Article on the BBC website about how managers feel there would be productivity improvements if they could sack 5% of the workforce per year.
Well, I've got an idea for even better productivity: sack these managers with such stupid views.
Now, I've - er - worked people out of roles. Sometimes it has to be done. But it's the job of the manager to get the best out of people, even people who are having performance problems.
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.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Oh well
This week I applied for a total of three jobs.
If I was in the UK I would be quite dismayed with this number. But I'm in Munich so I'm not sure it's too bad.
One of the jobs for which I applied turned out to have already been taken.
Oh well.
So, not a great week. But I did start German lessons and I have been to the gym three times this week.
Tomorrow is my day off, from job hunting.
If I was in the UK I would be quite dismayed with this number. But I'm in Munich so I'm not sure it's too bad.
One of the jobs for which I applied turned out to have already been taken.
Oh well.
So, not a great week. But I did start German lessons and I have been to the gym three times this week.
Tomorrow is my day off, from job hunting.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Skype to the rescue
So, I've found a good German teacher.
But she's abroad for a couple of months starting next week.
When we met this morning, for the second lesson, we both had the same solution: Skype .
We'll conduct lessons over it, hopefully including the video function it has.
That's the idea. Next week we'll see how well it works.
This week I'm having lessons with her probably every day and, amongst other things, that should help us build a rapport - a useful thing to have for the video calls in subsequent weeks.
But she's abroad for a couple of months starting next week.
When we met this morning, for the second lesson, we both had the same solution: Skype .
We'll conduct lessons over it, hopefully including the video function it has.
That's the idea. Next week we'll see how well it works.
This week I'm having lessons with her probably every day and, amongst other things, that should help us build a rapport - a useful thing to have for the video calls in subsequent weeks.
Busy, slow today
Well, it was busy on the busy front:
- I had another German lesson - good
- I went to the gym - good
- I actually did some research work for the Finnish business (but I'm not updating that blog just yet) - could be good
- I setup my iPAQ which will very soon replace my old Palm T3 -bloody essential
But it wasn't busy on the job hunting front:
- Today applied for no jobs. I didn't even look.
Bad, bad. Although I'm getting back into good habits (gym, language study) I must keep the momentum on job hunting.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Quiet
Unlike last week it seems a slow start.
Didn't apply for any jobs yesterday. Today, only one application.
I did, however, go to the gym yesterday, for the first time in months.
Muscles now hurt.
And today I had my first German one-to-one lesson.
Brain now hurts.
Didn't apply for any jobs yesterday. Today, only one application.
I did, however, go to the gym yesterday, for the first time in months.
Muscles now hurt.
And today I had my first German one-to-one lesson.
Brain now hurts.
Schmoozing
or networking as I call. Guy Kawasaki has some good tips on this.
Labels:
Networking,
Tips
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Trepedation
On Friday I wrote a bit about this.
Today I returned to Munich.
Normally I job hunt on Sundays. But I won't today. Start, instead first thing tomorrow.
And I'm not going to be too methodical about planning what I need to do.
Sure, I will do some planning over the next few days but the important thing is to get stuck in.
Today I returned to Munich.
Normally I job hunt on Sundays. But I won't today. Start, instead first thing tomorrow.
And I'm not going to be too methodical about planning what I need to do.
Sure, I will do some planning over the next few days but the important thing is to get stuck in.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Round up
There's been no change from yesterday.
I didn't look today after my phone call. Kinda ran out of steam.
Anyway, this week I applied for six jobs and received three bites.
Which is good.
Nevertheless I'm getting some trepidation about going back to Munich. Apart from the flight being booked I have a flat which I'm contractually obliged to keep renting for some months.
And in fact it'll be a better environment to focus on job hunting, learning German seriously and requalififying for PRINCE 2.
Moreover, if I do get a job in Munich I'll be well chuffed.
But there's still some trepedation. Germany is a hard place to get a job, even for those with German, damn it even for Germans.
So, I've set myself quite a challenge.
I didn't look today after my phone call. Kinda ran out of steam.
Anyway, this week I applied for six jobs and received three bites.
Which is good.
Nevertheless I'm getting some trepidation about going back to Munich. Apart from the flight being booked I have a flat which I'm contractually obliged to keep renting for some months.
And in fact it'll be a better environment to focus on job hunting, learning German seriously and requalififying for PRINCE 2.
Moreover, if I do get a job in Munich I'll be well chuffed.
But there's still some trepedation. Germany is a hard place to get a job, even for those with German, damn it even for Germans.
So, I've set myself quite a challenge.
Oops
Whilst I'm in England I make calls to Germany using Skype. Much cheaper.
Today a company, to whom I had applied on line yesterday, emailed me asking for references. Nothing indicative in that, just what they like to have.
Their email was in German so I wanted to ask if there was any point applying now, when my German isn't that good (in their German written advert they had asked for good English but hadn't mentioned skills in German, so I applied, in English).
I phoned the person who had emailed me.
We spoke in German but I couldn't get a word. Really, I couldn't hear she was saying.
I kept turning up the volume on my headset but it made no difference.
Eventually I realised that the headset wasn't plugged in. I was using the laptop's built-in microphone and headset.
D'uh.
Things improved after that. The lady agreed that I should improve my German but said there was no harm applying now.
Today a company, to whom I had applied on line yesterday, emailed me asking for references. Nothing indicative in that, just what they like to have.
Their email was in German so I wanted to ask if there was any point applying now, when my German isn't that good (in their German written advert they had asked for good English but hadn't mentioned skills in German, so I applied, in English).
I phoned the person who had emailed me.
We spoke in German but I couldn't get a word. Really, I couldn't hear she was saying.
I kept turning up the volume on my headset but it made no difference.
Eventually I realised that the headset wasn't plugged in. I was using the laptop's built-in microphone and headset.
D'uh.
Things improved after that. The lady agreed that I should improve my German but said there was no harm applying now.
Beaten to it
This morning I looked at Skypecasts (Skype's new live chat thing).
And I had an idea: why don't I set up a Skypecast about job hunting ideas?
Then I looked through the directors of Skypecasts and found this has already been done (Career Talk).
Worse, the recruitment company behind it has a blog which covers job hunting issues and even worse than that, it's quite good!
And I had an idea: why don't I set up a Skypecast about job hunting ideas?
Then I looked through the directors of Skypecasts and found this has already been done (Career Talk).
Worse, the recruitment company behind it has a blog which covers job hunting issues and even worse than that, it's quite good!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
So far
It's Thursday, in the first week of 2007. So far this week I've applied for six positions.
And I received three bites.
One of these was for a permanent job in Munich. The other two were for contract assignments in London.
And I received three bites.
One of these was for a permanent job in Munich. The other two were for contract assignments in London.
You can't win
Some recruiters want to see my technical skills on my c.v.
Others don't.
For example today one agency, who liked my c.v., felt it was emphasizing IT too much. They were looking for a more general project manager with my skills - which I gained in IT.
So I amended my c.v., mainly by removing "IT" wherever it occurred.
Others don't.
For example today one agency, who liked my c.v., felt it was emphasizing IT too much. They were looking for a more general project manager with my skills - which I gained in IT.
So I amended my c.v., mainly by removing "IT" wherever it occurred.
Confused
Made a few calls today. Some for contracts in London, but one for a job in Munich.
During one of these calls I gave my desired daily rate in Sterling and also pointed out that I could fly back to Munich at the weekends.
She then pointed out that I had called her about a permanent job in Munich.
"Ah, yes..."
I quickly recovered the situation and she's sending the c.v. over to her client.
A bite.
During one of these calls I gave my desired daily rate in Sterling and also pointed out that I could fly back to Munich at the weekends.
She then pointed out that I had called her about a permanent job in Munich.
"Ah, yes..."
I quickly recovered the situation and she's sending the c.v. over to her client.
A bite.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Bit of a job hunting day
Today I applied for three jobs. And yesterday I applied for one job too.
Which is good. Traditionally my target has been five jobs per week.
I have my doubts that I could consistently achieve this when looking for a job in Munich.
For a start, the job situtation in Germany is still not very good.
Then, quite a few jobs ask for excellent levels of German. I don't apply for those. But otherwise, if a job is advertised in German, and it seems appropriate, then I do apply, in English.
A couple of todays jobs were written in German. Well, I can read them fine so I felt there was no harm in applying.
The third one was for a contract in London. I don't really want to work in London. But the description did seem rather appropriate (at least the first time I read it) so I applied. And it may well be possible for me to fly into London during the week and fly back to Munich at the weekends.
Most contractors do it the other way round, so maybe I'll be zigging when others are zagging.
Which is good. Traditionally my target has been five jobs per week.
I have my doubts that I could consistently achieve this when looking for a job in Munich.
For a start, the job situtation in Germany is still not very good.
Then, quite a few jobs ask for excellent levels of German. I don't apply for those. But otherwise, if a job is advertised in German, and it seems appropriate, then I do apply, in English.
A couple of todays jobs were written in German. Well, I can read them fine so I felt there was no harm in applying.
The third one was for a contract in London. I don't really want to work in London. But the description did seem rather appropriate (at least the first time I read it) so I applied. And it may well be possible for me to fly into London during the week and fly back to Munich at the weekends.
Most contractors do it the other way round, so maybe I'll be zigging when others are zagging.
Week speling
Saw this mini-quiz on the BBC's news web-site relating to spelling on c.v.s .
If you tell me your score I'll tell you mine.
If you tell me your score I'll tell you mine.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Connection sluts
As you know I tend to decry the value of Linkedin and Xing users who have hundreds of connections. I'm also wary of people who ask to connect with me but don't write a personalized message. I specifically ask for this on the Linkedin site.
Anyway, I was recently contacted by one of these connecters.
The thing is he could actually be a useful contact. In fact he works in a company associated with one of my recent clients (at a rather high level).
So, I've accepted him as one of my contacts. I'm going to see if I can get value from this approach. I've sent him a personal message including the fact that I'm an experienced manager now available.
Anyway, I was recently contacted by one of these connecters.
The thing is he could actually be a useful contact. In fact he works in a company associated with one of my recent clients (at a rather high level).
So, I've accepted him as one of my contacts. I'm going to see if I can get value from this approach. I've sent him a personal message including the fact that I'm an experienced manager now available.
Thanks TJ
One of the Munich Hash House Harriers lives in Switzerland but "runs" with us frequently.
He's given me other leads but today spotted a suitable looking job in Monster and emailed it to me.
It was quite appropriate so I sent off my c.v. and will call them (an agency) tomorrow.
He's given me other leads but today spotted a suitable looking job in Monster and emailed it to me.
It was quite appropriate so I sent off my c.v. and will call them (an agency) tomorrow.
Good news
eweek. com has an encouraging article, What's on Tap for IT Pros in 2007?
Ok, so it clearly focusses on the US market. But it bodes well globally.
In anycase I wouldn't mind a short stint working in the States. Although I'm quite content to stay in Europe.
Ok, so it clearly focusses on the US market. But it bodes well globally.
In anycase I wouldn't mind a short stint working in the States. Although I'm quite content to stay in Europe.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Taxis
Yesterday I went up to London and, with a friend, went to a bar in Chelsea. It's quite a bar, bit exclusive but rather nice.
We took a taxi there.
On the way, a man ran across the road in front of the taxi. He almost got away with it but didn't. The taxi clipped him and he fell over.
The taxi driver pulled over about 30 meters away from the incident. People were looking at the man who was standing.
After a while we got out of the taxi and went over to him. Just to make sure.
He was covered in blood. Not only was his nose cut but he also had a nosebleed. There was an awful lot of blood on the ground.
The man was coherent and seemed stable. But he was surprised when I said his nose would need stitching. No medical training needed for that one, it was obvious.
Anyway, I eventually realised that no-one had called an ambulance.
I couldn't see why not. He'd been hit by a taxi (London taxis are very big, solid things), his nose was cut and he was drenched in blood. Amongst other things there was a risk of hypothermia due to his clothes being so wet (and it being a cold night). Plus shock, plus any other internal injuries he may have suffered but not noticed due to alcohol and a general shocked state.
So, I called the emergency services. They disputed with me that I was in Chelsea. The cheek. But I was standing next to a street sign, and was wearing a Barbour jacket, so I eventually convinced them.
A few minutes later the ambulance came along and I went on to the bar.
No further incidents to report (oh except I met a rather nice girl in the bar, exchanged numbers but was too, er, tired today to arrange a meet-up before going back down south).
We took a taxi there.
On the way, a man ran across the road in front of the taxi. He almost got away with it but didn't. The taxi clipped him and he fell over.
The taxi driver pulled over about 30 meters away from the incident. People were looking at the man who was standing.
After a while we got out of the taxi and went over to him. Just to make sure.
He was covered in blood. Not only was his nose cut but he also had a nosebleed. There was an awful lot of blood on the ground.
The man was coherent and seemed stable. But he was surprised when I said his nose would need stitching. No medical training needed for that one, it was obvious.
Anyway, I eventually realised that no-one had called an ambulance.
I couldn't see why not. He'd been hit by a taxi (London taxis are very big, solid things), his nose was cut and he was drenched in blood. Amongst other things there was a risk of hypothermia due to his clothes being so wet (and it being a cold night). Plus shock, plus any other internal injuries he may have suffered but not noticed due to alcohol and a general shocked state.
So, I called the emergency services. They disputed with me that I was in Chelsea. The cheek. But I was standing next to a street sign, and was wearing a Barbour jacket, so I eventually convinced them.
A few minutes later the ambulance came along and I went on to the bar.
No further incidents to report (oh except I met a rather nice girl in the bar, exchanged numbers but was too, er, tired today to arrange a meet-up before going back down south).
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