EILEEN'S JOB SKILLS

There's more to being a fairy godmother than just waving the old wand about (though Eileen is phenomenally good at that).

Crucial job skills for those who want to make a living in the magical world and, most of all, get to live longer than the average mayfly include:-

1. Summing people/foul fiends/monsters/other magical beings up quickly and accurately.  You've got to know who you must zap and why before they get to sum you up and zap you.
2. Being able to use magic appropriately.  There is no point in wasting magical energy.  It only drains the user and so can make them more vulnerable.  Eileen doesn't believe in being vulnerable to any other magical being.
3. Having a wide range of spells to call on in an emergency.
4. Knowing which of those spells is most appropriate for said emergency.
5. Having a very wide range of defensive spells.  It's vital not to be caught out.  You are rarely given the equivalent of a magical fine here.  You live or you die.  That's it. 
   
6. Knowing the pattern of stories.  History (and in the Fairy Kingdom fairy tales belong in that category) repeats itself.  Eileen knows this and tries to use this to her advantage.  It also helps with 1 above.
7. Reading widely on the latest magical practices, being aware the more astute of your rivals are doing exactly the same thing. 
   
8. Practising spells regularly and safely.  You don't want the things rebounding for one thing.  Regular practice here is the magical equivalent of athletic training, writers practising their craft and so on.
9. Not being taken in by the glib.  For Eileen this means roadtesting new spells and magical techniques and deciding for herself what most suits her.  She only uses reviews (where given) as a rough guide only.  And she is always suspicious of anyone trying to charm her.  She believes they're after something she's not ready to give.  This attitude has stood her in very good stead over the years.
10. Never ever letting any kind of apprentice work for her.  She regularly advises the more honourable wizards of the perils of this, advising them if they must take on help, never let them do the cleaning magically.  It rarely ends well.