I am a journalist in a big media group. I have just had a friendly message from the chairman asking if his nephew can do a week's work experience with me. I'm not keen, because it is extra work having a teenager around and I don't particularly want him reporting back on how I am doing. However, our organisation lurches from one crisis to another and we all live in constant fear of redundancy. Surely no one fires someone who has just done their nephew a good turn?
Journalist, male, 36
LUCY'S ANSWER
Your first big mistake was to think your chairman was asking you a question. Actually, he was telling you, in the most charming way, to take his nephew. Your problem now is how to keep the boy amused for a week without falling into despair yourself.
Various readers have suggested you will enjoy "mentoring" this boy. That is extremely unlikely. Most people are journalists because they are loners who like writing - a solitary activity that is dull as a spectator sport and is not improved by having a fidgeting teenager at one's elbow.
However, although taking him is a nuisance, it does give you the opportunity to impress. I suggest you e-mail the chairman promptly saying you are devising the most varied week possible for him.
This means that you can then farm him out. Even if you don't have anyone working under you, you can still force others to take him for a day by invoking the chairman's name.
I suggest you make others entertain him for the first four days but keep him for the last. Then take him to a press conference and set him to work writing an article. He will almost certainly write something unusable, which you will then rewrite, congratulating him heartily and putting his name on it. He will be thrilled and remember it forever.
To ram the point home, cut the piece out of the newspaper, send it to the chairman with a little handwritten note saying that he was a star. Given that your chairman evidently believes in nepotism - or else he would not have thrust the lad on you - your job may be safe for a bit.
You say that your company lurches from one crisis to another - in that case your chairman may lose his job before you lose yours.
YOUR ADVICE
Donkey work
Having a work experience person is a great opportunity to get somebody else to do all the crap tasks you have been putting off. And while you're about it, try to turn the week to your advantage; take him to the pub, buy him a few pints and explain the anxiety staff feel about the constant crises. He may end up reporting that back to the chairman.
Editor, male, 41
My girl
I've just guided my own daughter through a training programme and asked several people to give her time in their offices. Everyone who came to know her enjoyed a nice warm glow from helping her, and I personally feel much better disposed to these people and will help them if I can.
Journalist, male
Ditherer
If you have taken over a week to work out how to reply to a simple friendly request, then your chairman will have concluded you're not up to being a journalist. It doesn't matter what you reply now. Your time is better spent looking for another job.
Ex-director, male, 56
Network down
Refusing to invest in tomorrow's youth is not only selfish, it is stupid. Mentoring is an enriching activity that will grow your own people talents. You will find that networking down is as important as networking up.
Consultant, female, 47
Return favour
You should. But find a smart but underprivileged teenager who would benefit from a week's placement in your chairman's office and ask him to take the kid in return.
You do your bit for social mobility, the chairman's nephew gets a leg up, and you are never bothered again.
Creative director, male, 38
Your first big mistake was to think your chairman was asking you a question. Actually, he was telling you, in the most charming way, to take his nephew. Your problem now is how to keep the boy amused for a week without falling into despair yourself.
Various readers have suggested you will enjoy "mentoring" this boy. That is extremely unlikely. Most people are journalists because they are loners who like writing - a solitary activity that is dull as a spectator sport and is not improved by having a fidgeting teenager at one's elbow.
However, although taking him is a nuisance, it does give you the opportunity to impress. I suggest you e-mail the chairman promptly saying you are devising the most varied week possible for him.
This means that you can then farm him out. Even if you don't have anyone working under you, you can still force others to take him for a day by invoking the chairman's name.
I suggest you make others entertain him for the first four days but keep him for the last. Then take him to a press conference and set him to work writing an article. He will almost certainly write something unusable, which you will then rewrite, congratulating him heartily and putting his name on it. He will be thrilled and remember it forever.
To ram the point home, cut the piece out of the newspaper, send it to the chairman with a little handwritten note saying that he was a star. Given that your chairman evidently believes in nepotism - or else he would not have thrust the lad on you - your job may be safe for a bit.
You say that your company lurches from one crisis to another - in that case your chairman may lose his job before you lose yours.
YOUR ADVICE
Donkey work
Having a work experience person is a great opportunity to get somebody else to do all the crap tasks you have been putting off. And while you're about it, try to turn the week to your advantage; take him to the pub, buy him a few pints and explain the anxiety staff feel about the constant crises. He may end up reporting that back to the chairman.
Editor, male, 41
My girl
I've just guided my own daughter through a training programme and asked several people to give her time in their offices. Everyone who came to know her enjoyed a nice warm glow from helping her, and I personally feel much better disposed to these people and will help them if I can.
Journalist, male
Ditherer
If you have taken over a week to work out how to reply to a simple friendly request, then your chairman will have concluded you're not up to being a journalist. It doesn't matter what you reply now. Your time is better spent looking for another job.
Ex-director, male, 56
Network down
Refusing to invest in tomorrow's youth is not only selfish, it is stupid. Mentoring is an enriching activity that will grow your own people talents. You will find that networking down is as important as networking up.
Consultant, female, 47
Return favour
You should. But find a smart but underprivileged teenager who would benefit from a week's placement in your chairman's office and ask him to take the kid in return.
You do your bit for social mobility, the chairman's nephew gets a leg up, and you are never bothered again.
Creative director, male, 38
我是个记者，在一家大型传媒集团工作。我刚刚收到董事长的一个友好信息，问我是否能让他的侄子跟我实习一周。我不想这样，因为带个小孩儿在身边是件额外的差事，而我尤其不想让他回去报告我是怎么工作的。然而，我们公司总徘徊在一个接一个的危机之间，所有人都生活在持续不断的裁员担忧之中。确实没人会解雇一个刚刚对他们侄子有过恩惠的人吗？
记者，男，36岁
露西的回答
你犯的第一个大错是，你认为你的董事长是在问你一个问题。实际上，他是以一种非常迷人的方式告诉你：收下他的侄子。你现在的问题是如何让这孩子开心地过上一周，同时保证自己别陷入绝望。
很多读者建议你享受一下"指导"这个孩子的过程。这实在是不可能。大多数人之所以成为记者，就因为他们是喜欢写东西的独处者。写作是个单独活动，就像有很多观众的体育比赛一样无聊。而且，有个坐立不安的小伙子在眼前晃来晃去并不会改善什么。
然而，尽管带他一起工作是件麻烦事，但这确实给了你一个留下好印象的机会。我建议你立刻发电邮给董事长，说你正在为这孩子设计活动最丰富的一周。
这意味着，之后可以把他放出去。即便你没有手下，你仍可以借用董事长的名义，迫使其他人带他出去一天。
我建议你前四天让其他人招待他，但最后一天自己把他留下来。然后带他去一个记者招待会，让他写篇文章。几乎可以确定的是，他写的东西没法用，那么你就重写一遍，衷心地祝贺他，并在上面署上他的名字。他将激动得发抖，并永远记住这件事。
为了把事情做到家，你要从报纸上把那篇文章剪下来，寄给董事长，附上一张小小的手写字条，就说他是个新星。鉴于你们董事长显然相信裙带关系（否则他不会将这个孩子推给你），你的工作可能会安全一点儿。
你说你们公司徘徊于一个接一个的危机之间，如果是这样的话，那你们董事长可能会在你之前丢掉自己的工作。
读者的建议
单调乏味的工作
有个实习生是个非常好的机会，可以让别人做所有你一直懒得做的无聊工作。在你这么做的同时，尝试着让这一周对你有利；带他去酒吧，给他买些饮料，解释一下员工对持续不断危机的焦虑。他可能最终会向董事长汇报这些。
编辑，男，41岁
我的女儿
我刚刚引荐我自己的女儿参加了一个培训项目，并请几个人指导指导她。每个指导她的人，都在帮助她的过程中散发着友好热情的光芒，我个人觉得更喜欢这些人了，而且如果我能做到的话，我将会帮助他们。
记者，男
优柔寡断的人
如果你花了一周时间去研究如何回答一个简单的友好请求，那么，你们董事长将得出这样的结论：你不适合做一名记者。你现在如何回答无关紧要。最好把你的时间花在找另一份工作上。
前主管，男，56岁
向下的关系网
拒绝在明天的年轻人身上下功夫，不仅自私，而且愚蠢。"指导"是一项丰富充实的活动，将培养你自己的人才。向下的关系网与向上的关系网一样重要。
顾问，女，47岁
礼尚往来
你应该接受。但要找一个聪明、地位较低、能从在你们董事长办公室实习一周就受益匪浅的孩子，作为交换，让董事长收下他。
你为社会流动性做了一点贡献，董事长的侄子获得了帮助，而你再也不会被打扰了。
创意主管，男，38岁。
关键字:双语新闻
生词表:
Journalist, male, 36
LUCY'S ANSWER
Your first big mistake was to think your chairman was asking you a question. Actually, he was telling you, in the most charming way, to take his nephew. Your problem now is how to keep the boy amused for a week without falling into despair yourself.
Various readers have suggested you will enjoy "mentoring" this boy. That is extremely unlikely. Most people are journalists because they are loners who like writing - a solitary activity that is dull as a spectator sport and is not improved by having a fidgeting teenager at one's elbow.
However, although taking him is a nuisance, it does give you the opportunity to impress. I suggest you e-mail the chairman promptly saying you are devising the most varied week possible for him.
This means that you can then farm him out. Even if you don't have anyone working under you, you can still force others to take him for a day by invoking the chairman's name.
I suggest you make others entertain him for the first four days but keep him for the last. Then take him to a press conference and set him to work writing an article. He will almost certainly write something unusable, which you will then rewrite, congratulating him heartily and putting his name on it. He will be thrilled and remember it forever.
To ram the point home, cut the piece out of the newspaper, send it to the chairman with a little handwritten note saying that he was a star. Given that your chairman evidently believes in nepotism - or else he would not have thrust the lad on you - your job may be safe for a bit.
You say that your company lurches from one crisis to another - in that case your chairman may lose his job before you lose yours.
YOUR ADVICE
Donkey work
Having a work experience person is a great opportunity to get somebody else to do all the crap tasks you have been putting off. And while you're about it, try to turn the week to your advantage; take him to the pub, buy him a few pints and explain the anxiety staff feel about the constant crises. He may end up reporting that back to the chairman.
Editor, male, 41
My girl
I've just guided my own daughter through a training programme and asked several people to give her time in their offices. Everyone who came to know her enjoyed a nice warm glow from helping her, and I personally feel much better disposed to these people and will help them if I can.
Journalist, male
Ditherer
If you have taken over a week to work out how to reply to a simple friendly request, then your chairman will have concluded you're not up to being a journalist. It doesn't matter what you reply now. Your time is better spent looking for another job.
Ex-director, male, 56
Network down
Refusing to invest in tomorrow's youth is not only selfish, it is stupid. Mentoring is an enriching activity that will grow your own people talents. You will find that networking down is as important as networking up.
Consultant, female, 47
Return favour
You should. But find a smart but underprivileged teenager who would benefit from a week's placement in your chairman's office and ask him to take the kid in return.
You do your bit for social mobility, the chairman's nephew gets a leg up, and you are never bothered again.
Creative director, male, 38
Your first big mistake was to think your chairman was asking you a question. Actually, he was telling you, in the most charming way, to take his nephew. Your problem now is how to keep the boy amused for a week without falling into despair yourself.
Various readers have suggested you will enjoy "mentoring" this boy. That is extremely unlikely. Most people are journalists because they are loners who like writing - a solitary activity that is dull as a spectator sport and is not improved by having a fidgeting teenager at one's elbow.
However, although taking him is a nuisance, it does give you the opportunity to impress. I suggest you e-mail the chairman promptly saying you are devising the most varied week possible for him.
This means that you can then farm him out. Even if you don't have anyone working under you, you can still force others to take him for a day by invoking the chairman's name.
I suggest you make others entertain him for the first four days but keep him for the last. Then take him to a press conference and set him to work writing an article. He will almost certainly write something unusable, which you will then rewrite, congratulating him heartily and putting his name on it. He will be thrilled and remember it forever.
To ram the point home, cut the piece out of the newspaper, send it to the chairman with a little handwritten note saying that he was a star. Given that your chairman evidently believes in nepotism - or else he would not have thrust the lad on you - your job may be safe for a bit.
You say that your company lurches from one crisis to another - in that case your chairman may lose his job before you lose yours.
YOUR ADVICE
Donkey work
Having a work experience person is a great opportunity to get somebody else to do all the crap tasks you have been putting off. And while you're about it, try to turn the week to your advantage; take him to the pub, buy him a few pints and explain the anxiety staff feel about the constant crises. He may end up reporting that back to the chairman.
Editor, male, 41
My girl
I've just guided my own daughter through a training programme and asked several people to give her time in their offices. Everyone who came to know her enjoyed a nice warm glow from helping her, and I personally feel much better disposed to these people and will help them if I can.
Journalist, male
Ditherer
If you have taken over a week to work out how to reply to a simple friendly request, then your chairman will have concluded you're not up to being a journalist. It doesn't matter what you reply now. Your time is better spent looking for another job.
Ex-director, male, 56
Network down
Refusing to invest in tomorrow's youth is not only selfish, it is stupid. Mentoring is an enriching activity that will grow your own people talents. You will find that networking down is as important as networking up.
Consultant, female, 47
Return favour
You should. But find a smart but underprivileged teenager who would benefit from a week's placement in your chairman's office and ask him to take the kid in return.
You do your bit for social mobility, the chairman's nephew gets a leg up, and you are never bothered again.
Creative director, male, 38
我是个记者，在一家大型传媒集团工作。我刚刚收到董事长的一个友好信息，问我是否能让他的侄子跟我实习一周。我不想这样，因为带个小孩儿在身边是件额外的差事，而我尤其不想让他回去报告我是怎么工作的。然而，我们公司总徘徊在一个接一个的危机之间，所有人都生活在持续不断的裁员担忧之中。确实没人会解雇一个刚刚对他们侄子有过恩惠的人吗？
记者，男，36岁
露西的回答
你犯的第一个大错是，你认为你的董事长是在问你一个问题。实际上，他是以一种非常迷人的方式告诉你：收下他的侄子。你现在的问题是如何让这孩子开心地过上一周，同时保证自己别陷入绝望。
很多读者建议你享受一下"指导"这个孩子的过程。这实在是不可能。大多数人之所以成为记者，就因为他们是喜欢写东西的独处者。写作是个单独活动，就像有很多观众的体育比赛一样无聊。而且，有个坐立不安的小伙子在眼前晃来晃去并不会改善什么。
然而，尽管带他一起工作是件麻烦事，但这确实给了你一个留下好印象的机会。我建议你立刻发电邮给董事长，说你正在为这孩子设计活动最丰富的一周。
这意味着，之后可以把他放出去。即便你没有手下，你仍可以借用董事长的名义，迫使其他人带他出去一天。
我建议你前四天让其他人招待他，但最后一天自己把他留下来。然后带他去一个记者招待会，让他写篇文章。几乎可以确定的是，他写的东西没法用，那么你就重写一遍，衷心地祝贺他，并在上面署上他的名字。他将激动得发抖，并永远记住这件事。
为了把事情做到家，你要从报纸上把那篇文章剪下来，寄给董事长，附上一张小小的手写字条，就说他是个新星。鉴于你们董事长显然相信裙带关系（否则他不会将这个孩子推给你），你的工作可能会安全一点儿。
你说你们公司徘徊于一个接一个的危机之间，如果是这样的话，那你们董事长可能会在你之前丢掉自己的工作。
读者的建议
单调乏味的工作
有个实习生是个非常好的机会，可以让别人做所有你一直懒得做的无聊工作。在你这么做的同时，尝试着让这一周对你有利；带他去酒吧，给他买些饮料，解释一下员工对持续不断危机的焦虑。他可能最终会向董事长汇报这些。
编辑，男，41岁
我的女儿
我刚刚引荐我自己的女儿参加了一个培训项目，并请几个人指导指导她。每个指导她的人，都在帮助她的过程中散发着友好热情的光芒，我个人觉得更喜欢这些人了，而且如果我能做到的话，我将会帮助他们。
记者，男
优柔寡断的人
如果你花了一周时间去研究如何回答一个简单的友好请求，那么，你们董事长将得出这样的结论：你不适合做一名记者。你现在如何回答无关紧要。最好把你的时间花在找另一份工作上。
前主管，男，56岁
向下的关系网
拒绝在明天的年轻人身上下功夫，不仅自私，而且愚蠢。"指导"是一项丰富充实的活动，将培养你自己的人才。向下的关系网与向上的关系网一样重要。
顾问，女，47岁
礼尚往来
你应该接受。但要找一个聪明、地位较低、能从在你们董事长办公室实习一周就受益匪浅的孩子，作为交换，让董事长收下他。
你为社会流动性做了一点贡献，董事长的侄子获得了帮助，而你再也不会被打扰了。
创意主管，男，38岁。
关键字:双语新闻
生词表:
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