I have a friend who often says embarrassing things she's not aware are embarrassing. I've said nothing. Should I?
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posted by FlyByDay
on May 12, 2013 -
45 answers
I hate my job and originally only took it as a stop-gap until I found what I really loved. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what else I'm suited to do. I've been a copy editor, a social worker, and a paralegal. What on earth do I do with these skills?
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posted by pineappleheart
on May 10, 2013 -
22 answers
I'm thinking of enrolling for Fall 2013, and I'm interested in a practical, skills based (as opposed to academic) program. What courses are absolutely essential nowadays?
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posted by winterportage
on May 6, 2013 -
7 answers
Does the stigma against fandom also count against whatever marketable experience you gain from it?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 13, 2013 -
20 answers
I'm actively looking for a job for the first time in awhile, and whenever I sit down to write a cover letter and update my resume it's like my job application skills stopped developing in 1985
(nevermind that I wasn't old enough to apply for jobs then). I know that customs and expectations for resumes and cover letters have changed, not least because so much is done via email rather than hard copy, but I don't know how to adapt the stale job-seeking skills I learned from people who learned them 25 years ago to the modern job search.
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posted by rhiannonstone
on Mar 7, 2013 -
10 answers
What qualifications (certifications, skills, volunteer experiences, etc.) can I realistically pick up, for free, without actually being employed in the field which they would qualify me for?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 29, 2013 -
9 answers
I want suggestions for new skills to learn. What are the best and/or most practical skills that you have acquired in life? What did you find was worth really taking the time to master? I am equally interested in short and long term skill sets.
posted by corn_bread
on Dec 26, 2012 -
35 answers
I can juggle three balls, walk on stilts, and eat fire. What are some good books/resources on learning more?
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posted by cmoj
on Sep 17, 2012 -
12 answers
What are some activities (athletic or otherwise) that resemble the satisfying experience of training for a race?
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posted by cymru_j
on Sep 12, 2012 -
4 answers
Moving away to university in September. What can I do to meet people, and improve my abysmal social life, confidence, and interpersonal skills?
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posted by Snorlax
on Aug 15, 2012 -
20 answers
Hello Mefites,
I'd like some suggestions for books on social skills and networking in order to get ahead professionally(and also on the personal front).
Books with a Kindle edition would be a bonus.
Thanks a lot!
posted by synapse2512
on Jul 2, 2012 -
8 answers
What would you suggest for improved social skills, fitting in, decreased awkwardness, and undoing a reputation for being annoying at work? I'd especially love help for nerds with social anxiety who need to fit in with mainstreamy socialite sorts of people.
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 30, 2012 -
20 answers
I would like to get a new job in Chicago. What are some things I can do over the summer to maximize my odds at finding employment in the windy city? My field is software engineering.
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posted by Green With You
on Apr 23, 2012 -
8 answers
I'm seeking information about relative skill levels in pre-industrial and industrial societies.
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posted by crazylegs
on Apr 23, 2012 -
8 answers
Why do I repeat myself instead of explaining or describing what I mean in real-life conversation? When people have acknowledged my statement, why do I keep going with it at all, much less repeat almost the exact same phrasing? Why do I have so much trouble maintaining continuity in a topic? I am a dreadful conversationalist- this must be really irritating to others, but half the time I don't even realize that I'm doing it. How can I stop?
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posted by windykites
on Apr 19, 2012 -
7 answers
What are ways to do things without being the person who does those things? (ie. barber can listen to people spill without being a therapist)
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posted by ichomp
on Apr 15, 2012 -
11 answers
I'm having a hard time trying to figure out if a new friendship is one sided and should be tossed, or if I'm just not presenting myself well.
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posted by Zapak
on Mar 10, 2012 -
20 answers
27 years old and in a bit of a career crisis. I've been drifting between dead-end jobs and I want to steer myself into a more satisfying position. I'm especially interested in getting into a creative industry and/or web development/design, or something else that will play to my (self-perceived) strengths of creativity and technical aptitude.
I need advice. So much advice. Perhaps some of you kind folks can help! [NB - This gets pretty long. Also, I'm in London, UK.]
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posted by Drexen
on Mar 5, 2012 -
11 answers
What skills can I acquire that will make me more valuable and more hire-able in the years to come? The world is getting tougher and I want to make sure I always have a job - hopefully, an interesting one.
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posted by bunderful
on Feb 2, 2012 -
12 answers
Is it worth it for me, a software developer with over 15 years' experience to work at a startup in order to update my skill set?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 23, 2012 -
6 answers
What are some good examples of celebrities with hidden talents? I love discovering things like
Tom Green rapping,
Barbara Mandrell playing steel guitar,
Karen Carpenter playing drums,
Charo playing flamenco guitar,
Dudley Moore playing piano, or non-musical talents like Phil Hartmann's artwork or Geena Davis' archery skills. Or maybe not a skill, but a significant accomplishment (e.g., Abe Lincoln earning a patent). I love that kind of stuff. What are some other examples of people generally know for one thing, but holy cow, they could have just as easily been famous for doing another?
posted by holterbarbour
on Dec 14, 2011 -
141 answers
Book filter - I am looking for books and other resources that teach interpersonal communication skills.
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posted by 7life
on Nov 28, 2011 -
5 answers
How can I create a game that will give quest lines, experience, achievements, rewards for accomplishing social life skills?
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posted by Wuggie Norple
on Sep 8, 2011 -
4 answers
My friend never seems able to sing melodies but always accidentally harmonises. Is this as rare as I think it is?
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posted by joboe
on Aug 26, 2011 -
15 answers
I work for a financial services firm dealing with high-net-worth clients and I have been tasked with helping a new-ish (young) male co-worker with his client service phone skills.
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posted by Mysticalchick
on Aug 18, 2011 -
10 answers
Are there any ENFPs (Myers-Briggs Type) medical doctors out there with advice on how to get through all of the mundane, logical coursework that prerequisites and medical school classes entail?
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posted by sunnychef88
on Aug 16, 2011 -
10 answers
I have a request from one of my clients to build a web app that's beyond what I've ever done before. Could anyone point me at some solutions or places to bone-up?
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posted by humboldt32
on Aug 8, 2011 -
7 answers
What are some performances, tasks, or other skills where the really difficult, impressive parts actually look quite unassuming and may need a trained eye to appreciate? I'm not talking about "Oh, he makes it look easy/effortless" but rather watching something and then finding out afterward that you were looking at completely the wrong thing. E.g., in Rothfuss's "Name of the Wind," the protagonist snaps a lute string during an important audition and finishes anyway by re-arranging the rest of the song to use only his remaining strings. Half the audience thinks he passes the audition because he played a beautiful and difficult song, but the musicians in the crowd know it's because he improvised the end to a difficult song on a damaged instrument.
posted by d. z. wang
on May 23, 2011 -
50 answers
Sometimes I supervise graduate students who are not native speakers of English and their written and oral communication abilities are not that great. I can comment on drafts for things to be sent elsewhere, but the worst thing is that grammatical problems mean that it is sometimes impossible or difficult for me to understand one of these students. I think usually they don't understand the problem when I try to explain it. Are there any books I could suggest that they read? Can you suggest other things that I can do to improve this?
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posted by grouse
on May 17, 2011 -
14 answers
How do you manage your knowledge? What do you do about the inevitability of losing the skills you don't practice?
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posted by Nomyte
on May 1, 2011 -
12 answers
Getting into web design (or maybe graphic design?) professionally a couple years after completing a good but in some ways lacking college education. I'm looking to fill in the blanks in my knowledge. Am I on the right track?
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posted by miraimatt
on Mar 6, 2011 -
8 answers
I made a turn in my life about 7 years ago and it was a wrong turn. Now I need some assistance backing out, turning around and figuring out a new path. (possible tl, dr)
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posted by Sophie1
on Feb 11, 2011 -
24 answers
I'm looking to learn a new skill in my spare time without having to think too much about it.
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posted by crLLC
on Jan 18, 2011 -
21 answers
What companies are working with education systems to ensure graduates have relevant skills?
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posted by emkelley
on Jan 10, 2011 -
9 answers
How do you maintain (and relearn) skills and knowledge you don't get to use often? Special shame spiral details inside.
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posted by unannihilated
on Nov 17, 2010 -
8 answers
What is the best path towards becoming a competent woodworker? I would ultimately love to build myself built-in book shelving, a bar, or a deck. I am not looking to build fine furniture. The problem is I don't have a clue about woodworking. Where do I start without embarrassing or mauling myself?
posted by jasondigitized
on Nov 5, 2010 -
17 answers
Help! I'm really really bad at computer programming interviews. Unfortunately ... I'm a computer programmer.
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posted by coelacanth!
on Oct 21, 2010 -
31 answers
I freelance in healthcare advertising copywriting. Never learned to use a PC.. All ad firms I've worked at-staff & freelance used Macs for all Creative Dept. Latest gig I was given an old PC to produce a lot of copy quickly. What to do?
posted by Summer05
on Oct 16, 2010 -
20 answers
What should I learn/do to improve my chances of getting a web-related job/be a successful freelancer?
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posted by Memo
on Sep 21, 2010 -
4 answers
