What is hacking you off today?

[Mad Cyril]

It's just really frustrating, and plays havoc with your motivation. The people I work with are really nice, and aren't the problem, but I find it very difficult to maintain a professional outlook when I keep wondering if I'm going to get paid for all the work they keep piling on.

My problem is I'm too lazy to look elsewhere for a contract. However, I've told them that even if they want to renew after August I'm taking September off. This is for two reasons. Firstly, I need to have a month off so that I can work elsewhere even for a few days here and there, i.e. have other contracts. I have something lined up with my wife's company. (She needs a whole load of work done which will take about a week.) I also have a couple of friends with companies that need some work done. All are happy to wait. By doing all that I can demonstrate to HMRC that I really am a contractor! Secondly, my wife will hopefully be having her back surgery (a year late) in September so that it will be useful for me to be around.

I can also use that month to see what else is out there...

I am taking a month at least before I even look for another job.

I am going to acquire some new skills during that time and make sure I escape banking forever.

Unless someone offers stupid money of course...

 

[MK Shrimper]

I am taking a month at least before I even look for another job.

I am going to acquire some new skills during that time and make sure I escape banking forever.

Unless someone offers stupid money of course...

According to one of our now departed contractors the software industry is crying out for people with knowledge of old languages like COBOL and FORTRAN. We're getting kids who can write Object Orientated stuff like C# & Java in their sleep, so I imagine it's the language of choice in Computer Science at Uni, but they can't handle the older code. We've got business critical software that still runs in FORTRAN and the guy who wrote it retired and left no doumentation!

 

[londonblue]

No excuse.

If they are anything like my agents they have been sitting on the money for a month at least...

I don't have an agent. I invoice the company directly.

 

[Mad Cyril]

According to one of our now departed contractors the software industry is crying out for people with knowledge of old languages like COBOL and FORTRAN.

Which is fine if you like maintaining things rather than creating them.

Scala is my main skill set at the moment.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I don't have an agent. I invoice the company directly.

Send some boys in.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Which is fine if you like maintaining things rather than creating them.

Scala is my main skill set at the moment.

Where the money is mate. Transport, defence.....all use it.

 

[londonblue]

Send some boys in.

What's your day rate?

 

[Mad Cyril]

A really nasty chest infection.

 

[londonblue]

A really nasty chest infection.

Tell me about it. Came down with man-flu yesterday.

 

[MK Shrimper]

30 years since the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster. Where does the time go?

Reading some of the accounts from the survivors and relatives of the dead is very sobering.

 

[RobM]

The Range store in Pitsea.

I want;
a pack of 7x23" 7mm diameter tent poles with the cord. In store they have...
a pack of 7x23" 7mm diameter tent poles with the cord.:smile:

Can you see a problem yet? Me neither, what can go wrong? Not until I get to the checkout do I find out. The tillman scans the bar code and gets a price of £0.00.:unsure: "Are they in the camping section"? Well, tent poles often are.
He calls an assistant, who calls another. Twenty minutes later yet another assistant tells me they are not for sale! :omg:

 

[MK Shrimper]

So we're advertising for some software developers, one junior one senior and for both (especially the senior) they need a fair bit of experience in using C# (5yrs preferrably). Our glorious HR department has informed us that we're not allowed to state that in any advert, and in fact the advert is so utterly generic we're going to get people who have absolutely 0 experience in software development applying just because their job title states that are an "Engineer" - Track, Civils, Electrical......all no good.

This is no good for the applicant and no good for my boss as he's going to have to filter a ton of pointless CVs, and anyone with the skills we need just won't apply. :angry:

 

[Mad Cyril]

So we're advertising for some software developers, one junior one senior and for both (especially the senior) they need a fair bit of experience in using C# (5yrs preferrably). Our glorious HR department has informed us that we're not allowed to state that in any advert, and in fact the advert is so utterly generic we're going to get people who have absolutely 0 experience in software development applying just because their job title states that are an "Engineer" - Track, Civils, Electrical......all no good.

This is no good for the applicant and no good for my boss as he's going to have to filter a ton of pointless CVs, and anyone with the skills we need just won't apply. :angry:

I enjoy reading peoples CVs.

 

[MK Shrimper]

I enjoy reading peoples CVs.

Agreed, when they're relevant to the role they're applying for!

 

[londonblue]

So we're advertising for some software developers, one junior one senior and for both (especially the senior) they need a fair bit of experience in using C# (5yrs preferrably). Our glorious HR department has informed us that we're not allowed to state that in any advert, and in fact the advert is so utterly generic we're going to get people who have absolutely 0 experience in software development applying just because their job title states that are an "Engineer" - Track, Civils, Electrical......all no good.

This is no good for the applicant and no good for my boss as he's going to have to filter a ton of pointless CVs, and anyone with the skills we need just won't apply. :angry:

I had this kind of thing years ago. I made the HR department filter out the CVs that weren't suitable.

 

[OldBlueLady]

The death of a rhino by poachers in a European zoo. They had the equipment to shoot the rhino three times in the head and a chainsaw to hack his horns off - seriously, WTF kind of security did the zoo have? :angry:

And don't even get me started on the belief that animal body parts have any kind of positive effect on a human body!!! :facepalm:

 

[MK Shrimper]

The death of a rhino by poachers in a European zoo. They had the equipment to shoot the rhino three times in the head and a chainsaw to hack his horns off - seriously, WTF kind of security did the zoo have? :angry:

And don't even get me started on the belief that animal body parts have any kind of positive effect on a human body!!! :facepalm:

Just that on the news....unbelievable and tragic.

 

[SUFC_Ross]

The Range store in Pitsea.

I want;
a pack of 7x23" 7mm diameter tent poles with the cord. In store they have...
a pack of 7x23" 7mm diameter tent poles with the cord.:smile:

Can you see a problem yet? Me neither, what can go wrong? Not until I get to the checkout do I find out. The tillman scans the bar code and gets a price of £0.00.:unsure: "Are they in the camping section"? Well, tent poles often are.
He calls an assistant, who calls another. Twenty minutes later yet another assistant tells me they are not for sale! :omg:

Erm?? I'd like to ask how that's even possible?

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Booked Florida holiday with Virgin a month ago at £20 less each than last year. Week earlier it was being touted at £100 more each than last year, so was very happy.
Looked online tonight, and it's now £150 each less that what I paid, boo!. Guess with the poor $ rate, bookings must be well down, as usually this time of year onwards, the price remains pretty stable and if anything, goes up.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Playstation 4 games with 15000 buttons to press. Just can't get on with them, despite them looking visually gorgeous. Shame.