Job thread

[Rasix]

I was able to talk to a human!

"We sent you a hard copy check."
"Why did you do that?"
"Reasons. None that make sense. We also sent it to your old address.  Why didn't you update it?"
"Because I haven't gotten mail from this company in over 11 years."

[Paelos]

Coincidentally, we got an internal email from the people just under the president of the university to generate a list of services we provide to the colleges we serve. To me, it came off like, "Justify your existence."

That's exactly what it was. And if employees don't have a good answer it's going to look like they are ranting about dealing with customers so the engineers don't have to.

[Fabricated]

I'M A GODDAMN PEOPLE PERSON

[Fabricated]

Coincidentally, we got an internal email from the people just under the president of the university to generate a list of services we provide to the colleges we serve. To me, it came off like, "Justify your existence."

That's exactly what it was. And if employees don't have a good answer it's going to look like they are ranting about dealing with customers so the engineers don't have to.

It was to our director, who then forwarded it to all of us to help contribute to a document with all of our services.

So that kinda makes it feel even worse.

[Merusk]

Coincidentally, we got an internal email from the people just under the president of the university to generate a list of services we provide to the colleges we serve. To me, it came off like, "Justify your existence."

That's exactly what it was. And if employees don't have a good answer it's going to look like they are ranting about dealing with customers so the engineers don't have to.

It was to our director, who then forwarded it to all of us to help contribute to a document with all of our services.

So that kinda makes it feel even worse.

It is worse. The director can't even be bothered to  justify your exsistence, fuck him. Sounds like time to find another job then send a, "Nothing that couldn't be outsourced to a private firm for 1/4 the cost*" email on your way out.

* At 10x the response time.. did I forget to mention that? Damn.

[Signe]

My nephew is doing amazingly well although he works for an evil company.  He joined the Air Force and spent 15 years there.  He really doesn't love the military but he was at an odd point in his life.  He did the usual for a couple years and then was sent to learn Chinese.  He taught service men Chinese for a couple years and they they sent him off to learn computer-y stuffs and internet security.  He did that until he left the service and he started working for an evil company (imo) doing their junk.  The NSA (I cry tears of blood) counts his service as xp so he's there 15 years right off the bat and he's been there for about 5 years now.  Or so.  He has amazing benefits, 4 or 5 weeks holiday I think and 8 hours personal/sick time every pay period - 2 weeks.  There's a plan for you young guys!  By the way, he LOVES his work.  Even though it's for those nosy people who are probably reading this right now.  Some how I'm proud of him.  Because of the extensive training and education (he got a PhD and 2 Masters)  it's unlikely he'll have to worry about finding a job or being made redundant.  This would be a great (and relatively inexpensive) career path for a lad who doesn't abhor government and military stuff like me.  Srsly.

His ancient mother is very proud of him.

[Paelos]

Well it's good to know you're related to the people reading my email.

[Miasma]

Edit: Wrong thread...

[Yegolev]

I know a guy with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering who can't keep a job outside academia.

[Fabricated]

I know a guy with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering who can't keep a job outside academia.

The PhD is the problem.

[Yegolev]

I think it's more of a symptom.

[Kail]

I know a guy with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering who can't keep a job outside academia.

The PhD is the problem.

You also know a guy with a BS in Mechanical Engineering who can't keep a job (), so probably not the ONLY problem.

[Bunk]

My father is the Engineering Manager (and chief engineer) for a heavy logging equipment firm. He has no degrees. He didn't actually graduate from high school. So you never know.

[Yegolev]

I don't have a degree, and I own four cats and an entire car.  You never know, indeed.

[Paelos]

I have two degrees and run an accounting department.

My friend in Wisconsin has no degree, works in HVAC, and he's the only one in his family who owns his own house.

It's all about what you're willing to do that's in demand and the kind of person you are.

[Yegolev]

This is being circulated at work in an effort to get people out of email chain discussions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYhdbxj-yoI

[Paelos]

That's greeeeeeat

[Yegolev]

After four months, my boss finally asked about my Business Cat mug.

[Signe]

Will you show us?

[Yegolev]

[Soln]

Want

[Tannhauser]

I have an interview tomorrow!  Reasonable pay, but I'm just taking it to have an income and insurance for now, if I get it. 

[Yegolev]

Good luck!

[Signe]

I love that mug!  And good luck, Soln.  Money is convenient.

[Viin]

Any tips for how to find a job that pays the bills and provides value to society?

[Chimpy]

It depends on what your bills are 

[Yegolev]

Best answer ever.

OK, so I did think about this for a bit and I believe the job-seeking advice of seeking particular companies, or maybe particular industries, would apply strongly here.

In my particular case, I was really seeking some way to jump into CLOUD but I also restricted myself to companies that I wanted to work for.  Now I more-or-less work in a scientific data corporation that does directly benefit people.

I did apply to other places, such as Habitat for Humanity, they just didn't happen to understand how valuable I am.  So make a list of companies/institutions and then do the usual networking and so on.

[Merusk]

Any tips for how to find a job that pays the bills and provides value to society?

They all do. Your problem is they don't contribute to a society that you want to live in. 

That said, as Yegolev found-out non-profits aren't going to understand your skills, nor what value you bring to the table. No companies I know of outside of the Financial or Technology sectors will do that if you're in a tech career. They either don't understand technology (thus why they're not in that field) or don't do the actual C:B analysis to see how that value is gained.

[Trippy]

Any tips for how to find a job that pays the bills and provides value to society?

What do you do?

[Ironwood]

Best answer ever.

OK, so I did think about this for a bit and I believe the job-seeking advice of seeking particular companies, or maybe particular industries, would apply strongly here.

In my particular case, I was really seeking some way to jump into CLOUD but I also restricted myself to companies that I wanted to work for.  Now I more-or-less work in a scientific data corporation that does directly benefit people.

I did apply to other places, such as Habitat for Humanity, they just didn't happen to understand how valuable I am.  So make a list of companies/institutions and then do the usual networking and so on.

So, I work in THE CLOUD and I'm currently one of the bigger providers to 3rd sector organisations and let me tell you something :

Charities Don't Get It.

Microsoft provides charities most of this shit for free and they STILL won't take it up because most charities are actually fucking backwards and run by utter fucking decrepit morons.

True Story.

I can think of 2 out of the 100 or so I've dealt with over the years that have actually managed to get value out of a fucking free product.

Sheesh.

[HaemishM]

I have to agree with Ironwood on that one. The charities I've worked for always use the excuse of "We can't spend money to be like a big business" attitude, when what they are really saying is "I don't know how to turn my computer on and any competent IT person I hire I will denigrate, overwork and generally pester until they commit suicide or go find a real job."

[Yegolev]

What is 3rd sector?  New term to me.

[Merusk]

I have to agree with Ironwood on that one. The charities I've worked for always use the excuse of "We can't spend money to be like a big business" attitude, when what they are really saying is "I don't know how to turn my computer on and any competent IT person I hire I will denigrate, overwork and generally pester until they commit suicide or go find a real job."

Isn't that what I just said? 

[Yegolev]

Yes, but he doesn't necessarily agree with you.

[Paelos]

I have to agree with Ironwood on that one. The charities I've worked for always use the excuse of "We can't spend money to be like a big business" attitude, when what they are really saying is "I don't know how to turn my computer on and any competent IT person I hire I will denigrate, overwork and generally pester until they commit suicide or go find a real job."

I did NFP Audits in my old job. They vary wildly. The more artsy or if they were that intermingled with high-value people? The more likely they were to understand the value of tech.

That being said, they are all horribly slow, inefficient, and make a local pipe shop look well run.