One

Today I applied for one job.

I also went to the dentist for a regular check-up.

And, so far, I haven't looked at any German.

Slight change in approach

These days more jobs seem to be advertised in German, or requiring good German skills.

And I have good German skills ... on paper.

But in reality they need brushing up.

So, for the second week of this furlough I am concentrating on improving my German.

I will still look at job sites but that won't be my main focus.

E.C.C.A.

Yesterday late afternoon I had an emergency cake then curry alert which meant that I couldn't report that I had applied for two jobs.

One was in response to an agency contacting me on Xing. The other, I saw on Monster (via Toytown). This one is actually quite close to where I live.

Strangest job advert layout of the week

My thanks to Elliot for alerting me to this:

Job description: Technical management of electronic developments within R & D projects Contact internal and external electronic and electrical issues in the project Budget responsibility Responsible for timely preparation of the necessary technical solutions In collaboration with the Project Manager rate, fixing, schedule, quality and functional goals of the electronic components

• Planning, monitoring and control of internal and external development capacitance (hardware, software, testing) with internal tuning
• Timely Identification of development risks (cost, schedule, technical) project manager and technical supervisor at as well as planning and control of countermeasures
  Required Qualifications
  • University degree in electrical engineering, computer science, industrial engineering, etc. or equivalent qualification with relevant professional experience
    • perennial experience in the development of electronic components in the automotive industry
    • experience in project and requirements management and change management
    • hardware and / or software development experience
      • Good SPICE process development experience
      • distinctive quality and cost consciousness
        • Close collaboration with customers and suppliers
        • Very good command of german and english
          • familiarity with the standard Microsoft Office programs
          • Automotive experience is an advantage We welcome your feedback and are always at your disposal to answer questions for.

Things to do during a furlough

1. Fix girlfriend's hard disk which suffered a major crash.
2. Look for jobs.
3. Improve German (I am supposed to be almost fluent, not almost incoherent)
4. Run during the day, I'm already at 8km, heck maybe even go swimming
   
5. Update this blog
6. Do some private appointments (dentist etc)
7. Learn some new recipes
   
8. Meet up for lunch with friends (like sushi on Thursday)

Any other ideas?

Furloughed

Last week started to get rather busy.

Things are coming together in the programme, kick-offs had to be kicked-off.

Monday, yesterday, saw a lot of work on preparing one of these kick-off meeting.

But then my agency phoned to fell me that I, and practically all the other contractors, had been immediately put on a two week furlough.

Which means for two weeks I don't work and therefore don't get paid.