After having a second interview arranged for Wednesday, plus receiving the first bite of the week, I needed to calm down.
I went into town, a place guaranteed to kill any excitement. After printing off my c.v.s for the interviews on Wednesday, I went into a hardware store.
There I received, one again in breach of apparent regulations, a phone call from an agency.
It was the other agency to whom I applied yesterday. This was for another relocation project. We had a good chat and the agent said he'd know more about the job later on in the week.
Great. Second bite of the week.
Today I also applied for two jobs.
A diary based on my latest attempts to get a job; this time in Munich. I'm an engineering graduate (and chartered engineer) with more than 10 years' experience in IT. Over five of these years have been spent in team leading and project management roles both in the UK and abroad.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Five year olds
Now and then I meet up with a friend who also, as a career, manages IT support-type activities.
Over dinner at say, the Red Fort, whilst sipping an extremely good red wine, one of us will ask the other: "So, how are your five year olds?".
Neither, as far as we know, have children.
But, as I've said, we manage teams.
Now there are exceptions (and if you've ever reported to me, or Clive, and are reading this blog, you're definitely one of the exceptions). But as a manager you sometimes get the feeling that your team members are a bunch of five year olds.
In fact, since becoming a manager, there's at least one early manager of me, to whom, I feel, I should apologise.
When I became a manager of managers I felt a relief as I'd at last have sensible (in my view) direct reports.
Let's just say I was disappointed.
Over dinner at say, the Red Fort, whilst sipping an extremely good red wine, one of us will ask the other: "So, how are your five year olds?".
Neither, as far as we know, have children.
But, as I've said, we manage teams.
Now there are exceptions (and if you've ever reported to me, or Clive, and are reading this blog, you're definitely one of the exceptions). But as a manager you sometimes get the feeling that your team members are a bunch of five year olds.
In fact, since becoming a manager, there's at least one early manager of me, to whom, I feel, I should apologise.
When I became a manager of managers I felt a relief as I'd at last have sensible (in my view) direct reports.
Let's just say I was disappointed.
More excitement
After sorting out the second interview on Wednesday I received another phone call.
Despite all the regulations that seem to be in place this one called whilst I was sitting next to the phone. It was, of course, another agency. One to whom I applied on Sunday.
They were advertising for an IT relocation project manager. The advert had said that the candidate needed experience of managing five project managers. Well, I felt they were being a bit too pernickety: I have experience of managing much larger numbers of people plus managing managers (see next post). So despite not having actually managed five project managers I still applied.
As the agent explained his client was a Japanese bank. And he said that if they ask for experience in managing five project managers then, in all likelihood, that's what they'll want.
This seemed to be the only stumbling block but it's big enough for his client. So, although it was a bite, he probably won't be able to put my name forward (though he will put my c.v. aside).
Despite all the regulations that seem to be in place this one called whilst I was sitting next to the phone. It was, of course, another agency. One to whom I applied on Sunday.
They were advertising for an IT relocation project manager. The advert had said that the candidate needed experience of managing five project managers. Well, I felt they were being a bit too pernickety: I have experience of managing much larger numbers of people plus managing managers (see next post). So despite not having actually managed five project managers I still applied.
As the agent explained his client was a Japanese bank. And he said that if they ask for experience in managing five project managers then, in all likelihood, that's what they'll want.
This seemed to be the only stumbling block but it's big enough for his client. So, although it was a bite, he probably won't be able to put my name forward (though he will put my c.v. aside).
Quite a Monday
As usual, an agency phoned me whilst I was in the bathroom this morning.
Four times.
I phoned him back once I finished. It was the agency who called me on Thursday about a consultancy job.
Apparently their client's CEO saw my c.v. and wants to see me.
The company is in London, in the City, and I arranged to see them on Wednesday afternoon. This is efficient as I already have an interview at 9am in London.
Now, I was going to meet a recruiter of another consultancy at 2pm on Wednesday for an informal chat. I called her and she was happy to see me later on in the day, basically when I'm ready. So, that's even more efficient.
Plus I'll probably meet up with a couple of people afterwards for a beer before heading back to Sussex. Super efficient.
Now the agency asked if I had managed to see the company's website over the weekend. Well, to be honest, no. The reason? He was unwilling to give me their name last week.
And when I started looking at the company's details this morning I realised that I didn't have a job spec. I phoned him up again and he sent one over, although, as he warned me, it's not a very specific job spec.
What's that thing on my head? Hair. Tomorrow I get a haircut.
Four times.
I phoned him back once I finished. It was the agency who called me on Thursday about a consultancy job.
Apparently their client's CEO saw my c.v. and wants to see me.
The company is in London, in the City, and I arranged to see them on Wednesday afternoon. This is efficient as I already have an interview at 9am in London.
Now, I was going to meet a recruiter of another consultancy at 2pm on Wednesday for an informal chat. I called her and she was happy to see me later on in the day, basically when I'm ready. So, that's even more efficient.
Plus I'll probably meet up with a couple of people afterwards for a beer before heading back to Sussex. Super efficient.
Now the agency asked if I had managed to see the company's website over the weekend. Well, to be honest, no. The reason? He was unwilling to give me their name last week.
And when I started looking at the company's details this morning I realised that I didn't have a job spec. I phoned him up again and he sent one over, although, as he warned me, it's not a very specific job spec.
What's that thing on my head? Hair. Tomorrow I get a haircut.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Early start
This morning I read the Sunday Times on-line.
This afternoon I read the web site of the company I'll be visiting on Wednesday. This included reading their newsletters - all the ones they put on-line. I don't, of course, normally read company newsletters.
BTW to "read the web site of the company" wasn't a small deal - quite extensive. Lots and lots of words.
This evening I did my usual trawl and managed to apply for two jobs which had been advertised after 3pm on Friday.
This afternoon I read the web site of the company I'll be visiting on Wednesday. This included reading their newsletters - all the ones they put on-line. I don't, of course, normally read company newsletters.
BTW to "read the web site of the company" wasn't a small deal - quite extensive. Lots and lots of words.
This evening I did my usual trawl and managed to apply for two jobs which had been advertised after 3pm on Friday.
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Where I live
This fine article wasn't written by me, it appears in a web site devoted to Chavs. In the extract below I've replaced the name of the town with "Dismaltown", which is a good, though understated, alternative.
"When considering the chaviest town in Britain one name is whispered with reverence above all others. Dismaltown! Or L.A. as it is known (your average chavster cannot pronounce an H if his/her life depended on it) the scum-infested town compliments the scum-infested river nicely. There are some nicer parts of the town but the main concentration of chavs lives in the Greenfield’s / highfields area known as HMP Wick to most or Beirut to the Postal service.
Dismaltown can best be described by an analogy, place 20 sick cows in a field, feed them on chicken curry, prunes and Guinness for 6 weeks, remove cows and sprinkle field liberally with burnt out cars. See?
Chavs can be seen migrating in their herds through the verdant pastures of the pedestrian shopping precinct, where some lager/ white lightning drinking will sustain them on there travel or ‘big’ them up for some petty shop lifting, while on the way to the amusement park or to shelters along the seafront. For the more philosophically bent chavs an excellent time can be had by watching the drug boats come in and the dead dogs float down the river and wondering “ so, wot’s life all ‘bout d’yer fink?”
Excellent chav spotting opportunities can also be found at the house of soul pub, formerly known as the cow (pronounced, in the most disgusting southern accent as, ‘caaaaaau’), it has to be heard to be believed, or, alternatively the Tower Club where outside at 2 am the cries of “oi Darlin! ‘ook yer frupnies aaauuut!!!” or “F*** off you C***” signal the end of the nights festivities as the chavs knuckle their way home interspersed with staggering, fighting and marking their territory by the cunning use of vomit.
Burberry, of course, is in evidence with other chavs who are unlucky? enough to own such apparel coo and meow at each other. Vanish as a stain remover is also present as it has been used to wash the chunder from their clothes of the night before, (it is also drunk in it’s liquid form).
Several clan groups can be seen wandering the streets on the lookout to fight with other clans about such monumental issues as “wot your Trace sed ‘bout our Kev in the pub” but only the experienced watcher can spot one clan group from another as they are usually made up of inbred’s. (Count how many fingers they have on their gloves). If the BBC should read this and want to send a Natural history camera crew, please don’t send David Attenborough, this is more a job for Kate Adie.
The roads of L.A. can also be a trap for the unwary as Chav-mobils will race down 100 yard long streets trying to spin their wheels and reach 60 mph before the road ends with music blasting out in the ‘747 landing’ decibel range.
You may, after reading this, wish to out of horrid fascination, visit this chav Mecca but don’t. The death toll is comparable to a bad day in Basra. If you do wish to risk life and limb, stay in the car, roll the windows up and keep above 20 mph or the little bastards will have your wheels off using their trolley jacks decorated with Burberry tartan.
A proposed urban clearance program has been suggested to clear this chav menace but exploding bullets and flamethrowers are believed to be out-lawed by the Geneva Convention and the Hiroshima solution will just create more FLK’s (funny looking kids) than we already have. Still, during this bonfire time of year (the exploding fireworks lend that Beirut authenticity to the place) we can always hope one conflagration gets out of hand…
"When considering the chaviest town in Britain one name is whispered with reverence above all others. Dismaltown! Or L.A. as it is known (your average chavster cannot pronounce an H if his/her life depended on it) the scum-infested town compliments the scum-infested river nicely. There are some nicer parts of the town but the main concentration of chavs lives in the Greenfield’s / highfields area known as HMP Wick to most or Beirut to the Postal service.
Dismaltown can best be described by an analogy, place 20 sick cows in a field, feed them on chicken curry, prunes and Guinness for 6 weeks, remove cows and sprinkle field liberally with burnt out cars. See?
Chavs can be seen migrating in their herds through the verdant pastures of the pedestrian shopping precinct, where some lager/ white lightning drinking will sustain them on there travel or ‘big’ them up for some petty shop lifting, while on the way to the amusement park or to shelters along the seafront. For the more philosophically bent chavs an excellent time can be had by watching the drug boats come in and the dead dogs float down the river and wondering “ so, wot’s life all ‘bout d’yer fink?”
Excellent chav spotting opportunities can also be found at the house of soul pub, formerly known as the cow (pronounced, in the most disgusting southern accent as, ‘caaaaaau’), it has to be heard to be believed, or, alternatively the Tower Club where outside at 2 am the cries of “oi Darlin! ‘ook yer frupnies aaauuut!!!” or “F*** off you C***” signal the end of the nights festivities as the chavs knuckle their way home interspersed with staggering, fighting and marking their territory by the cunning use of vomit.
Burberry, of course, is in evidence with other chavs who are unlucky? enough to own such apparel coo and meow at each other. Vanish as a stain remover is also present as it has been used to wash the chunder from their clothes of the night before, (it is also drunk in it’s liquid form).
Several clan groups can be seen wandering the streets on the lookout to fight with other clans about such monumental issues as “wot your Trace sed ‘bout our Kev in the pub” but only the experienced watcher can spot one clan group from another as they are usually made up of inbred’s. (Count how many fingers they have on their gloves). If the BBC should read this and want to send a Natural history camera crew, please don’t send David Attenborough, this is more a job for Kate Adie.
The roads of L.A. can also be a trap for the unwary as Chav-mobils will race down 100 yard long streets trying to spin their wheels and reach 60 mph before the road ends with music blasting out in the ‘747 landing’ decibel range.
You may, after reading this, wish to out of horrid fascination, visit this chav Mecca but don’t. The death toll is comparable to a bad day in Basra. If you do wish to risk life and limb, stay in the car, roll the windows up and keep above 20 mph or the little bastards will have your wheels off using their trolley jacks decorated with Burberry tartan.
A proposed urban clearance program has been suggested to clear this chav menace but exploding bullets and flamethrowers are believed to be out-lawed by the Geneva Convention and the Hiroshima solution will just create more FLK’s (funny looking kids) than we already have. Still, during this bonfire time of year (the exploding fireworks lend that Beirut authenticity to the place) we can always hope one conflagration gets out of hand…
Friday, October 28, 2005
Suitcases
A relative told me that a suitcase sale was still on in Worthing, a town near me.
I need a new suitcase. My big-assed one is totally broken and my cabin-bag is wearing out fast.
But think about it. Why on earth is there a suitcase sale in Worthing? Why do any shops there sell suitcases? Clearly no-one needs to buy one. If you were able to leave Worthing you would have done so ages ago. If you're still in Worthing (a place where old people go to die) then you're not going to leave and so don't need a suitcase.
Today I applied for two jobs. Neither were in the south coast.
I need a new suitcase. My big-assed one is totally broken and my cabin-bag is wearing out fast.
But think about it. Why on earth is there a suitcase sale in Worthing? Why do any shops there sell suitcases? Clearly no-one needs to buy one. If you were able to leave Worthing you would have done so ages ago. If you're still in Worthing (a place where old people go to die) then you're not going to leave and so don't need a suitcase.
Today I applied for two jobs. Neither were in the south coast.
A good excuse
I think social networks like LinkedIn can be a good excuse for contacting some people.
For instance, today I sent an invitation to join LinkedIn to a recruitment manager at a consultancy. I actually met her in June just to have a general chat.
She accepted my invitation and also sent a reply email. She mentioned there may be emerging opportunities in her company. So, in a sense my invitation was a nudge.
Anyway, we'll meet for another coffee on Wednesday, after my interview (the one which was originally going to be on Tuesday but has been shifted a day).
OK, the "good excuse" use of LinkedIn (or openBC etc) only works once, when you join them and send out invites.
I'm hoping that these social networks encourage professionals to be more involved in networking. This hope is written from an English perpective - we're notoriously reticent and generally not very good at this sort of thing.
For instance, today I sent an invitation to join LinkedIn to a recruitment manager at a consultancy. I actually met her in June just to have a general chat.
She accepted my invitation and also sent a reply email. She mentioned there may be emerging opportunities in her company. So, in a sense my invitation was a nudge.
Anyway, we'll meet for another coffee on Wednesday, after my interview (the one which was originally going to be on Tuesday but has been shifted a day).
OK, the "good excuse" use of LinkedIn (or openBC etc) only works once, when you join them and send out invites.
I'm hoping that these social networks encourage professionals to be more involved in networking. This hope is written from an English perpective - we're notoriously reticent and generally not very good at this sort of thing.
So that's what it's called
In one of my posts yesterday I mentioned there was a limit to the number of effective social contacts in humans of around 150.
Turns out it's called the Dunbar number. As this article explains there's a lot more to it than a numerical limit. In fact the writer proposes a lower effective limit of around 50.
Still, whether it's 25, or 125, the effectiveness limit is much lower than the thousands of contacts that some people have in LinkedIn.
These articles were useful for me in both my roles:
Turns out it's called the Dunbar number. As this article explains there's a lot more to it than a numerical limit. In fact the writer proposes a lower effective limit of around 50.
Still, whether it's 25, or 125, the effectiveness limit is much lower than the thousands of contacts that some people have in LinkedIn.
These articles were useful for me in both my roles:
- as a job hunter - understanding the effectiveness of group sizes in social/business contact networks (+ it's interesting and I have nothing better to do than read blogs)
- as a business builder - the problems mentioned in the articles are sure to hit us as our business grows.
The decline
There's an agency I've talked to, over a few years, about various jobs. They like to think of themselves as in the top-end of recruiters.
They haven't got me one yet, but they did manage to secure me an interview abroad.
Recently, however, their quality seems to be dropping. They don't get back, when they say they will, they leave my applications in mid-air for months and they write, when they do then contact me, curt rejection letters.
Today they sent me an email about an interesting role. Well, they're right, it is an interesting role. Interesting, that is, if you're a financial accountant. Which I'm not, for goodness sake. Not only should my profession be engrained on their computer system, it should also be engrained in their hearts (I'd say "souls" but of course recruitment agents don't have souls).
They haven't got me one yet, but they did manage to secure me an interview abroad.
Recently, however, their quality seems to be dropping. They don't get back, when they say they will, they leave my applications in mid-air for months and they write, when they do then contact me, curt rejection letters.
Today they sent me an email about an interesting role. Well, they're right, it is an interesting role. Interesting, that is, if you're a financial accountant. Which I'm not, for goodness sake. Not only should my profession be engrained on their computer system, it should also be engrained in their hearts (I'd say "souls" but of course recruitment agents don't have souls).
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Not LinkedIn enough
I have 19 direct contacts on LinkedIn:
Of these, six people have five or less contacts. Of these six, three I particularly expected would amass a lot of contacts. Like, that's why I invited them (partly).
The remaining seven people I know and have a good, reasonable set of contacts.
I read somewhere that the average person has a network of around 150 people, i.e. people they can name and contact. OK, for graduate professionals that average could be higher.
But how can you know around 1,000 people? That is, well enough to relay a new contact, or even recollect their name.
Well, there are people in LinkedIn who have these number of people in their contacts lists. Actually, I'm not too bothered about these "connection sluts" (I think they're also called "permiscuous connectors", or "super-connectors"), they tend to be quite senior people in bona fide positions and companies. And they do have a very good set of contacts. I've linked to three of them myself when I received their invitations ("hey, I was new to LinkedIn and naive"). But I'm not too sure of the value of their contacts.
Currently I have nine outstanding invitations for people to join. I'm a bit surprised at some of the people who haven't responded positively yet. Still, they've got time.
I can only invite 10 people at a time, as the list of outstanding invitation reduces I'll invite some more (I can think of at least a couple of people I know who read this blog, bless them -don't worry, you're on my list).
- One is a duplicate entry (he created two accounts and connected both to me).
- Three are connections "sluts" (as they are sometimes called, without, apparently meaning to be derogatory).
- One would be a connection slut but is serious about networking to benefit his developing country (and could well be a useful contact for me).
- Another one would also be a connection slut (he has a massive set of contacts) but I connected to him as I wanted to join the LinkedIn group he is running.
Of these, six people have five or less contacts. Of these six, three I particularly expected would amass a lot of contacts. Like, that's why I invited them (partly).
The remaining seven people I know and have a good, reasonable set of contacts.
I read somewhere that the average person has a network of around 150 people, i.e. people they can name and contact. OK, for graduate professionals that average could be higher.
But how can you know around 1,000 people? That is, well enough to relay a new contact, or even recollect their name.
Well, there are people in LinkedIn who have these number of people in their contacts lists. Actually, I'm not too bothered about these "connection sluts" (I think they're also called "permiscuous connectors", or "super-connectors"), they tend to be quite senior people in bona fide positions and companies. And they do have a very good set of contacts. I've linked to three of them myself when I received their invitations ("hey, I was new to LinkedIn and naive"). But I'm not too sure of the value of their contacts.
Currently I have nine outstanding invitations for people to join. I'm a bit surprised at some of the people who haven't responded positively yet. Still, they've got time.
I can only invite 10 people at a time, as the list of outstanding invitation reduces I'll invite some more (I can think of at least a couple of people I know who read this blog, bless them -don't worry, you're on my list).
Almost forgot
Been feeling quite crap today, some sort of virus and haven't eaten much.
Managed to do the usual trawl.
I was also phoned by an agency looking for service delivery and project management consultants in the City. After our chat he said he wanted to send my details to his client so I forwarded an updated c.v.
Including that one, today I applied for four jobs and received one bite.
Managed to do the usual trawl.
I was also phoned by an agency looking for service delivery and project management consultants in the City. After our chat he said he wanted to send my details to his client so I forwarded an updated c.v.
Including that one, today I applied for four jobs and received one bite.
Should I apply?
One of the few
Today I actaully saw an advert whose requirements included membership of a relevant body, e.g. the British Computer Society.
Well, I'm a chartered Member of the BCS as well as being a Chartered Engineer and Chartered IT Professional.
What's more, the advert was for someone to project manage an IT relocation - I have a lot of experience there.
So, I applied.
The advert did, however, also require experience in Java and .Net etc.
Well, I don't have experience in these (or even knowledge) but I fail to see how this could be needed for a relocation project.
Well, I'm a chartered Member of the BCS as well as being a Chartered Engineer and Chartered IT Professional.
What's more, the advert was for someone to project manage an IT relocation - I have a lot of experience there.
So, I applied.
The advert did, however, also require experience in Java and .Net etc.
Well, I don't have experience in these (or even knowledge) but I fail to see how this could be needed for a relocation project.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Crickey
Today, despite two trawls I haven't been able to find any jobs to which to apply.
I really don't think it's a mood thing (although it's true that I'm not in the mood), I just think that the appropriate jobs haven't been advertised today.
I really don't think it's a mood thing (although it's true that I'm not in the mood), I just think that the appropriate jobs haven't been advertised today.
Just the one
So far today I haven't seen any jobs to which I can apply.
I did, however, get a bite from the sole job I applied for yesterday.
This is a one year fixed-term role working across two sites (which aren't that near each other).
My c.v. has been sent across to the client.
I did, however, get a bite from the sole job I applied for yesterday.
This is a one year fixed-term role working across two sites (which aren't that near each other).
My c.v. has been sent across to the client.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
LinkedIn cheating
There's an interesting entry about using and "abusing" LinkedIn on this VC's website.
Some of it seems very apt.
I've been doing some LinkedIn work this afternoon. Well, I could only find one job to which to apply. But that's one more than yesterday.
This networking exercise started off quite structured. I wanted to see which companies out there "grabbed me". I've already gone throught the Times 100 Best Companies but couldn't find any that inspired. In fact I know people who have worked in some of the companies mentioned and would not agree with their inclusion.
So, I went through my list of contacts in LinkedIn. And I looked at their contacts and the companies they worked for. Still, very few inspired. I did however spot a couple. I'll be pursuing those in the next few days.
After a while I got a bit distracted and invited a couple of people (repeat invited in one case) to join.
I also responded to one indirect contact, a CIO. In his description he offered to connect with just about anyone interested. I don't normally respond to these but he's trying to help his central European country which is becoming rather significant in the IT world. One of the companies who recently interviewed me had operations there.
LinkedIn provides a template of emails but I didn't use them and wrote my own message. The CIO responded that mine was "one of the VERY few personalized [his capitalization]".
What?!
LinkedIn is an exclusive business contacts network. You can only join by invitation. Many, indeed most of the members are high-level corporate professionals. And yet people send each other impersonal invitations!?
Some of it seems very apt.
I've been doing some LinkedIn work this afternoon. Well, I could only find one job to which to apply. But that's one more than yesterday.
This networking exercise started off quite structured. I wanted to see which companies out there "grabbed me". I've already gone throught the Times 100 Best Companies but couldn't find any that inspired. In fact I know people who have worked in some of the companies mentioned and would not agree with their inclusion.
So, I went through my list of contacts in LinkedIn. And I looked at their contacts and the companies they worked for. Still, very few inspired. I did however spot a couple. I'll be pursuing those in the next few days.
After a while I got a bit distracted and invited a couple of people (repeat invited in one case) to join.
I also responded to one indirect contact, a CIO. In his description he offered to connect with just about anyone interested. I don't normally respond to these but he's trying to help his central European country which is becoming rather significant in the IT world. One of the companies who recently interviewed me had operations there.
LinkedIn provides a template of emails but I didn't use them and wrote my own message. The CIO responded that mine was "one of the VERY few personalized [his capitalization]".
What?!
LinkedIn is an exclusive business contacts network. You can only join by invitation. Many, indeed most of the members are high-level corporate professionals. And yet people send each other impersonal invitations!?
The difference
How can you tell executive search and selection companies from recruitment consultancies?
Is it the plush central London offices? The expensive buscuits they give? The masses of drop-dead gorgeous women they employ?
Well, the former send you a rejection letter - that's right, a god-damn piece of paper, in an envelope - rather than an email (or more usually, not bothering at all).
I received such a letter today in response to an application I made - by email - probably a month or more ago.
The actual text was pretty formulaic and thus worthless. I would like real feedback and some commentary on my c.v. This is best done by phone or can easily be done by email. It's the 21st century. Email is totally acceptable, especially as I know this company prefers to receive applications by this medium.
Is it the plush central London offices? The expensive buscuits they give? The masses of drop-dead gorgeous women they employ?
Well, the former send you a rejection letter - that's right, a god-damn piece of paper, in an envelope - rather than an email (or more usually, not bothering at all).
I received such a letter today in response to an application I made - by email - probably a month or more ago.
The actual text was pretty formulaic and thus worthless. I would like real feedback and some commentary on my c.v. This is best done by phone or can easily be done by email. It's the 21st century. Email is totally acceptable, especially as I know this company prefers to receive applications by this medium.
Confirmation
There's probably some EU regulation that means recruitment agencies can only call me when I'm in the bathroom. There is, after all, already in place some sort of regulation which prohibits attractive women from sitting next to me on airplanes UNLESS at least one of us is in a relationship.
Why me?
Anyway, today I remembered not to take my mobile into the bathroom. When I returned there was a message for me. It was the agency who called yesterday.
I phoned them and we agreed a date and time for an interview with their client. This will be in central London next Tuesday.
What's more, the agency's account manager has scheduled in a slot to call me the day before just to make sure I'm lined up and to brief me on the people I'll be seeing.
How professional is that? I'm impressed.
Why me?
Anyway, today I remembered not to take my mobile into the bathroom. When I returned there was a message for me. It was the agency who called yesterday.
I phoned them and we agreed a date and time for an interview with their client. This will be in central London next Tuesday.
What's more, the agency's account manager has scheduled in a slot to call me the day before just to make sure I'm lined up and to brief me on the people I'll be seeing.
How professional is that? I'm impressed.
Startup questions
I haven't applied to work for any start-ups, in fact, I co-own a start-up (it's been starting up for a couple of years now) but if I was going to apply, then this is a useful set of questions to ask.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Clean shave
I didn't shave yesterday (for various reasons, getting up too late being one of them) so I definitely needed one today (any more days skipped and I look like someone from the Taliban, especially if I wear my eyepatch - and that look was so two years ago).
Shaving for me has always been difficult. I nearly always use an electric razor otherwise I risk asanguination. In fact I often cut myself even with an electric razor.
Plus, despite now being 40 I'm still prone to acne. Ok, not like a teenager but it does pop up now and then. I once read an article where people were quoted on the great things about being 40. One of them was not gettting spots. Oh well, maybe when I'm 50.
So, to be careful of all this I sometimes - like today - first use a face scrub. Now, I do not subscribe to all this metro-sexual nonsense. I agree with Maddox : the opposite of metro-sexual is heterosexual. But face scrub helps before I shave.
Having just applied the face scrub I heard my mobile phone ring. Gosh, it was a bit loud and I found that I had taken it into the bathroom with me. Not something I normally do, the steam from the shower could ruin its electronics and then what would I do? (Answer: put the SIM card in my reserve handset, of course).
Anyway, agencies do like to call me when I'm in the bathroom so it was just as well I made this mistake.
It was the agency I saw last week. They were simply phoning to say that their client wanted to see me.
That was all. The client didn't have a date yet but the agency wanted to keep me informed of what was happening, as they said they would.
So, that's great, a second interview should happen soon. Well, I hope so. But I've been in a similar situation a few months ago, when a company wanted to see me but never managed to do so.
And I'm now realising that big companies are the worst at organising interviews.
Well, this situation may be different.
Anyway, after the quick call I washed off the face scrub (I've never taken or made business calls with face scrub drying on my face before, honest), shaved and settled down to a big day's job hunting.
And six hours later had managed to apply for 0 jobs.
Shaving for me has always been difficult. I nearly always use an electric razor otherwise I risk asanguination. In fact I often cut myself even with an electric razor.
Plus, despite now being 40 I'm still prone to acne. Ok, not like a teenager but it does pop up now and then. I once read an article where people were quoted on the great things about being 40. One of them was not gettting spots. Oh well, maybe when I'm 50.
So, to be careful of all this I sometimes - like today - first use a face scrub. Now, I do not subscribe to all this metro-sexual nonsense. I agree with Maddox : the opposite of metro-sexual is heterosexual. But face scrub helps before I shave.
Having just applied the face scrub I heard my mobile phone ring. Gosh, it was a bit loud and I found that I had taken it into the bathroom with me. Not something I normally do, the steam from the shower could ruin its electronics and then what would I do? (Answer: put the SIM card in my reserve handset, of course).
Anyway, agencies do like to call me when I'm in the bathroom so it was just as well I made this mistake.
It was the agency I saw last week. They were simply phoning to say that their client wanted to see me.
That was all. The client didn't have a date yet but the agency wanted to keep me informed of what was happening, as they said they would.
So, that's great, a second interview should happen soon. Well, I hope so. But I've been in a similar situation a few months ago, when a company wanted to see me but never managed to do so.
And I'm now realising that big companies are the worst at organising interviews.
Well, this situation may be different.
Anyway, after the quick call I washed off the face scrub (I've never taken or made business calls with face scrub drying on my face before, honest), shaved and settled down to a big day's job hunting.
And six hours later had managed to apply for 0 jobs.
Mystery solved
A couple of weeks ago I was trying to receive emails from an agency who had contacted me.
I wasn't receiving them on my usual account so I gave the agent my Yahoo email address. It's actually an @rocketmail.com account name because I signed on before Yahoo took it over.
BTW I'm just waiting for Yahoo lawyers to write telling me that it should be "Yahoo!". Then I can give them this:
n!n
Anyway, I still didn't receive anything but it didn't matter because the agent still put my name to her client. And it doubly didn't matter as it seems the client found someone else.
Then, last week I contacted a friend about meeting up in London. His company's email system doesn't accept my usual emails as my "Reply To" is different from my "Sent From". So, I emailed him from my Yahoo account which has a more standard configuration.
After I while I phoned him as I hadn't received a reply. But he told me he had replied. !.
What had happened to his email?
A bit later I suddenly thought of looking in the Bulk email folder. This is a folder in my Yahoo account which automatically stores incoming emails which Yahoo suspects are spam.
And there it was. And so were the emails from the agency. Plus lots of blatant spam as well.
It seems some spam filters have these companies in their bad books.
Mystery solved.
I wasn't receiving them on my usual account so I gave the agent my Yahoo email address. It's actually an @rocketmail.com account name because I signed on before Yahoo took it over.
BTW I'm just waiting for Yahoo lawyers to write telling me that it should be "Yahoo!". Then I can give them this:
n!n
Anyway, I still didn't receive anything but it didn't matter because the agent still put my name to her client. And it doubly didn't matter as it seems the client found someone else.
Then, last week I contacted a friend about meeting up in London. His company's email system doesn't accept my usual emails as my "Reply To" is different from my "Sent From". So, I emailed him from my Yahoo account which has a more standard configuration.
After I while I phoned him as I hadn't received a reply. But he told me he had replied. !.
What had happened to his email?
A bit later I suddenly thought of looking in the Bulk email folder. This is a folder in my Yahoo account which automatically stores incoming emails which Yahoo suspects are spam.
And there it was. And so were the emails from the agency. Plus lots of blatant spam as well.
It seems some spam filters have these companies in their bad books.
Mystery solved.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Round up
Over the weekend I was to busy drinking and, er, recovering to do any end-of-week round up.
So, here it is now.
Last week I applied for 10 jobs. I received one bite and attended one interview.
So, here it is now.
Last week I applied for 10 jobs. I received one bite and attended one interview.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Blackberry
Great devices. Can't stand them myself, however, as I'm left-handed.
Also I prefer hand-writing recognition to teeny-weeny keyboards with teen-weeny screens.
In my last role the company used them and I insisted I had one as I was the IT manager and needed to know about them. Plus they looked good. Bit of pain to set up I found, rather hit and miss.
Anyway, there's now a warning about Blackberry thumb.
Also I prefer hand-writing recognition to teeny-weeny keyboards with teen-weeny screens.
In my last role the company used them and I insisted I had one as I was the IT manager and needed to know about them. Plus they looked good. Bit of pain to set up I found, rather hit and miss.
Anyway, there's now a warning about Blackberry thumb.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Database efficiency
Last night I received an email from the second worst recruitment agency in the world.
They were looking for an investment management consultant.
Why did they email me?
Well, they emailed anyone on their database with these, or similar, key words on their c.v. Well, my last role was at an investment management consultancy. But I was the IT manager there.
I didn't apply.
I didn't even send a reply telling them to "fuck off, you incompetent slack-arsed gits".
They were looking for an investment management consultant.
Why did they email me?
Well, they emailed anyone on their database with these, or similar, key words on their c.v. Well, my last role was at an investment management consultancy. But I was the IT manager there.
I didn't apply.
I didn't even send a reply telling them to "fuck off, you incompetent slack-arsed gits".
Curt rejection of the week
A couple of weeks ago I applied for a freelance PM contract in Scotland.
Today I received this email:
Today I received this email:
"This email is to let you know that you have not been selected for interview with [Name of the client] for the Project Manager Role.
If you have any questions, please contact [Recruiter's name] at [Her first name].[Her surname].[Name of the agency].com
Regards
[Name of the team adminstrator]
[Full name of the team adminstrator]
Team Administrator
MESSAGE TO RECRUITERS
I'm typing this slowly as I know you won't be quick readers:
"When I work I RECRUIT staff. I even mention these recruitment activities in my c.v."
Think about it.
Got a headache yet? No? We'll go on ...
"To do this I use recruitment agencies (that is, companies like the one you work for).
So, you can treat me like crap when I'm looking for a job. No worries. I simply won't use you when I'm recruiting people."
Read this as many times as you like. If you're still not sure get someone to help you (it will help if they don't work in the recruitment business themselves, although it's unlikely you'll know anyone else).
If they can't help feel free to post a query in the comments. Don't forget to put the name of the agency for whom you work.
"When I work I RECRUIT staff. I even mention these recruitment activities in my c.v."
Think about it.
Got a headache yet? No? We'll go on ...
"To do this I use recruitment agencies (that is, companies like the one you work for).
So, you can treat me like crap when I'm looking for a job. No worries. I simply won't use you when I'm recruiting people."
Read this as many times as you like. If you're still not sure get someone to help you (it will help if they don't work in the recruitment business themselves, although it's unlikely you'll know anyone else).
If they can't help feel free to post a query in the comments. Don't forget to put the name of the agency for whom you work.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Other news
Despite the horror of finding that my PDA is dying I managed to apply for three jobs today.
One of them was in response to an automated email sent to me from an agency. I phoned them up, had a quick chat but the agent then realised I wasn't suitable. Had she skimmed through my c.v. (she had a recent version) before emailing me she would have gathered this.
One of them was in response to an automated email sent to me from an agency. I phoned them up, had a quick chat but the agent then realised I wasn't suitable. Had she skimmed through my c.v. (she had a recent version) before emailing me she would have gathered this.
Choose your expletive
If I was writing Europhobit or You Knit What? I'd have the apt phrase.
But this is worse, much worse than MPs not being bothered to take the chance to defeat the imposition of surveillance cards on the British or creating a decorative chain by knitting it.
My PalmPilot T3 is breaking. Seriously, it's breaking apart.
First it was the Palm logo at the top of the device. OK, big deal. Then the Bluetooth stopped working properly. That was a pain as I used that feature for reading emails and some web browsing when I was away from my PC.
Now the lower section (the bit that slides down) is coming apart. It should be secured by four screws but they're not there anymore. I don't know what happened to them. It's not like I'm in environments with lots of vibrations (choose your own image here) or shocks. My life is, sadly, quite sedantry.
It still works but I need to get a replacement soon. Being of poor memory as well as being besotted by state-of-the-art productivity tools I can't be without one.
I'm thinking of maybe going for a Pocket PC device rather than a Palm. Whatever, I need to get a replacement soon.
But this is worse, much worse than MPs not being bothered to take the chance to defeat the imposition of surveillance cards on the British or creating a decorative chain by knitting it.
My PalmPilot T3 is breaking. Seriously, it's breaking apart.
First it was the Palm logo at the top of the device. OK, big deal. Then the Bluetooth stopped working properly. That was a pain as I used that feature for reading emails and some web browsing when I was away from my PC.
Now the lower section (the bit that slides down) is coming apart. It should be secured by four screws but they're not there anymore. I don't know what happened to them. It's not like I'm in environments with lots of vibrations (choose your own image here) or shocks. My life is, sadly, quite sedantry.
It still works but I need to get a replacement soon. Being of poor memory as well as being besotted by state-of-the-art productivity tools I can't be without one.
I'm thinking of maybe going for a Pocket PC device rather than a Palm. Whatever, I need to get a replacement soon.
The London trip
This was yesterday and there isn't too much to write about.
I went to London, had the interview at the agency, they said they'd recommend me to their client, I met up with a friend and had a couple of beers (ah, beer), then I returned home.
Well, maybe a bit more ...
The agency suggested I put in a few more specifics about my relocation management experience in my c.v. They said I could even go to four pages if I wanted to.
So, this morning I made the changes but you'll be relieved to hear that I kept it to three pages. As if.
Something else ...
The City business library: before the interview I visited it to find out some more about the client company. I've visited it several times and have used their business databases quite a bit. However, in recent times, including yesterday, I haven't been able to find any financial information about the companies.
I went to London, had the interview at the agency, they said they'd recommend me to their client, I met up with a friend and had a couple of beers (ah, beer), then I returned home.
Well, maybe a bit more ...
The agency suggested I put in a few more specifics about my relocation management experience in my c.v. They said I could even go to four pages if I wanted to.
So, this morning I made the changes but you'll be relieved to hear that I kept it to three pages. As if.
Something else ...
The City business library: before the interview I visited it to find out some more about the client company. I've visited it several times and have used their business databases quite a bit. However, in recent times, including yesterday, I haven't been able to find any financial information about the companies.
Confused advert of the week
"Our client is a professional building project."
Well, just as you can't really wage a "war on terrorism" (as you can't wage war on a concept) I don't think you can have a client who is a professional building project.
I don't normally cite adverts just because they have errors (there's not enough storage space in the world for such a blog). But this error stood out. I didn't apply.
Well, just as you can't really wage a "war on terrorism" (as you can't wage war on a concept) I don't think you can have a client who is a professional building project.
I don't normally cite adverts just because they have errors (there's not enough storage space in the world for such a blog). But this error stood out. I didn't apply.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Good news
The agency to whom I spoke earlier (and to whom I mentioned the business in Finland) called back and asked if I could meet them tomorrow.
This will be for a preliminary interview, held by and at the agency, on behalf of their client.
It's going to be in the City.
The rest of the day was spent applying for one bloody job.
This will be for a preliminary interview, held by and at the agency, on behalf of their client.
It's going to be in the City.
The rest of the day was spent applying for one bloody job.
Hopeful job advert of the week
"I have an excellent opportunity for a balanced professional IT Manager", better up the Prozac then. I didn't apply.
I knew it would be useful
I got through again to the agency with whom I spoke on Friday. They eventually sent the job spec and talked me through giving further information based upon it.
The agent told me a level of commercial experience would be beneficial. Well, I have been co-founding a business in Finland. Heck, we're even registered and spent money on it, plus committed more (proportional to sales). I told him this and he agreed it would be worth mentioning.
Now, although we're fully registered we haven't made any sales, let alone a profit. But it has given me a level of real world experience. I've had to construct serious profit and loss and cash-flow forecasts amongst other things.
So, we're not making a massive profit yet. But if we were I wouldn't be applying for this job.
The agent told me a level of commercial experience would be beneficial. Well, I have been co-founding a business in Finland. Heck, we're even registered and spent money on it, plus committed more (proportional to sales). I told him this and he agreed it would be worth mentioning.
Now, although we're fully registered we haven't made any sales, let alone a profit. But it has given me a level of real world experience. I've had to construct serious profit and loss and cash-flow forecasts amongst other things.
So, we're not making a massive profit yet. But if we were I wouldn't be applying for this job.
Not long winded
Yesterday, during the Sunday trawl, I applied for one job.
It was a direct application to the company itself (advertised on Monster - seen the adverts?).
They sent an email this morning asking for me to apply on-line. Well, why did they give an email address then?
I don't really like on-line applications. They're fiddly, time-consuming and I feel my c.v. is a much better medium for me.
Well I went to their web-site and had to create an account just to apply. And creating an account included creating a rather robust pasword, selecting a security question, then waiting patiently for an authentication code to be emailed to me. Just to apply.
After that I went on to the actual application section. This wasn't too bad. It actually asked a couple of pertinent questions: "Please give an example of where you have lead[sic] and motivated a team" and "Please outline experience of working as a Project Manager using Prince II or equivalent within a technical infrastructure".
It was a direct application to the company itself (advertised on Monster - seen the adverts?).
They sent an email this morning asking for me to apply on-line. Well, why did they give an email address then?
I don't really like on-line applications. They're fiddly, time-consuming and I feel my c.v. is a much better medium for me.
Well I went to their web-site and had to create an account just to apply. And creating an account included creating a rather robust pasword, selecting a security question, then waiting patiently for an authentication code to be emailed to me. Just to apply.
After that I went on to the actual application section. This wasn't too bad. It actually asked a couple of pertinent questions: "Please give an example of where you have lead[sic] and motivated a team" and "Please outline experience of working as a Project Manager using Prince II or equivalent within a technical infrastructure".
Another week
Another round up.
Last week I applied for 15 jobs. I received three bites.
So far, though, no invitations to interviews let alone job offers.
Last week I applied for 15 jobs. I received three bites.
So far, though, no invitations to interviews let alone job offers.
Stupid interview
Article in the Sunday Times about unusual interviews.
Starts off about Oxbridge interviews but then mentions the corporate world.
BTW I'm not impressed about Oxbridge in general. Put it this way: most members of the government and front bench Opposition went to Oxford or Cambridge universities.
Enough said, they should be relegated to polytechnics.
Starts off about Oxbridge interviews but then mentions the corporate world.
BTW I'm not impressed about Oxbridge in general. Put it this way: most members of the government and front bench Opposition went to Oxford or Cambridge universities.
Enough said, they should be relegated to polytechnics.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Structure
I didn't do anything relating to jobs yesterday.
But today I got stuck into LinkedIn - the business contacts networking tool.
I actually joined rather than stick to the basic membership; well it doesn't cost much for three months.
This allowed me to send invitations to up to 10 people.
Being me, I thought about this in a structured way. First of all I created a list of everyone I think would be good on LinkedIn. Good for me or good for them. There was about 40 people in the list.
Then I did a triage. Colleagues will know that I triage everything at work. And encourage others to do the same.
My triage was based, somewhat, on the following criteria:
- who was already on LinkedIn
- who had a large number of contacts
- who, whether or not in LinkedIn, would have a good source of contacts, good for me that is
- who would benefit being in LinkedIn.
It's clear that a lot of people I've worked with are already on LinkedIn but haven't used it much. Like they have one contact. One! Hmmph.
But things are changing, LinkedIn is definitely becoming more popular.
Well, I could only send off six invitations today (I had already sent off invitations a few days ago) but that covered my no. 1 group in the triage. Once people have accepted these invites I can send out more.
OK, so I'm building a network in LinkedIn (and will do the same in openBC). But the next step is to work that network.
I need to think of an approach to this. I guess it will be around: thinking of countries and companies where I'd particularly like to work and then finding out with whom I am connected in those entities.
That reminds me to look at the Sunday Times 100 best companies to work for.
But first, back to the usual job hunting.
But today I got stuck into LinkedIn - the business contacts networking tool.
I actually joined rather than stick to the basic membership; well it doesn't cost much for three months.
This allowed me to send invitations to up to 10 people.
Being me, I thought about this in a structured way. First of all I created a list of everyone I think would be good on LinkedIn. Good for me or good for them. There was about 40 people in the list.
Then I did a triage. Colleagues will know that I triage everything at work. And encourage others to do the same.
My triage was based, somewhat, on the following criteria:
- who was already on LinkedIn
- who had a large number of contacts
- who, whether or not in LinkedIn, would have a good source of contacts, good for me that is
- who would benefit being in LinkedIn.
It's clear that a lot of people I've worked with are already on LinkedIn but haven't used it much. Like they have one contact. One! Hmmph.
But things are changing, LinkedIn is definitely becoming more popular.
Well, I could only send off six invitations today (I had already sent off invitations a few days ago) but that covered my no. 1 group in the triage. Once people have accepted these invites I can send out more.
OK, so I'm building a network in LinkedIn (and will do the same in openBC). But the next step is to work that network.
I need to think of an approach to this. I guess it will be around: thinking of countries and companies where I'd particularly like to work and then finding out with whom I am connected in those entities.
That reminds me to look at the Sunday Times 100 best companies to work for.
But first, back to the usual job hunting.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Finally
A few weeks ago a friend emailed me - he had seen by blog - and asked if I knew of any famous or interesting ones.
Hmmph.
Well, I've added another section to my link list, suitably titled.
I did this because I ran out of steam studying XP. And I am also too tired to do any Javascript programming. Well, it is Saturday.
Hmmph.
Well, I've added another section to my link list, suitably titled.
I did this because I ran out of steam studying XP. And I am also too tired to do any Javascript programming. Well, it is Saturday.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Wind down
After lunch I didn't do a second trawl for jobs. Well, it's the weekend and recruiters will have forgotten my application by Monday.
I did, however, phone some agencies I emailed yesterday. On the second attempt I got through to one who was interested. He finished by saying he'd email a fuller job description and call me back in just a few hours.
What do you think happened?
That's right. Nothing yet. Anyway, it's another bite. I'll call him on Monday.
Today I applied for five jobs and received two bites.
I did, however, phone some agencies I emailed yesterday. On the second attempt I got through to one who was interested. He finished by saying he'd email a fuller job description and call me back in just a few hours.
What do you think happened?
That's right. Nothing yet. Anyway, it's another bite. I'll call him on Monday.
Today I applied for five jobs and received two bites.
Not the only blogger
... looking for a job.
Extracted from here:
Extracted from here:
A light at the end of the tunnel?
Two evenings ago, I sent informal inquiries (with my CV attached obviously) to 2 potential supervisors. One Oooop North and one Daan Saarf. The job market for my particular field is deader than a Brazilian on the Underground at the moment and both of these positions require someone with a whole range of skills that I don't have (i.e pretty much anything to do with proteins!),. So it was with some trepidation that I explained how I am a quick learner and enthusiastic worker and that I have been regularly exposed to these techniques in lab meeting and just give me a chance I'm begging you! Barely 36 hours later, I got a reply from the one Oooop North, telling me that my cover letter and CV made me a very strong applicant and that I should please apply formally. Naturally, I sent a reply thanking them for their rapid response. The application form has been filled in. Tomorrow, I shall compose a suitable "statement". I am reluctant to just do a cut and paste job from the covering email, as it smacks of laziness - so I will probably do a cut and paste from a previous application (heh - only kidding). So, fingers crossed.How much?!
It's possible I've been going too fast in my job hunting.
So far, today I've applied for five jobs. But what was the quality like?
Well, I think one c.v. went out with some extraneous information that I wouldn't normally put in - it was very irrelevant to the role.
For another application I just about got everything right. And, an hour later, it resulted in my mobile ringing. It was the agency.
We talked about my availability (immediate) and suitability for the role and then she checked I was happy with the rate. Well, it seemed quite a good rate but that's because I hadn't looked properly. The rate quoted was per week not per day!
This was for an IT incident manager - someone with experience and sought after skills.
Being 1/5th of what I expected there was no way I could consider the role.
The agent wasn't too surprised as she felt I was a bit overexperienced.
Anyway, it was good to have applied because she said she'd consider me for other roles, both permie and contract.
And it counts as a bite.
So far, today I've applied for five jobs. But what was the quality like?
Well, I think one c.v. went out with some extraneous information that I wouldn't normally put in - it was very irrelevant to the role.
For another application I just about got everything right. And, an hour later, it resulted in my mobile ringing. It was the agency.
We talked about my availability (immediate) and suitability for the role and then she checked I was happy with the rate. Well, it seemed quite a good rate but that's because I hadn't looked properly. The rate quoted was per week not per day!
This was for an IT incident manager - someone with experience and sought after skills.
Being 1/5th of what I expected there was no way I could consider the role.
The agent wasn't too surprised as she felt I was a bit overexperienced.
Anyway, it was good to have applied because she said she'd consider me for other roles, both permie and contract.
And it counts as a bite.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
A bit better.
Today I managed to apply for two jobs.
I think I'm resigned to this being another long chore.
After my last role I was quite bullish. The market was better and there was a lot of interest. Well, the market is still better and I'm still getting a lot of interest. I'm just not getting a job.
I think the trick is to keep on keeping on.
I think I'm resigned to this being another long chore.
After my last role I was quite bullish. The market was better and there was a lot of interest. Well, the market is still better and I'm still getting a lot of interest. I'm just not getting a job.
I think the trick is to keep on keeping on.
Three degrees of separation
So, I go for an interview in Munich, don't get the job and a month later see that the job is still being advertised.
What's the word I'm looking for?
Ah, yes: Schadenfreude. That's the word.
A German colleague once asked why the English always use German words to describe bad things.
I don't think we do especially. Besides he couldn't give me any more examples and I wasn't going to help him out by mentioning "Blitz".
Anyway Germans have a way with words. Mainly the way involves bunging them all together into one overwhelmingly large word. But some German (perhaps a lot, I don't read German literature) use basic concept words to produce an evocative effect. Two examples (probably badly spelt):
Turschlussangst - fear of a door shutting - originally a genuine medieaval concern, you didn't want to be left outside the city gates - now relating to missing an opportunity
Flucht nach Vorne - an escape forward. For example, my attempts to start a business could be described in this way. It's a different way of leaving my current situation (different than the usual way of just applying for jobs).
Both these phrases seem slightly melancholic.
Anyway, after my moment of Schadenfreude, I thought I'd look up in openBC the CTO who interviewed me. openBC is popular in Germany and there he was.
Two of my (currently) three contacts in openBC are German. One is a lawyer, the other a financial consultant (and former finance director). openBC showed that I was connected to this CTO in seven different way. That is, seven different routes through these contacts and their contacts. And, whichever route I took there were only three people in between the CTO and me.
He must be very proud.
What's the word I'm looking for?
Ah, yes: Schadenfreude. That's the word.
A German colleague once asked why the English always use German words to describe bad things.
I don't think we do especially. Besides he couldn't give me any more examples and I wasn't going to help him out by mentioning "Blitz".
Anyway Germans have a way with words. Mainly the way involves bunging them all together into one overwhelmingly large word. But some German (perhaps a lot, I don't read German literature) use basic concept words to produce an evocative effect. Two examples (probably badly spelt):
Turschlussangst - fear of a door shutting - originally a genuine medieaval concern, you didn't want to be left outside the city gates - now relating to missing an opportunity
Flucht nach Vorne - an escape forward. For example, my attempts to start a business could be described in this way. It's a different way of leaving my current situation (different than the usual way of just applying for jobs).
Both these phrases seem slightly melancholic.
Anyway, after my moment of Schadenfreude, I thought I'd look up in openBC the CTO who interviewed me. openBC is popular in Germany and there he was.
Two of my (currently) three contacts in openBC are German. One is a lawyer, the other a financial consultant (and former finance director). openBC showed that I was connected to this CTO in seven different way. That is, seven different routes through these contacts and their contacts. And, whichever route I took there were only three people in between the CTO and me.
He must be very proud.
Urgent ad of the week
In today's JobServe,
"Start: ASAP Yesterday"
But not at the rates they were offering. I didn't apply.
"Start: ASAP Yesterday"
But not at the rates they were offering. I didn't apply.
Deja-advertised
Over a month ago I went for an interview in Munich. I didn't get the job (or you wouldn't be reading this).
Today I saw the company was still advertising.
Really, by now I would be an expert in the particular skills they were looking for (based around J2EE which I've never touched). OK, maybe not but I would have gained enough knowledge to manage effectively projects in them.
This sounds like a combination of arrogance and naivity, however, I truly believe that it's possible to manage projects (and indeed services) without strong technical skills. You do need to be technically aware. But the real skill is managing the people with the technology, getting them to focus on the required outcome and helping them overcome solutions through facilitation and enablement. In fact, being technically strong may not be an advantage - if you're doing it you're not managing it.
This may sound that as a PM you don't do much - well, you spend a lot of time not doing much.
Today I saw the company was still advertising.
Really, by now I would be an expert in the particular skills they were looking for (based around J2EE which I've never touched). OK, maybe not but I would have gained enough knowledge to manage effectively projects in them.
This sounds like a combination of arrogance and naivity, however, I truly believe that it's possible to manage projects (and indeed services) without strong technical skills. You do need to be technically aware. But the real skill is managing the people with the technology, getting them to focus on the required outcome and helping them overcome solutions through facilitation and enablement. In fact, being technically strong may not be an advantage - if you're doing it you're not managing it.
This may sound that as a PM you don't do much - well, you spend a lot of time not doing much.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Big 0
My mood matches the job hunting situation today which matches the weather.
Very dreary.
Today I couldn't apply for any jobs and received 0 bites.
Good job yesterday was a bumper.
Very dreary.
Today I couldn't apply for any jobs and received 0 bites.
Good job yesterday was a bumper.
The explanation
It's been a funny few weeks recently.
Although I'm applying for jobs and getting bites (in record amounts) I feel I'm not making any headway.
The reason could be that school half-term holiday is coming up. And apparently schools now stagger these dates.
Not that I'd know as I don't have any kids.
Although I'm applying for jobs and getting bites (in record amounts) I feel I'm not making any headway.
The reason could be that school half-term holiday is coming up. And apparently schools now stagger these dates.
Not that I'd know as I don't have any kids.
Weather update
It's bastard raining.
Don't trust that weatherpixie on the right. She doesn't update real-time and in anycase she monitors the weather reported by London Gatwick airport. I'm not that near there.
It's also dull and gray inside - I couldn't find any jobs to which to apply this morning.
Don't trust that weatherpixie on the right. She doesn't update real-time and in anycase she monitors the weather reported by London Gatwick airport. I'm not that near there.
It's also dull and gray inside - I couldn't find any jobs to which to apply this morning.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Good news
A skills shortage is good news whilst I'm hunting but bad news when I've got a job and therefore recruiting.
Big day
Today I applied for five jobs and received one bite.
That can't be bad, can it?
Nevertheless, I don't feel too positive. I mean, I've been doing this for over three months. And I have got an attractive c.v. etc.
So, although it's only Tuesday and I've already exceeded my quota, I've a feeling this will just be another week.
Well, at least I'm used to it.
That can't be bad, can it?
Nevertheless, I don't feel too positive. I mean, I've been doing this for over three months. And I have got an attractive c.v. etc.
So, although it's only Tuesday and I've already exceeded my quota, I've a feeling this will just be another week.
Well, at least I'm used to it.
Nice stumble
Yesterday I was looking around openBC, a networking too.
I looked up some names from when I used to work at Cisco in Munich.
This morning I found I had been sent a message from one of these names. It was the finance director from when I was there. He sent a nice message and I sent a reply. He's not at Cisco either.
Now, I don't remember accidentally clicking on anything when I was looking up his name. But it was a nice stumble.
I'm going to give it to the end of the week but I've the feeling that I'll need to join both openBC and LinkedIn (join as in pay). And, I think I musn't expect quick returns but will have to work on growing my network of contacts on a weekly basis. This means I have to remember that I'll happily buy an air ticket for a weekend which costs a lot more. And from which I'm only like to get liver problems.
I looked up some names from when I used to work at Cisco in Munich.
This morning I found I had been sent a message from one of these names. It was the finance director from when I was there. He sent a nice message and I sent a reply. He's not at Cisco either.
Now, I don't remember accidentally clicking on anything when I was looking up his name. But it was a nice stumble.
I'm going to give it to the end of the week but I've the feeling that I'll need to join both openBC and LinkedIn (join as in pay). And, I think I musn't expect quick returns but will have to work on growing my network of contacts on a weekly basis. This means I have to remember that I'll happily buy an air ticket for a weekend which costs a lot more. And from which I'm only like to get liver problems.
Persistence
I've been hoping to stick to the following routine:
Use JobServe in the mornings to look for jobs. Then use Monster in the early afternoon to do another trawl.
Normally this means I finish at around 3pm. Which gives me time to do other things, eg.: study XP, learn JavaScript etc.
But often I think, "damn it I'll look some more" and just after 3pm look through the latest entries in JobServe.
Use JobServe in the mornings to look for jobs. Then use Monster in the early afternoon to do another trawl.
Normally this means I finish at around 3pm. Which gives me time to do other things, eg.: study XP, learn JavaScript etc.
But often I think, "damn it I'll look some more" and just after 3pm look through the latest entries in JobServe.
Qualify by quantifying
Via Lifehacker, this on words to use in c.v.s.
To summarise I think it's ideal if you can quantify what you've achieved in bottom-line terms: "saved the company €1bn", "increased sales by £2m (45%)".
More realistically, for IT managers: "delivered [key project], dealt with 2,000 calls per month, reduced outstanding calls to 1,999, led 50 people".
To summarise I think it's ideal if you can quantify what you've achieved in bottom-line terms: "saved the company €1bn", "increased sales by £2m (45%)".
More realistically, for IT managers: "delivered [key project], dealt with 2,000 calls per month, reduced outstanding calls to 1,999, led 50 people".
More writing advice
Seen today via Lifehacker this on writing covering letters.
I haven't seen Criag's list but I'd endorsed the advice given. Although I'd prefer even more brevity than in the example given.
I haven't seen Criag's list but I'd endorsed the advice given. Although I'd prefer even more brevity than in the example given.
Dear Sir, Madam, Whatever,
How do you address the people to whom you are writing email job applications?
When I'm writing to a Briton I use "Dear" and then their first name.
Only a few years ago this would have been too informal, now it seems acceptable. This also gets around the problem of women. I don't have to worry about it being "Dear Mrs", "Dear Miss" or "Dear Ms"? Using those titles is like walking in a minefield, in the dark, blindfolded, wearing clown shoes.
Foreigners. Bit more tricky. I still prefer to leave out their title unless they mentioned it: "Please apply to Angela Merkel (Fr.) for the job of Interior Minister". Then, it would be "Dear Fr Merkel" or "Dear Fr Chancellor". Otherwise it's "Dear Angela Merkel" or "Dear Edmund Stoiber".
I think that gives the right level of formality. Remember IT is a young-ish, slightly informal sector.
Also, it's unusual for me to use a salutation in their own language (e.g. Sehr geheerte .."). Keep it in English.
I always sign off with "Regards" with these emails. Well it's better than "Lots of love".
But what if the agency doesn't give a contact name?
Well, until today I then used to write "Dear Sir or Madam". Immediately I'd then add "Your faithfully" before writing anything else. Otherwise I'd forget and leave in "Regards" which, as you know, should never be used with this level of formality in a letter.
But today I couldn't be arsed. The only contact given was "Contracts Team". So I wrote "Dear Contract Team" and finished with "Regards".
Haven't heard back from them, though.
When I'm writing to a Briton I use "Dear" and then their first name.
Only a few years ago this would have been too informal, now it seems acceptable. This also gets around the problem of women. I don't have to worry about it being "Dear Mrs", "Dear Miss" or "Dear Ms"? Using those titles is like walking in a minefield, in the dark, blindfolded, wearing clown shoes.
Foreigners. Bit more tricky. I still prefer to leave out their title unless they mentioned it: "Please apply to Angela Merkel (Fr.) for the job of Interior Minister". Then, it would be "Dear Fr Merkel" or "Dear Fr Chancellor". Otherwise it's "Dear Angela Merkel" or "Dear Edmund Stoiber".
I think that gives the right level of formality. Remember IT is a young-ish, slightly informal sector.
Also, it's unusual for me to use a salutation in their own language (e.g. Sehr geheerte .."). Keep it in English.
I always sign off with "Regards" with these emails. Well it's better than "Lots of love".
But what if the agency doesn't give a contact name?
Well, until today I then used to write "Dear Sir or Madam". Immediately I'd then add "Your faithfully" before writing anything else. Otherwise I'd forget and leave in "Regards" which, as you know, should never be used with this level of formality in a letter.
But today I couldn't be arsed. The only contact given was "Contracts Team". So I wrote "Dear Contract Team" and finished with "Regards".
Haven't heard back from them, though.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Network sites
I've spent quite a bit of the day on the business network sites: openBC and LinkedIn.
I've found former colleagues in both sites (athough I haven't contacted them yet).
With LinkedIn I've also invited certain people to join. I hope they do. I also hope they do soon as I can only have five pending invitations at any time.
Right now I'm very enthusiastic about these sites. I'm pretty certain I'll sign up and pay for advanced services on at least LinkedIn. I think nothing of spending money on a weekend abroad so I should be relaxed about spending money to enhance my network.
However, being naturally cautious I'll wait until the weekend. This will give me a chance to get a better feeling of how useful these sites could be.
I've found former colleagues in both sites (athough I haven't contacted them yet).
With LinkedIn I've also invited certain people to join. I hope they do. I also hope they do soon as I can only have five pending invitations at any time.
Right now I'm very enthusiastic about these sites. I'm pretty certain I'll sign up and pay for advanced services on at least LinkedIn. I think nothing of spending money on a weekend abroad so I should be relaxed about spending money to enhance my network.
However, being naturally cautious I'll wait until the weekend. This will give me a chance to get a better feeling of how useful these sites could be.
Phoning
As I've said before it's very important to telephone everyone you've emailed.
Dutifully (I often take my own advice) I phoned a couple of agencies.
They weren't impressed that I called. They really wanted to be left alone to wade through the c.v.s sent.
Well, even a c.v. like mine might be diminished by being just one of a hundred or so similar applications. So, phoning is no bad thing. Helps you stand out.
Oh well. Maybe I should have given them a bit longer (I phoned less than an hour after sending my email - but they did indicate the jobs needed to be filled urgently).
Anyway, they should be phoning me!
Dutifully (I often take my own advice) I phoned a couple of agencies.
They weren't impressed that I called. They really wanted to be left alone to wade through the c.v.s sent.
Well, even a c.v. like mine might be diminished by being just one of a hundred or so similar applications. So, phoning is no bad thing. Helps you stand out.
Oh well. Maybe I should have given them a bit longer (I phoned less than an hour after sending my email - but they did indicate the jobs needed to be filled urgently).
Anyway, they should be phoning me!
Environment
It's been like summer today. Really T-shirt weather (I actually went outside). Nice.
This global warming is great. Not only does it mean that some English wines are drinkable (apparently) but there'll soon be less icebergs for ships to crash into. And, as anyone who watched TV adverts in the 80s knows, icebergs are somehow associated with AIDS.
So, their demise is doubly welcomed.
Not only has it been a warm day, it's also been a productive day. I applied for three jobs. For a Monday this is very good. No bites, but a good start to the week.
I also managed to look at my Windows XP MCP book and some of it went in. Wow.
This global warming is great. Not only does it mean that some English wines are drinkable (apparently) but there'll soon be less icebergs for ships to crash into. And, as anyone who watched TV adverts in the 80s knows, icebergs are somehow associated with AIDS.
So, their demise is doubly welcomed.
Not only has it been a warm day, it's also been a productive day. I applied for three jobs. For a Monday this is very good. No bites, but a good start to the week.
I also managed to look at my Windows XP MCP book and some of it went in. Wow.
Again
On returning from the bathroom I find another missed call on my mobile.
The caller witheld their number.
Ok, so I wait. Normally after a few minutes my mobile indicates that a voice mail message has been left.
It's been a few hours now and this hasn't happened.
I like to think it was an agency calling me. But then again, it may have been a wrong number.
Don't like the uncertainty though.
The caller witheld their number.
Ok, so I wait. Normally after a few minutes my mobile indicates that a voice mail message has been left.
It's been a few hours now and this hasn't happened.
I like to think it was an agency calling me. But then again, it may have been a wrong number.
Don't like the uncertainty though.
Job advert of the morning
"IT Managers! How do you feel about becoming somewhat of a celebrity within your local area with regards to your career? How would you like all IT Directors within a 30km radius of your home to be knocking on your door, begging you to join their company? I can make this happen! If you want your name to be known across the county, if you want to maximise your job hunt with minimum effort and if you are an experienced, confident and impressive IT Manager. I would like to represent you and introduce you to my clients who are calling out to employ people like yourself. I am not advertising a job, I am advertising multiple jobs and all you need to do to secure yourself a strong footing is submit your CV to me. I will do the rest. (personal details will be kept confidential or at your discretion)."
I would imagine that in the North East IT managers are celebreties. And I wouldn't like IT directors to come knocking at my door - haven't they heard of email, IM or even the telephone? I'm sure they have these things up north.
As for "begging" - even by late 21st Century means - I don't think it's seemly. Even for IT directors.
I didn't apply.
I would imagine that in the North East IT managers are celebreties. And I wouldn't like IT directors to come knocking at my door - haven't they heard of email, IM or even the telephone? I'm sure they have these things up north.
As for "begging" - even by late 21st Century means - I don't think it's seemly. Even for IT directors.
I didn't apply.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Well, that was quick
I looked through the jobs posted from Friday afternoon to now - i.e. the weekend trawl.
Couldn't find anything.
Couldn't find anything.
Loads
Round up
Last week I applied for 27 jobs. 27! My target is five per week.
And I received nine bites. Nine! That's a ratio of just over 1:3. Remember I've traditionally had a ratio of 1:10.
No interviews last week. No job offers either. But still a good week.
However, I'm getting really fed up being stuck where I'm stuck, doing nothing but job hunting. Three months is my limit for this sort of thing.
Last week I applied for 27 jobs. 27! My target is five per week.
And I received nine bites. Nine! That's a ratio of just over 1:3. Remember I've traditionally had a ratio of 1:10.
No interviews last week. No job offers either. But still a good week.
However, I'm getting really fed up being stuck where I'm stuck, doing nothing but job hunting. Three months is my limit for this sort of thing.
Photographs
It's been difficult not to read all of You Knit What?
But heck, I'm an ass-kicking IT manager with a job to get. I can't sit around all day reading attitude-laden comments about knit-wear design.
Some months ago a friend arranged for me to meet one of his colleagues who was their recruitment manager. We had a good chat over coffee (her) and hot chocolate (me).
During the conversation I mentioned that I didn't have a photograph for use when sending my c.v. to German recruiters. "Oh", she didn't realise that was the done thing with German applications, and wondered why Germans kept sending her photos of themselves.
Many years ago a friend of mine applied for a job in Berlin. He sent the usual UK-style two-page c.v. He wasn't recruited but was really offended that they returned the c.v. to him.
Years later I realised that German recruiters normally send back c.v.s because they're so expensive to create. Mind you, they normally deal with very high quality affairs with studio-photographs of the candidates.
Today, I updated my details in business networks. I even took a photograph of myself. It needed a bit of cropping and lightening but the software that came with my PC does all that. It's not as good as German c.v.-photos but it's ok.
I updated my details on openBC and LinkIn and invited some people I know to join.
Thanks to anonymous who suggested LastThursday. Not sure how useful it'll be for me. I suspect the other two will provide better networking potential for me.
But heck, I'm an ass-kicking IT manager with a job to get. I can't sit around all day reading attitude-laden comments about knit-wear design.
Some months ago a friend arranged for me to meet one of his colleagues who was their recruitment manager. We had a good chat over coffee (her) and hot chocolate (me).
During the conversation I mentioned that I didn't have a photograph for use when sending my c.v. to German recruiters. "Oh", she didn't realise that was the done thing with German applications, and wondered why Germans kept sending her photos of themselves.
Many years ago a friend of mine applied for a job in Berlin. He sent the usual UK-style two-page c.v. He wasn't recruited but was really offended that they returned the c.v. to him.
Years later I realised that German recruiters normally send back c.v.s because they're so expensive to create. Mind you, they normally deal with very high quality affairs with studio-photographs of the candidates.
Today, I updated my details in business networks. I even took a photograph of myself. It needed a bit of cropping and lightening but the software that came with my PC does all that. It's not as good as German c.v.-photos but it's ok.
I updated my details on openBC and LinkIn and invited some people I know to join.
Thanks to anonymous who suggested LastThursday. Not sure how useful it'll be for me. I suspect the other two will provide better networking potential for me.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Drained
I was going to do so much today. But I'm exhausted. Not too surprising as I applied for around 25 jobs last week (you'll have to wait till tomorrow for the round up, as indeed shall I).
So studying and Javascript programming went out of the window.
Eventually I realised I hadn't backed up my PC for a few days.
Whilst that was running (it takes quite a time) I did some casual browsing. And came across this remarkable site: You Knit What?
You know, I used to think the Internet was designed so that American soldiers surviving a nuclear war could still look at pornography. But clearly, it's an ideal forum for people to post their, er, strident views on knitting designs. These views are so strident that the site is NSFW, as are most of the knitting designs it shows.
So studying and Javascript programming went out of the window.
Eventually I realised I hadn't backed up my PC for a few days.
Whilst that was running (it takes quite a time) I did some casual browsing. And came across this remarkable site: You Knit What?
You know, I used to think the Internet was designed so that American soldiers surviving a nuclear war could still look at pornography. But clearly, it's an ideal forum for people to post their, er, strident views on knitting designs. These views are so strident that the site is NSFW, as are most of the knitting designs it shows.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Gym
I suspect the only, sure fire way of getting a job is for me to pay money to join a local gym.
I did this today and to the cashier's surprise said I wanted to use the gym straightaway. She shouldn't have been too surprised considering how I was dressed.
That was in the afternoon. In the morning I applied for four jobs and received two bites.
I did this today and to the cashier's surprise said I wanted to use the gym straightaway. She shouldn't have been too surprised considering how I was dressed.
That was in the afternoon. In the morning I applied for four jobs and received two bites.
Pronouncable, exotic city seeks chocolate cake munching IT manager
Occassionally I apply for jobs in Singapore. A name I can pronounce as it only has one R and it doesn't need to be rolled (in fact it would sound a bit daft).
I hear it's a fine city. Actually, you could probably be fined for pronouncing "Singapore" incorrectly so I better double check my earlier sentence.
Yesterday was one such occassion when I could apply. So I did.
I called the agency today. Another good chat and he's going to forward my c.v. to his colleague. That action is safely within my definition of a bite.
I asked him if he could tell me the name of the client. But he couldn't. The reason? He didn't know himself.
I hear it's a fine city. Actually, you could probably be fined for pronouncing "Singapore" incorrectly so I better double check my earlier sentence.
Yesterday was one such occassion when I could apply. So I did.
I called the agency today. Another good chat and he's going to forward my c.v. to his colleague. That action is safely within my definition of a bite.
I asked him if he could tell me the name of the client. But he couldn't. The reason? He didn't know himself.
Persuasive job advert of the week
"Work in Porirua where there's lots of free parking!"
This would appeal to a lot of people living in London no doubt.
I didn't apply because:
- I'm not going to work in a town whose name I can't pronounce (too many "R"s)
- I'm not going to work in a country where I'm not allowed to work, i.e. New Zealand (though I'd like to)
- I don't drive.
They need another USP, e.g. "come to Porirua where there's lots of chocolate cake, blondes and we have an alternative, pronouncable name for immigrants from southern England".
This would appeal to a lot of people living in London no doubt.
I didn't apply because:
- I'm not going to work in a town whose name I can't pronounce (too many "R"s)
- I'm not going to work in a country where I'm not allowed to work, i.e. New Zealand (though I'd like to)
- I don't drive.
They need another USP, e.g. "come to Porirua where there's lots of chocolate cake, blondes and we have an alternative, pronouncable name for immigrants from southern England".
Public sector
It's not that I've been reading too much Samizdata but I really don't want to work in the public sector again.
The reason? Experience. It was only a nine month contract but it was enough. A case of your "tax pounds not at work".
Now, if I'm approached I'm ok to do another contract. But now, whilst I'm still "new IT manager in town" and the job market seems buyount, I'm not going to apply for jobs in the public sector.
Working for the public sector is good for some people (and I'm not being disparaging here) but it's just no good for me.
The reason? Experience. It was only a nine month contract but it was enough. A case of your "tax pounds not at work".
Now, if I'm approached I'm ok to do another contract. But now, whilst I'm still "new IT manager in town" and the job market seems buyount, I'm not going to apply for jobs in the public sector.
Working for the public sector is good for some people (and I'm not being disparaging here) but it's just no good for me.
Oh Gee See
Yesterday evening I received a speculative email (I'm looking for a job but I get on spec messages) from a recruitment agency asking for PM skills. The writer stressed their urgency.
Also, he said that "OGC" experience was important.
Now OGC stands for Office of Government Commerce and is the successor to the CCTA. This civil service agency was pivotal in getting ITIL and PRINCE 2 into the mainstream of best practices.
There's a lot more to OGC than these methodologies mind, but that's what I guessed they required.
So, I sent a suitable email off.
As you know I've been exasperated by agencies calling before 9am in the morning. Well, it's finally gotten through to at least one agency - the agency who emailed me on spec. Just after I switched on my mobile they rang me in response to my email. I was still in bed but at least I was awake.
We had a good chat. During which, he mentioned "OGC Gateway". Ah. This is how the government procures things these days. I'm not sure if it's a framework or a methodology, or indeed what the hell it is. But I do know that I have no experience in it, not even received training in it.
Actually my bad: I wrote "this is how the government procures things these days". Spot the word ommitted. That word being "should"! Ok, and "procure" should have lost the "s" but you get my drift.
Anyway I suggested he send my c.v. forward as I have other skills and they may find that no-one can offer OGC Gateway experience.
Nice little bite.
Also, he said that "OGC" experience was important.
Now OGC stands for Office of Government Commerce and is the successor to the CCTA. This civil service agency was pivotal in getting ITIL and PRINCE 2 into the mainstream of best practices.
There's a lot more to OGC than these methodologies mind, but that's what I guessed they required.
So, I sent a suitable email off.
As you know I've been exasperated by agencies calling before 9am in the morning. Well, it's finally gotten through to at least one agency - the agency who emailed me on spec. Just after I switched on my mobile they rang me in response to my email. I was still in bed but at least I was awake.
We had a good chat. During which, he mentioned "OGC Gateway". Ah. This is how the government procures things these days. I'm not sure if it's a framework or a methodology, or indeed what the hell it is. But I do know that I have no experience in it, not even received training in it.
Actually my bad: I wrote "this is how the government procures things these days". Spot the word ommitted. That word being "should"! Ok, and "procure" should have lost the "s" but you get my drift.
Anyway I suggested he send my c.v. forward as I have other skills and they may find that no-one can offer OGC Gateway experience.
Nice little bite.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
BBC Radio 4's In Business programme has just had a very good edition on networking for business. It should be available for download.
This reminds me to work on my LinkedIn and OpenBC accounts.
This reminds me to work on my LinkedIn and OpenBC accounts.
Some changes
On the right hand gutter you'll notice some changes.
Basically I've removed the links to other job hunting blogs and replaced them with a couple of links to useful resources.
Why?
Well, one job hunting blogger was called up by the US Navy Reserve and is now blogging in Iraq (a few months, it seems, after starting a job), others didn't update much, Monster's blog was never updated and, besides, why would you want to read another job hunting blog?
Also, I needed to look up a country in the CIA's World Factbook and Transparency International's corruption index. So, I thought it would help (me, at least) if I had ready links to these sites.
Where was this country?
Sorry, not saying right now as it'd make it too obvious which job I was going for. But it used to be part of the USSR.
I applied for a job this morning which was a bit enigmatic. Less than an hour later the agent called. Told me more about the job. It's a month on/month off permanent role in a desolated former member of the Russian empire. Very expat. Lots of money, low tax and lots of facilities.
I looked up the country in the links I've mentioned. Not quite a democracy but reasonably stable. It's worse than a 100 in the index of corrupt countries (Finland scores a 1, it's the least corrupt; Russia itself scores 90).
He phoned up a few hours later to query the career gap in my c.v. I explained that that was when I was job hunting (during the depths of the IT recession), being in hospital after a fearsome accident, and studying.
His call is a definite bite.
Today I applied for six jobs.
Basically I've removed the links to other job hunting blogs and replaced them with a couple of links to useful resources.
Why?
Well, one job hunting blogger was called up by the US Navy Reserve and is now blogging in Iraq (a few months, it seems, after starting a job), others didn't update much, Monster's blog was never updated and, besides, why would you want to read another job hunting blog?
Also, I needed to look up a country in the CIA's World Factbook and Transparency International's corruption index. So, I thought it would help (me, at least) if I had ready links to these sites.
Where was this country?
Sorry, not saying right now as it'd make it too obvious which job I was going for. But it used to be part of the USSR.
I applied for a job this morning which was a bit enigmatic. Less than an hour later the agent called. Told me more about the job. It's a month on/month off permanent role in a desolated former member of the Russian empire. Very expat. Lots of money, low tax and lots of facilities.
I looked up the country in the links I've mentioned. Not quite a democracy but reasonably stable. It's worse than a 100 in the index of corrupt countries (Finland scores a 1, it's the least corrupt; Russia itself scores 90).
He phoned up a few hours later to query the career gap in my c.v. I explained that that was when I was job hunting (during the depths of the IT recession), being in hospital after a fearsome accident, and studying.
His call is a definite bite.
Today I applied for six jobs.
Where is it?
Yesterday an agency called me within a minute of me emailing them.
They were going to send me some details by email but by this morning I hadn't received anything.
I tried, I really tried, to wait until the afternoon. But I couldn't. I phoned them. The agent said they had actually sent the email this morning, an hour before my call.
Well, maybe, just maybe, it was taking a slow route.
By this afternoon I hadn't received anything and called her again. This time I gave her my Yahoo email address.
Still haven't received anything.
I've checked my email accounts and they do receive emails, including ones with attachments. (In my last company one of our clients had problems receiving our emails - but only those with attachments. It took a while to work this out).
They were going to send me some details by email but by this morning I hadn't received anything.
I tried, I really tried, to wait until the afternoon. But I couldn't. I phoned them. The agent said they had actually sent the email this morning, an hour before my call.
Well, maybe, just maybe, it was taking a slow route.
By this afternoon I hadn't received anything and called her again. This time I gave her my Yahoo email address.
Still haven't received anything.
I've checked my email accounts and they do receive emails, including ones with attachments. (In my last company one of our clients had problems receiving our emails - but only those with attachments. It took a while to work this out).
To hell with work equality
Saw this subject line for a job today:
"End User Seeks HRMS Men With Banking Origins!"
Now, I know there are some jobs only men are able to do.
Nope, can't think of any. Not now that the armed forces allow women to go for the killing jobs.
I doubt, however, that an HR systems job could be exempted from equality opportunity legislation. Especially as HR departments tend to have a lot of women in them anyway.
Apparently there are 10 ways a company can be liable under equality opportunity legislastion before they even see a candidate. Using a dafty trousers agency to advertise the job in this way must be one of them.
"End User Seeks HRMS Men With Banking Origins!"
Now, I know there are some jobs only men are able to do.
Nope, can't think of any. Not now that the armed forces allow women to go for the killing jobs.
I doubt, however, that an HR systems job could be exempted from equality opportunity legislation. Especially as HR departments tend to have a lot of women in them anyway.
Apparently there are 10 ways a company can be liable under equality opportunity legislastion before they even see a candidate. Using a dafty trousers agency to advertise the job in this way must be one of them.
But I didn't apply!
Yesterday I was on the Monster web site and saw a possibly suitable role in Brussels.
Although the body of the ad was in English the surrounding bits were in Foreign (not sure which language).
I eventually worked out which button to press for making an on-line application (there was no email address). I was then presented with an interminable application form. Or rather forms which went through several pages.
Damn it. All I wanted to do was send my c.v.
I gave up and closed the web page half way through. A few hours later I received an email:
"Dear John,
Although the body of the ad was in English the surrounding bits were in Foreign (not sure which language).
I eventually worked out which button to press for making an on-line application (there was no email address). I was then presented with an interminable application form. Or rather forms which went through several pages.
Damn it. All I wanted to do was send my c.v.
I gave up and closed the web page half way through. A few hours later I received an email:
"Dear John,
Thank you for your recent application.
We have carefully reviewed your application and regret to have to inform you that, at this moment, we will not take any further action regarding your application.
We will, however, retain your details for one year and will contact you again as soon as we have a suitable vacancy.
Should you in future again wish to apply, feel free to visit our jobsite [that should be "Jobshite" if you ask me] for an overview of all vacancies and to apply online.
We sincerely appreciate your interest and wish you every success in reaching your career objectives."
I'm glad they carefully reviewed my application and sincerely appreciated my interest. I wasn't aware I had actually applied.
Nudge
This afternoon I received an email nudging me to advise an agent about my views on a job description she'd sent me.
Well, I thought I had given my feedback a few days ago. But I wasn't sure. So, I phoned her and went through it again. She then remembered I had called her about it. She's putting my c.v. to her client and that's a bite.
Well, I thought I had given my feedback a few days ago. But I wasn't sure. So, I phoned her and went through it again. She then remembered I had called her about it. She's putting my c.v. to her client and that's a bite.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Busy
So, today I've been rather busy; and not just updating this blog.
Today I applied for five jobs. I received three bites.
Today I applied for five jobs. I received three bites.
Quick
This afternoon I do some more job hunting. The internet must be getting tired by now.
One job seems particularly suitable. I send off an application.
Within a minute my mobile rings. It's the agency. I cannot believe it. I'm surprised the email even reached her in that time.
She says she phoned as soon as she looked through the first page. Which is great because that's what my first page is for (it's different from most other c.v.s).
Although she likes my c.v. she wanted to check straightaway that I'd be happy about the rate as others had rejected the job for that sole reason. Oh oh.
Anyway she tells me and the rate turns out to be quite a bit higher than rates I've been going for in London.
We have a good chat and she's going to put my name forward. She also said she'd send me some documents but I haven't received them yet.
Another bite.
One job seems particularly suitable. I send off an application.
Within a minute my mobile rings. It's the agency. I cannot believe it. I'm surprised the email even reached her in that time.
She says she phoned as soon as she looked through the first page. Which is great because that's what my first page is for (it's different from most other c.v.s).
Although she likes my c.v. she wanted to check straightaway that I'd be happy about the rate as others had rejected the job for that sole reason. Oh oh.
Anyway she tells me and the rate turns out to be quite a bit higher than rates I've been going for in London.
We have a good chat and she's going to put my name forward. She also said she'd send me some documents but I haven't received them yet.
Another bite.
It pays to call
Yesterday I applied for a job on Monster which didn't give a contact name.
Feel much happier applying for a job with a named contact.
Nevertheless I phoned the agency today.
The woman answering was straight to the point: yes, she'd received my c.v., I seemed to meet her client's requirements, so she'll put my name forward to them. That was that.
Funnily enough I recognised the company. Some years ago I worked at a business who had some old infrastructure. It was installed by this company and no-one was impressed.
I'm not bothered, that was a long time ago. Furthermore, I have another bite.
Feel much happier applying for a job with a named contact.
Nevertheless I phoned the agency today.
The woman answering was straight to the point: yes, she'd received my c.v., I seemed to meet her client's requirements, so she'll put my name forward to them. That was that.
Funnily enough I recognised the company. Some years ago I worked at a business who had some old infrastructure. It was installed by this company and no-one was impressed.
I'm not bothered, that was a long time ago. Furthermore, I have another bite.
Deja vu
This morning I saw an advert for a job which had originally been advertised back in July.
Checking my database (yes, I'm that anal) I find that although I applied the job was almost immediately put on hold.
I'm always suspicious about this sort of thing.
Anyway. I applied again. Then I phoned the agent. This time she told me about the client and what they wanted. It seemed a good match and is definitely a bite.
Checking my database (yes, I'm that anal) I find that although I applied the job was almost immediately put on hold.
I'm always suspicious about this sort of thing.
Anyway. I applied again. Then I phoned the agent. This time she told me about the client and what they wanted. It seemed a good match and is definitely a bite.
Another call slips through
It's happened again.
I go to the bathroom briefly - it's the only time I'm away from my mobile - and return to find that the phone has rung and I have an answer message.
It was an agency who'd received my c.v. for some job or other back in August. Wanted to see if I was still available for project management work. Are bears Catholic?
I phone him back and we have a good chat. He has two roles but on inspection only one was suitable. Looks like he's going to put my name forward and that's a definite bite. Better, I didn't even apply for the job.
I go to the bathroom briefly - it's the only time I'm away from my mobile - and return to find that the phone has rung and I have an answer message.
It was an agency who'd received my c.v. for some job or other back in August. Wanted to see if I was still available for project management work. Are bears Catholic?
I phone him back and we have a good chat. He has two roles but on inspection only one was suitable. Looks like he's going to put my name forward and that's a definite bite. Better, I didn't even apply for the job.
Winnersh
Today I saw an advert for a job in Winnersh.
Winnersh is a town near Reading. And Reading itself is only 20 minutes, by intercity train, to London.
Did I apply?
No.
Why?
Well, I studied electronic engineering at Reading University in the mid-80's. In the second year (of a three year course) we were taken on trips to various local electronic companies. These trips were part of the course and therefore compulsory.
One of the companies was in Winnersh. It was quite smart. A totally open-plan environment, from manufacturing, through design, to managing director's desk. Robots went from stores to various desks delivering stock automatically collected. They were actually trucks on wheels which followed metal strips on the floor. I last saw one in Yo Sushi carrying a selection of drinks for the guests to pick up. It didn't recognise me.
For the mid-80s I guess this was all quite forward-looking. But the people there, and in other companies we visited, did not inspire. It was then that I realised that I didn't want to be an electronic engineer.
This revelation didn't help motivate me on what was a very demanding course. In my second year exams I graded at a borderline 2:1 (in those days that grade wasn't the norm). By the next years, I graduated with a 3rd. During my third year I looked at advertising and even went for an interview as a copywriter.
But I didn't get any offers in the world of advertising. Eventually I stumbled into a career in IT which turned out, for quite a while, to be rather good for me. And over 10 years later, as a result of this IT career, I became a chartered engineer.
Oh the irony.
Oh the double irony, as two days later as I was in intensive care.
So, I'm not too fond of Winnersh and I didn't apply.
Winnersh is a town near Reading. And Reading itself is only 20 minutes, by intercity train, to London.
Did I apply?
No.
Why?
Well, I studied electronic engineering at Reading University in the mid-80's. In the second year (of a three year course) we were taken on trips to various local electronic companies. These trips were part of the course and therefore compulsory.
One of the companies was in Winnersh. It was quite smart. A totally open-plan environment, from manufacturing, through design, to managing director's desk. Robots went from stores to various desks delivering stock automatically collected. They were actually trucks on wheels which followed metal strips on the floor. I last saw one in Yo Sushi carrying a selection of drinks for the guests to pick up. It didn't recognise me.
For the mid-80s I guess this was all quite forward-looking. But the people there, and in other companies we visited, did not inspire. It was then that I realised that I didn't want to be an electronic engineer.
This revelation didn't help motivate me on what was a very demanding course. In my second year exams I graded at a borderline 2:1 (in those days that grade wasn't the norm). By the next years, I graduated with a 3rd. During my third year I looked at advertising and even went for an interview as a copywriter.
But I didn't get any offers in the world of advertising. Eventually I stumbled into a career in IT which turned out, for quite a while, to be rather good for me. And over 10 years later, as a result of this IT career, I became a chartered engineer.
Oh the irony.
Oh the double irony, as two days later as I was in intensive care.
So, I'm not too fond of Winnersh and I didn't apply.
Weatherpixie update
I'm glad that she's heeded my concerns about skimpy clothes in October. I was beginning to suspect she was a Geordie.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
A bite?
In reply to an email I sent (about an advertised job) I received this from the agency:
"... I have included you in our short listing process" So, that's a bite then, except, she goes on: "but on this occasion I have identified slightly stronger candidates for this particular role.Unfortunately, I am therefore unable to submit you to my client."
I don't think that's a bite.
"... I have included you in our short listing process" So, that's a bite then, except, she goes on: "but on this occasion I have identified slightly stronger candidates for this particular role.Unfortunately, I am therefore unable to submit you to my client."
I don't think that's a bite.
More malaise
It looks like the famous JobStats website has stopped being updated. Last update was May.
For ages it showed a point of inflection in the job market. Being an optimist I felt the job demand graph would go back up. Pessimists would have felt that the inflection was the start of a downturn.
Guess we'll never know now.
For ages it showed a point of inflection in the job market. Being an optimist I felt the job demand graph would go back up. Pessimists would have felt that the inflection was the start of a downturn.
Guess we'll never know now.
Long day
And it hasn't finished for me. Which is very annoying as I don't get paid.
Today has been a bit dismal. Feels like I've been treading water and not getting anywhere. Now it's the beginning of October I've been out of work for four months. That's more than enough. I want a job now.
This week and last it's felt a bit quiet on the job front. But that's just a feeling. Today I applied for six jobs and received one bite.
Today has been a bit dismal. Feels like I've been treading water and not getting anywhere. Now it's the beginning of October I've been out of work for four months. That's more than enough. I want a job now.
This week and last it's felt a bit quiet on the job front. But that's just a feeling. Today I applied for six jobs and received one bite.
Impressed
Gosh, that was good.
Last night I posted an entry which mentioned an issue with Browster on Firefox.
By this morning two people from the company had posted comments, Elisa and Scott (Scott is the CEO). Thank you Elisa and Scott.
Now remember, I hadn't contacted them, merely made a mention on my blog. Coming from a service management background I'm very impressed.
I hope they get a Firefox version soon with the same functionality as their IE version. Then Firefox and Browster would compliment each other very well.
Last night I posted an entry which mentioned an issue with Browster on Firefox.
By this morning two people from the company had posted comments, Elisa and Scott (Scott is the CEO). Thank you Elisa and Scott.
Now remember, I hadn't contacted them, merely made a mention on my blog. Coming from a service management background I'm very impressed.
I hope they get a Firefox version soon with the same functionality as their IE version. Then Firefox and Browster would compliment each other very well.
Phoning
It's been a while since I lost my reticence. Nowadays I phone just about every recruiter I email. Even if I'm not suitable for the job advertised they may bear me in mind for other roles.
(BTW - bear in mind: I'm never sure whether it's bare as in "gosh it's a bit chilly" or bear as in "grr").
Today I phoned an agency I had emailed yesterday.
Me: "I just wanted to check that you've received my email."
Her: "Yes"
Me: "Good ... [normally the agent starts talking about the role and my c.v. but not this time] ... Could we discuss the role?"
Her: "No. We'll get back to you if we're interested. Goodbye".
Oh well, sometimes agents are like this.
Half an hour later my mobile rings. It's the agency, but a different agent.
He likes my details - we have a good chat - and he tells me the name of the client. It's in Kensington which is close to where I use to live. And it pays a lot of money so I could afford to live around there again.
He does ask about my knowledge of Unix. Well, I used it at university (that was only 20 years ago) and a couple of years ago I played around with Linux. In any case, it's just another system.
He said he'd put my name forward.
A bite.
Later I see another advert from a different agency. It's pretty clear it's for the same job but its description is more demanding on specific technical skills (which I specifically don't have).
Still, I have core and key skills that the client needs, especially around team and service development, and they may count for more than any techie skills. They should.
(BTW - bear in mind: I'm never sure whether it's bare as in "gosh it's a bit chilly" or bear as in "grr").
Today I phoned an agency I had emailed yesterday.
Me: "I just wanted to check that you've received my email."
Her: "Yes"
Me: "Good ... [normally the agent starts talking about the role and my c.v. but not this time] ... Could we discuss the role?"
Her: "No. We'll get back to you if we're interested. Goodbye".
Oh well, sometimes agents are like this.
Half an hour later my mobile rings. It's the agency, but a different agent.
He likes my details - we have a good chat - and he tells me the name of the client. It's in Kensington which is close to where I use to live. And it pays a lot of money so I could afford to live around there again.
He does ask about my knowledge of Unix. Well, I used it at university (that was only 20 years ago) and a couple of years ago I played around with Linux. In any case, it's just another system.
He said he'd put my name forward.
A bite.
Later I see another advert from a different agency. It's pretty clear it's for the same job but its description is more demanding on specific technical skills (which I specifically don't have).
Still, I have core and key skills that the client needs, especially around team and service development, and they may count for more than any techie skills. They should.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Today
Despite worrying about:
1. the health of a poorly drawn female avatar
and
2. browser functionality
I managed to apply for four jobs.
One of these jobs was the result of an agency contacting me. I normally count this as a bite but the agency's approach was so cursory it doesn't feel like a bite.
After emailing my c.v. she emailed me back. I replied then she emailed me some more. Fair enough but what's wrong with using a telephone?
1. the health of a poorly drawn female avatar
and
2. browser functionality
I managed to apply for four jobs.
One of these jobs was the result of an agency contacting me. I normally count this as a bite but the agency's approach was so cursory it doesn't feel like a bite.
After emailing my c.v. she emailed me back. I replied then she emailed me some more. Fair enough but what's wrong with using a telephone?
Cold
I'm getting worried about the weather pixie I've installed on the right.
Although it's around 13-14C outside she's still wearing a mid-riff revealing top.
I'm seriously worried she'll get a kidney infection. Hate that to happen. I've only just installed her.
When I worked in Somerset there were a lot of women wearing these types of tops. But what they lacked in gym-dedication they made up in pie and cake worship. The result wasn't very pleasant.
I've also heard - though am not sure how true this is - that girls are now getting a ring of fat in the exposed area as the result of a biofeedback mechanism (i.e. the cold area builds up fat deposits to insultate it).
My experience of girls is that they really do not like being cold. But then again when I was recently living in London I saw lots of girls wearing these tops even in cold evenings. Strange.
Although it's around 13-14C outside she's still wearing a mid-riff revealing top.
I'm seriously worried she'll get a kidney infection. Hate that to happen. I've only just installed her.
When I worked in Somerset there were a lot of women wearing these types of tops. But what they lacked in gym-dedication they made up in pie and cake worship. The result wasn't very pleasant.
I've also heard - though am not sure how true this is - that girls are now getting a ring of fat in the exposed area as the result of a biofeedback mechanism (i.e. the cold area builds up fat deposits to insultate it).
My experience of girls is that they really do not like being cold. But then again when I was recently living in London I saw lots of girls wearing these tops even in cold evenings. Strange.
Crashware
Today IE turned into a crash-monster.
It fell over three times whilst I was trawling through jobs. This is a big pain as I have to reload the browser and find where I was on the long list of jobs. This can easily go over 10 or more pages.
Why on earth are you using IE anyway?
It's only for job hunting, honest. I've been using IE with Browster so that I can quickly open links to jobs. As I spend several hours scrolling through web sites this facility does save a bit of time.
When I installed Browster it only worked properly with IE. I looked at their web site a little while back and it now also works with Firefox. So I've installed it.
You seem to need to hold down the ALT key but it basically works. I'll try it out tomorrow on the job sites. Hopefully it'll mean I don't have to use IE any more for job hunting.
It fell over three times whilst I was trawling through jobs. This is a big pain as I have to reload the browser and find where I was on the long list of jobs. This can easily go over 10 or more pages.
Why on earth are you using IE anyway?
It's only for job hunting, honest. I've been using IE with Browster so that I can quickly open links to jobs. As I spend several hours scrolling through web sites this facility does save a bit of time.
When I installed Browster it only worked properly with IE. I looked at their web site a little while back and it now also works with Firefox. So I've installed it.
You seem to need to hold down the ALT key but it basically works. I'll try it out tomorrow on the job sites. Hopefully it'll mean I don't have to use IE any more for job hunting.
Just remembered
Round up.
Last week ...
I applied for 13 jobs.
I received four bites.
I attended one interview.
And I bought one chair.
Last week ...
I applied for 13 jobs.
I received four bites.
I attended one interview.
And I bought one chair.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Focus
I am, of course, keen on gadgets (and really expensive cameras).
Yesterday I went to Focus, a UK DIY-type store (which isn't doing too well at the moment, apparently) and brought ...
... an office chair.
Well, a pseudo-office chair. I know office chairs. Not only have I sat on them I've even been involved in the purchasing of them. They're not as cheap as the ones in Focus. But then again, I did have to assemble it myself.
Anyway, it's much more comfortable than the chair I was using before. If I'm stuck here for a while longer it may save my back.
Despite the improved comfort of my workspace today I couldn't find any jobs on the web.
Yesterday I went to Focus, a UK DIY-type store (which isn't doing too well at the moment, apparently) and brought ...
... an office chair.
Well, a pseudo-office chair. I know office chairs. Not only have I sat on them I've even been involved in the purchasing of them. They're not as cheap as the ones in Focus. But then again, I did have to assemble it myself.
Anyway, it's much more comfortable than the chair I was using before. If I'm stuck here for a while longer it may save my back.
Despite the improved comfort of my workspace today I couldn't find any jobs on the web.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Kiss
Recently I've been thinking that my German has been deteriorating.
Daily I watch ARD's Tagesscchaue newscast. But recently I've found it hard to follow. I then realised it's because even Germans are finding current news hard to follow. The current news being about Germans trying to form a new government.
The rest of the days it's pretty quiet. Occassionally I listen to BBC news to find out what the disillusioned left-wingers are thinking.
Today, it got far too quiet.
So, I had a look at the Kiss FM web site. (Americans, please note that's the UK's Kiss FM). Last time I looked they didn't have a web-cast. But that was a few years ago and they now have one. Plus you can choose which programme you want to hear.
Had to go straight to the Kisstory programme. That's old school stuff, e.g. House etc. Unfortunately it also includes Neneh Cherry.
I remember when Chicago House first came to the UK, around 20 years ago. That and its derivatives get me every time.
Think I'll be playing this station, as a web-cast, all the time now, whilst I job-hunt. Although I could just get off my arse and find my CDs and tapes - it seems a lot of what they play I have.
Still, arses are to be sat on.
Daily I watch ARD's Tagesscchaue newscast. But recently I've found it hard to follow. I then realised it's because even Germans are finding current news hard to follow. The current news being about Germans trying to form a new government.
The rest of the days it's pretty quiet. Occassionally I listen to BBC news to find out what the disillusioned left-wingers are thinking.
Today, it got far too quiet.
So, I had a look at the Kiss FM web site. (Americans, please note that's the UK's Kiss FM). Last time I looked they didn't have a web-cast. But that was a few years ago and they now have one. Plus you can choose which programme you want to hear.
Had to go straight to the Kisstory programme. That's old school stuff, e.g. House etc. Unfortunately it also includes Neneh Cherry.
I remember when Chicago House first came to the UK, around 20 years ago. That and its derivatives get me every time.
Think I'll be playing this station, as a web-cast, all the time now, whilst I job-hunt. Although I could just get off my arse and find my CDs and tapes - it seems a lot of what they play I have.
Still, arses are to be sat on.
Want one
Well, I have been good.
I have an M3 (including the 1950's design flash gun) and have been wondering what is equivalent in the digital world. Now I do have an Olympus digicam and it is very good.
But I think this is in another class. Damn it, Leicas are in another universe.
I think I better knuckle down and get another high paying job. Or make sure the business earns masses of money.
I have an M3 (including the 1950's design flash gun) and have been wondering what is equivalent in the digital world. Now I do have an Olympus digicam and it is very good.
But I think this is in another class. Damn it, Leicas are in another universe.
I think I better knuckle down and get another high paying job. Or make sure the business earns masses of money.
Phisher of the month
I keep receiving this message on my Yahoo Messenger:
"ychat_admn_y92 (01/10/2005 01:50:20): Hi, [my Yahoo account name] I am a Yahoo! Inc. Administrator. You have received multiple complaints about abuse from your Yahoo! account. This constitutes a violation of our Terms of Service Agreement. Your account will be terminated if you do not respond to these allegations. Use this link to view and respond to these complaints. http://sh1.yahoo.com/rmi/http://xrl.us/hsxw"
Quite clever. You think the address is off the yahoo.com domain but actually it's off the xrl.us domain.
Going to that link - I did out of curiosity - takes you to a very good fascimile of the Yahoo login screen.
I didn't, of course, log in but reported it to Yahoo. This was a month ago and the scam has just reappeared.
Incidentally I never use Yahoo Messenger. I don't know anyone who uses it anymore: nowadays it's either MSN or better still Skype.
"ychat_admn_y92 (01/10/2005 01:50:20): Hi, [my Yahoo account name] I am a Yahoo! Inc. Administrator. You have received multiple complaints about abuse from your Yahoo! account. This constitutes a violation of our Terms of Service Agreement. Your account will be terminated if you do not respond to these allegations. Use this link to view and respond to these complaints. http://sh1.yahoo.com/rmi/http://xrl.us/hsxw"
Quite clever. You think the address is off the yahoo.com domain but actually it's off the xrl.us domain.
Going to that link - I did out of curiosity - takes you to a very good fascimile of the Yahoo login screen.
I didn't, of course, log in but reported it to Yahoo. This was a month ago and the scam has just reappeared.
Incidentally I never use Yahoo Messenger. I don't know anyone who uses it anymore: nowadays it's either MSN or better still Skype.
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