I like Lorraine. She's goofy looking but seems like fun.
First impressions
2 of 3
So far im liking the look of both Phillip and Mona, and not liking Debra and Kate. Too early to form a solid opinion either way though.
Someone posted this on the BBC apprentice site and i pretty much agree!!
Quote:
“
I think Mona showed good business sense for the following reasons:
1. Ultimately, it would not matter who was team leader at this stage because, with no experience of the rest of the team, they'd be feeling their way anyway. And if we are to believe her stated intention in putting herself forward (i.e. to save time) then we must believe that she showed good business sense here.
2. Her approach in telling the customer that he'd got it all wrong was in this instance well judged and, thanks to her straightforward personality, well put. It showed that she knew herself inasmuch as she could put over a difficult point without causing offence and it showed her confidence in the value of the job she was envisaging was such that she was not going to be stonewalled. And this approach was the pivot on which the guy on the desk capitulated in calling in his colleague whereupon the deal was closed.
3. She was not wrong in allowing the spend that she did because it was clear that neither she nor her team knew much about the task that had been set (e.g. "what's this for?") and therefor, rather than skimp on materials and thereby risk being unable to do the job, she set out to get more work, more income, more profit than might have been possible had she tried to 'play safe.'
4. Given that at this initial stage in the series she was not to know anything about the capabilities or dispositions of her team, and given that they were aiming to undertake nothing more complicated than cleaning cars, albeit a task they didn't know much about anyway, any plan further to going out and getting the work would have been an illusory exercise. So she was right to adopt a 'let's just do it' approach in the circumstances.
Mona's team was let down because the sub-team containing Anita and Debbie made such an incredibly bad job of cleaning their first lot of cars that they lost the chance to clean the second lot which would have made Mona's team the winning team. I say 'incredibly' because it occurred to me that Debbie's only concept of 'preparation' was to get Mona in the boardroom.
So I think Sir Alan was correct to spare Mona. Which of the other two he should have fired I don't think matters much. He'd have been right to fire either of them. He can pick off the other one another time.”
“
I think Mona showed good business sense for the following reasons:
1. Ultimately, it would not matter who was team leader at this stage because, with no experience of the rest of the team, they'd be feeling their way anyway. And if we are to believe her stated intention in putting herself forward (i.e. to save time) then we must believe that she showed good business sense here.
2. Her approach in telling the customer that he'd got it all wrong was in this instance well judged and, thanks to her straightforward personality, well put. It showed that she knew herself inasmuch as she could put over a difficult point without causing offence and it showed her confidence in the value of the job she was envisaging was such that she was not going to be stonewalled. And this approach was the pivot on which the guy on the desk capitulated in calling in his colleague whereupon the deal was closed.
3. She was not wrong in allowing the spend that she did because it was clear that neither she nor her team knew much about the task that had been set (e.g. "what's this for?") and therefor, rather than skimp on materials and thereby risk being unable to do the job, she set out to get more work, more income, more profit than might have been possible had she tried to 'play safe.'
4. Given that at this initial stage in the series she was not to know anything about the capabilities or dispositions of her team, and given that they were aiming to undertake nothing more complicated than cleaning cars, albeit a task they didn't know much about anyway, any plan further to going out and getting the work would have been an illusory exercise. So she was right to adopt a 'let's just do it' approach in the circumstances.
Mona's team was let down because the sub-team containing Anita and Debbie made such an incredibly bad job of cleaning their first lot of cars that they lost the chance to clean the second lot which would have made Mona's team the winning team. I say 'incredibly' because it occurred to me that Debbie's only concept of 'preparation' was to get Mona in the boardroom.
So I think Sir Alan was correct to spare Mona. Which of the other two he should have fired I don't think matters much. He'd have been right to fire either of them. He can pick off the other one another time.”
I completely disagree with every one those points. Especially her approach to the customer telling him he was wrong when her own prices were ridiculous and I also found her to be aggressive and moody, treating your potential customer like an idiot is not the way to sell anything. Then the reference to stinky men! How unprofessional and rude. The only way she got that business was because, as with the other jobs, they had been pre-arranged.
Then to cause trouble in the team by immediately betraying a confidence to save her own backside was out of order.
Although I felt the sub-team were partly responsible for the failure, Mona was too for failing to manage and plan the task effectively.
Mona has absolutely no people skills. She's a lose canon.
Then to cause trouble in the team by immediately betraying a confidence to save her own backside was out of order.
Although I felt the sub-team were partly responsible for the failure, Mona was too for failing to manage and plan the task effectively.
Mona has absolutely no people skills. She's a lose canon.
I missed the first half hour but from what I saw I'll be glad when Debra and Kate go.
Didn't see much of the males, but I'm wondering about the woman with the black-rimmed glasses who seems to be keeping very quiet but is taking it all in.
The camera kept going to her.
Didn't see much of the males, but I'm wondering about the woman with the black-rimmed glasses who seems to be keeping very quiet but is taking it all in.
The camera kept going to her.
I can't remember the names... there were 3 on the women's team who barely got any airtime - the american girl disappeared, the girl with red hair, and the 'puppet' with glasses. Did they contribute so little they didn't bother to show them?
Why is it no-one ever really wants to be team leader in the beginning? They all kept saying, "well, I will if no-one else wants to...." then looked at other team members expectantly. Grasp the opportunity, folks!!
Candidates I likes most from the first episode are:
Phillip, although I think he may prove to be a bit inflexible when told to do things he doesn't want to do.
Blond haired lady, Kate? She seems sassy and seems to have some common sense.
Yasmina was the standout candidate for me in that episode. Great with dealing with people and getting on with the task with positive energy.
Why is it no-one ever really wants to be team leader in the beginning? They all kept saying, "well, I will if no-one else wants to...." then looked at other team members expectantly. Grasp the opportunity, folks!!
Candidates I likes most from the first episode are:
Phillip, although I think he may prove to be a bit inflexible when told to do things he doesn't want to do.
Blond haired lady, Kate? She seems sassy and seems to have some common sense.
Yasmina was the standout candidate for me in that episode. Great with dealing with people and getting on with the task with positive energy.
Phillip, Mona and Debra made the strongest impressions - not all of them positive but I feel they will be three of the most talked about candidates this year.
Originally Posted by Rugby Rose:
“I completely disagree with every one those points. Especially her approach to the customer telling him he was wrong when her own prices were ridiculous and I also found her to be aggressive and moody, treating your potential customer like an idiot is not the way to sell anything. Then the reference to stinky men! How unprofessional and rude.”
“I completely disagree with every one those points. Especially her approach to the customer telling him he was wrong when her own prices were ridiculous and I also found her to be aggressive and moody, treating your potential customer like an idiot is not the way to sell anything. Then the reference to stinky men! How unprofessional and rude.”
And yet she managed to negotiate them 100% above what they claimed they normally paid (fair enough it was way down what they were asking but they didn't have a clue about what they really wanted). You can call her unproffessional and rude but it got her double what they were intially wanted to pay.
Both teams were stunningly inept at cleaning cars!! None of them showed a "team approach" or tried to organise the cleaning process.
A classic first task!!! 17 chiefs and no indians.
JJ
A classic first task!!! 17 chiefs and no indians.
JJ
Originally Posted by brumilad:
“And yet she managed to negotiate them 100% above what they claimed they normally paid (fair enough it was way down what they were asking but they didn't have a clue about what they really wanted). You can call her unproffessional and rude but it got her double what they were intially wanted to pay.”
“And yet she managed to negotiate them 100% above what they claimed they normally paid (fair enough it was way down what they were asking but they didn't have a clue about what they really wanted). You can call her unproffessional and rude but it got her double what they were intially wanted to pay.”
I have no doubt anyone else would have told her to sling her hook having been spoken to like that and with prices like that, if those jobs hadn't already been prearranged.
Have you noticed how everyones job is "Senior.."
Senior sales
Senior business analyst
Senior this...
Senior that...
In my book that just says you are trying to big your job up and you havent got what it takes to be a manager...
Senior sales
Senior business analyst
Senior this...
Senior that...
In my book that just says you are trying to big your job up and you havent got what it takes to be a manager...
Actually liked Mona and thought she handled the selection of herself as PM and the closing down of Katie's attempt at criticism of her in the boardroom was pretty sharp.
Yes her handling of the costings was inept - but none of the others pointed out any mistakes at the time (ain't hindsight a wonderful thing???)
Debra actually did more to lose the girls the task with her ineptitude at the classic car showroom - had they got the contract for the extra 10 cars they would have won! She's definitely NOT a team player, and doesn't seem to realise that she NEEDS to get the others in her team on her side in the early stages as she may need them later on... she's made an enemy already with Mona, and possibly the 2 "puppets" as well
Yes her handling of the costings was inept - but none of the others pointed out any mistakes at the time (ain't hindsight a wonderful thing???)
Debra actually did more to lose the girls the task with her ineptitude at the classic car showroom - had they got the contract for the extra 10 cars they would have won! She's definitely NOT a team player, and doesn't seem to realise that she NEEDS to get the others in her team on her side in the early stages as she may need them later on... she's made an enemy already with Mona, and possibly the 2 "puppets" as well
Really did not take to Mona - not once did she take responsibility for anything that had happened. That's part of being the PM - you are ultimately responsible, if Debra screwed up then it was down to her not being managed properly..if she is a loose cannon then you have to manage her appropriately. In the "real world" you just cannot get away with slopy shouldered behaviour...it wasnt me..it was her/him/the milkman...
Goodness...these people need to show some backbone! I have no idea how some of them have retained the roles they have/had
Goodness...these people need to show some backbone! I have no idea how some of them have retained the roles they have/had
Originally Posted by davey_wavey:
“I went off Mona as soon as she told that guy what he gets charged 'must be wrong'
”
“I went off Mona as soon as she told that guy what he gets charged 'must be wrong'
”
And yet those guys still agreed to let the girls clean the cars for a lot more than they claimed to be being charged by another company...
I was never convinced they were being completely truthful about the price, or if they were, then they were exagerating about the level of service they got for it.
Originally Posted by Tel69:
“First Impressions?? That none of them is as good as they think they are.
”
“First Impressions?? That none of them is as good as they think they are.
”
I completely agree.
None of them stood out for me (for good reasons)
Mona, Debra, Ben - particularly awful
i didn't like how mona held her hand out to shake on the deal, when they were no where near agreement.
it is like people holding their hands open when they want something - like begging....and you feel rude if you don't reciprocate.
it is like people holding their hands open when they want something - like begging....and you feel rude if you don't reciprocate.
Phillip and Debra are in my bad books already.
I think they are grotesque
Hope they stay in for ages
I think they are grotesque
Hope they stay in for ages
This is the first Apprentice I've watched where, at the end, I couldn't remember one person's name. Except that this lot include someone called Rocky. Normally, there's usually a couple, even on first brief inspection, that you think, yeah, s/he's all right or not keen on him/her. This time, nothing. They all seem so dull and dim-witted. The men in particular.
Hope things improve, that's all I got for the moment.
The 'Fired' show was also pretty terrible because of that unbelievably unfunny ****** 'comedian' on the panel, who seemed to think the aftershow was a platform for him to amuse and further his 'career'. I could barely watch it because of him. Hope he's not going to be a regular.
Hope things improve, that's all I got for the moment.
The 'Fired' show was also pretty terrible because of that unbelievably unfunny ****** 'comedian' on the panel, who seemed to think the aftershow was a platform for him to amuse and further his 'career'. I could barely watch it because of him. Hope he's not going to be a regular.
Anita - Quite articulate by Apprentice standards, but far too mopey looking. She dug her own hole by making that indescribably foolish comment and failing to attack Mona and Debra over the fact that they'd also failed to consider their spending.
Ben - Somewhat smarmy. No strong impression.
Debra - Extremely strong character that will never allow herself to be bossed about or intimidated, though seemingly rather lacking in real business skills. She didn't offer any great ideas during the task, sold relatively little, but is a fighter in the boardroom.
Howard - Fairly astute in recognising early on that the interiors would take too long. Worried that he's going to get pushed around by some of the stronger characters on his side. Looks a bit like a fish?
James - Who?
Kate - HILARIOUS lip gymnastics. Clearly wasn't frightened about being the first to stick the knife in when they were in the boardroom. Seems confident enough, but I didn't see anything inspirational from her. She's going to be friendly with Debra, so expect her to be nastier and more underhanded than she might have been on her own.
Kimberly - 'I'm a rough, tough creampuff!' What the hell does that mean, exactly?? Does it work with other teatime snacks? About as meaningful as calling yourself a 'titchy, bitchy chocolate biccie'.
Lorraine - She's got the manner of a plucky underdog, but I can't see her surviving beyond the halfway point at best. Seems like one of those people who has to shout to be heard.
Majid - Apart from the sexist jokes, he seems a bit of a character. If he drops those mildly offensive remarks, he might be very likeable. Annoyed to see that so many people are talking about his faith, when he hasn't even mentioned it. Says a lot about Britain today.
Mona - Moaner indeed. Cringed at the way she spoke to that guy in the cab office, and found her wounded, defensive act a little hard to bear. Thought she was going to cry at one point. Pretty girl though.
Noorul - Laughed at the comments about being posh. I like how enthusiastic he is, but didn't see him do anything particularly stellar.
Paula - Um, pretty hair?
Philip - 100% A-grade PILLOCK. He got good advice from Howard, but proceeded to bitch about him in the most ungentlemanly manner. I can't understand half the things he says, but I can tell it's all venomous. Most definitely the villain of the piece.
Rocky - Got nothing from him.
Yasmina - No real impressions either.
Ben - Somewhat smarmy. No strong impression.
Debra - Extremely strong character that will never allow herself to be bossed about or intimidated, though seemingly rather lacking in real business skills. She didn't offer any great ideas during the task, sold relatively little, but is a fighter in the boardroom.
Howard - Fairly astute in recognising early on that the interiors would take too long. Worried that he's going to get pushed around by some of the stronger characters on his side. Looks a bit like a fish?
James - Who?
Kate - HILARIOUS lip gymnastics. Clearly wasn't frightened about being the first to stick the knife in when they were in the boardroom. Seems confident enough, but I didn't see anything inspirational from her. She's going to be friendly with Debra, so expect her to be nastier and more underhanded than she might have been on her own.
Kimberly - 'I'm a rough, tough creampuff!' What the hell does that mean, exactly?? Does it work with other teatime snacks? About as meaningful as calling yourself a 'titchy, bitchy chocolate biccie'.
Lorraine - She's got the manner of a plucky underdog, but I can't see her surviving beyond the halfway point at best. Seems like one of those people who has to shout to be heard.
Majid - Apart from the sexist jokes, he seems a bit of a character. If he drops those mildly offensive remarks, he might be very likeable. Annoyed to see that so many people are talking about his faith, when he hasn't even mentioned it. Says a lot about Britain today.
Mona - Moaner indeed. Cringed at the way she spoke to that guy in the cab office, and found her wounded, defensive act a little hard to bear. Thought she was going to cry at one point. Pretty girl though.
Noorul - Laughed at the comments about being posh. I like how enthusiastic he is, but didn't see him do anything particularly stellar.
Paula - Um, pretty hair?
Philip - 100% A-grade PILLOCK. He got good advice from Howard, but proceeded to bitch about him in the most ungentlemanly manner. I can't understand half the things he says, but I can tell it's all venomous. Most definitely the villain of the piece.
Rocky - Got nothing from him.
Yasmina - No real impressions either.
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