others) grin

trisher Tue 09-Jun-15 19:41:50

Phoenix if these are instructions it would be better if you removed all the unnecessary words so- cut out "Begin"
Lay the deckchair flat on the ground.
It is composed (made up might be simpler) in three sections.
Section 1 The middle section has fabric attached at both ends. Sections 2 and 3 are movable and rotate around the bolts which hold them.
And so on
Good luck!

Anne58 Tue 09-Jun-15 20:40:05

Good point, trisher ! I will admit that it's pretty hard to sort of "call" this one.

Part of his job description mentions the need for "someone who can take care of the day to day running of the business, leaving us creative people to do what we do best" Or something like that. Bucket?

Ana Tue 09-Jun-15 21:00:18

Well, that sounds as though he doesn't want/need anyone creative...?
Practical and methodical, perhaps? In which case the deckchair thing might fit the bill.

Ana Tue 09-Jun-15 21:01:46

PS I think I got it the wrong way round before! confused

Anne58 Tue 09-Jun-15 21:43:33

Ana grin

I think that HE seems to think that there are two types of people, those that can do "practical" things or that have creative ability.I disagree, many people have both, although perhaps to a greater/ lesser degree.