This Business and Moment...

just managed a quick catch up, seems everyone is busy and doing well (apart from Rids that is) :)

I've been working on some workflow projects, designing and building for our internal software. All done with JSON for carrying data over. Been interesting and I've only done 1 part, 1 tiny part, 2 massive ones to do. Can't wait. The problem is the lad that is covering me, the old IT guy just isn't up to scratch.

For instance, I wrote a list of instructions in order for setting up new computers. Not followed meaning the remote software had all the wrong names on it, took me 3 hours to sort. PCadmin accounts are all local not the proper MS account, so I need to sort that and to top it off, some idiot in the call centre opened a blank email from an unknown sender and opened the attached zip file. Instant ransomware attack. Thankfully it was just her machine and they have nothing on there so resetting it now. The problem is that had the guy setting them up had turned on Windows Defender as he was told, it wouldn't have happened...

Applied for another 8 jobs this week, nothing back from any of them.
 
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So I interviewed a couple of potential replacements for myself today which was an interesting experience. I do actually care quite a bit about where I work even though I am leaving so I hope they can find a suitable replacement but I am not sure the candidates so far constitute that, but also aware that I am not an unbaised eye.
 
Decisions decisions, have an interview coming up for another Government Dept.

It works out at an extra £12k (I'd be hitting £40k) per year but means working 10h days & shifts. I've done shift work and 12-14h days for the Government before so this doesn't bother me but I need to workout if having a 4pm finish every day and every weekend off is worth more to me than £12k more a year.

Plus they have lots of overtime available at a decent rate, at the moment I don't get the opportunity for overtime.

It's a tough one, the wife thinks I should go for it, the kids are not fussed either way (10 & 8) - it's an interesting position that due to the pay rise is almost too good to pass up...almost.
 
Wicked, great to hear. I'm hammering out what I can, but a lot of effort on interviewing people to join us and not enough time on sales. Saying that I've been putting more content out there, doing some planning for bettering our system design and also charming some people to get us some free PR as well as warm leads at some Unis. My list is never ending. It's killer.
 
randomshenans said:
Wicked, great to hear. I'm hammering out what I can, but a lot of effort on interviewing people to join us and not enough time on sales. Saying that I've been putting more content out there, doing some planning for bettering our system design and also charming some people to get us some free PR as well as warm leads at some Unis. My list is never ending. It's killer.
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Quick question as I missed what your software fully does, is it just engagement/interaction via facial analysis in an education setting? Could it be used to for analysis of employee interaction during sales calls? for example, could it be used with sales details to show the difference being engaged in the call vs not being engaged? Can it also do analysis on voice? such as voip calls?
 
We specify in education, really. Mainly as it's action through learning. So, we essentially do engagement analytics for online learning, pointing out currently where people are engaged or not in the content and where content can be improved. In theory, it could be used for anything, but the way we look at student data, we're looking for personal queues into how students react/ answer certain things, and we look for responses in exactly how people are responding and using big data patterns around that to look for patterns in their behaviour.

Short answer :p

ASIDE: I think I might have lined up another developer to work with us, and another bunch of 10 candidates to go through now, as I'm looking for a total of 2 developers and 2 data scientists. Then we'd be up to 9 people...! :o and I'm talking to a person I think would be perfect for the sales role. Now to just secure this bloody grant, so I don't lose my house :p
 
Well the Microsoft MCS role I was selected for interview for has gone quiet, it's gone from they want to interview me to 'they are in an odd place' according to the agency. It's the second time this has happened with MCS! My mate who is a PFE says they are actually restructuring so could be part of the reason why.

I've also just been offered my old contract back for 3 months before it goes to tender, I am tempted to take it depending on day rate as I would go from 155 miles a day to 12 miles a day and I would get an extra 10-12 hours minimum back per week. Only issue is the job isn't great but it's not terrible, plus, it's proper, proper easy!
 
That'll teach me not to put websites in maintenance mode while moving from one server to another and waiting for the DNS to switch. Someone managed to go through the checkout process before I had a chance to test it myself... at least I know it works!
 
ChrisD. said:
Well the Microsoft MCS role I was selected for interview for has gone quiet, it's gone from they want to interview me to 'they are in an odd place' according to the agency. It's the second time this has happened with MCS! My mate who is a PFE says they are actually restructuring so could be part of the reason why.

I've also just been offered my old contract back for 3 months before it goes to tender, I am tempted to take it depending on day rate as I would go from 155 miles a day to 12 miles a day and I would get an extra 10-12 hours minimum back per week. Only issue is the job isn't great but it's not terrible, plus, it's proper, proper easy!
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Hi mate, what is the MCS role, is it permanent or FTC?
 
Plenty O'Toole said:
Having never written a Cover Letter for an application before (been employed for the last 4 years in my first serious job relative to a proper career), how much content is too much content?

I've got where I started i.e. a bit about the company to give an indication of my background and where my experience has come from. What I've learn during my position there. A little bit about why I think I'd be suitable for the role.

Need to get a bit in about why I'd like to join them but hopefully should have that under control.

I've about half an A4, not really sure what else I can get in there or should be removed really..!

If anybody would also be kind enough to have a quick glance and let me know what they think, that would be awesome :)

Just overly worrying as it's a huge life-changing position, would mean moving to a different country and there's a lot of progression there.
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I'll happily read it dude, send it via Trust please.

Half an A4 is more than enough. Have you looked online for tips? I'd keep it fairly short and to the point.
 
I spoke to my old boss last night, the one that messaged me on LinkedIn yesterday asking if I'm interested in going back for an initial 2-3 months and he offered me the job there and then, just have to double check on day rate and send in my CV to please HR. He's wanting me to start on 10th of April which is cutting it a bit fine, but screw it. I've told him to start the ball rolling.

If the other project I'm meant to be starting on any time soon falls through I have this 'old' job to fall back on, if it comes through then even better.

That said, I won't believe it till I see a contract.

blairw said:
Hi mate, what is the MCS role, is it permanent or FTC?
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It is a 6 month contract.
 
This recruiting lark is taking me a whole heap of ages. Good news, I interviewed a few really good people recently. The CFO I have been speaking to for a while I'm trying to tie up contract arrangements still but getting there.

I need to concentrate on more sales, this is time sucking but needed.

Looking at my travel schedule this year and I'm currently looking at:

- April - Boston
- May - SLC
- June - South Carolina
- June - San Antonio
- July - New Orleans
- Oct - Philidelphia
- Nov - Orlando

UGHHH
 
Fellow contractors, should I feel guilty for handing in a weeks notice, when that's all there is by either party in the contract? I ideally wanted to give more to give the project a bit more time to replace me but it's looking like that may not be possible. It would take them about 4 weeks minimum to get someone else in to do my role.
 
Just got my first ever monetary bonus as a thanks for stepping up and running my department over the past 3 months.

Nice feeling and can see why people strive towards bonus's in the private sector now.
 
ChrisD. said:
Fellow contractors, should I feel guilty for handing in a weeks notice, when that's all there is by either party in the contract? I ideally wanted to give more to give the project a bit more time to replace me but it's looking like that may not be possible. It would take them about 4 weeks minimum to get someone else in to do my role.
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you only have to give them what you're contractual obliged to do so.
when people have left my place they sometimes have given longer notice periods, but it's up to the individual.

or you can do it like our former network admin. book a weeks leave and call on friday that you won't be in anymore :D:eek:
 
Aye but I don't want to burn any bridges, I'm working with a good bunch. I'd like the option of coming back or working with the agency/company again.

Then again they should think of that before stipulating 1 week by either party.
 
ChrisD. said:
Aye but I don't want to burn any bridges, I'm working with a good bunch. I'd like the option of coming back or working with the agency/company again.

Then again they should think of that before stipulating 1 week by either party.
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if you don't want to burn bridges tell them as soon as possible then. if the other company is asking for a start date, then just give your current employer 2 weeks. :)
 
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