[Closed] What's annoying you currently? II

And so it's the end of August, and I have been informed that my Grand Master Plan of actually moving out of contracting and moving into an actual internal job with the hiring company has been a bust.
Apparently my experience is too one-sided for them to take me onboard (they're trying to rid the company of old-time employees who "moan about the old days" and bring in a completely new and fresh batch without any historic ties.

What that means is that come December, it's exceedingly likely (though not certain) my contract will be released.

Fuck.

Martijn I'm really, really sorry. Do you want me to come there and kich there fat, idiotic, useless asses?
So, do you have any idea what is going to happen come December?

Yes, in December hopefully you'll turn up Stavi and kick they're idiotic posteriors wearing huge spiked boots.

Martijn, really sad to hear that. What's the future plans? Let us know of your thoughts and plans when and if you're ready and in the meantime i am wishing you the best, my friend.

Thanks guys.
I was pretty damn down yesterday morning...well...and the better part of the afternoon.
And quite a bit of the evening.

But it's very comforting and gratifying to know the nice people here at MT are always happy to rally an impromptu bloodthirsty pichfork'n'torches mob.




What will happen in all probability is that my contract will expire and not be renewed, which means my agency will scramble to have to find me another job. As it's a really small company they can't afford to have me on the bench, so they'll probably take on any job that happens to come along, which isn't in my best interest.

So what I'll probably do is finish my thesis, which should be done by November, and then venture out on my own. Worrying thing is of course it's a pretty rough market out there, still.



Well, apparently I'm too "Shell minded"(whatever that is).
Thing is that I've mainly been doing projects in the Shell company environment.

The current infrastructure provider is VERY ACTIVELY phasing out all remnants of Shell and -in their words- people who moan and complain about "the old days when everything was better" (i.e. bringing in cheap, young labour with no previous knowledge of the culture and environment to provide a majorly slimmed down service), so they're just looking for Project Managers with *outside* experience.

I'm honestly flabbergasted: I survived two rounds of -I thought- very positive and constructive talks, where this subject was very briefly touched upon and -I thought- quickly dispelled. Apparently I was wrong.



That's actually a pretty good way of looking at it.
The fact that I know now my days are numbered does free me up to pursue other options.
All I need to do now is actually find that other door, but I'm sure that's just a matter of time.
Just gotta get my head in the right place first, but I should be OK again in a couple of days I guessed.

(The unexpected rejection fazed me more than I would have thought. )

On the one hand I've definitely been thinking about that option.
The main thing holding me back is that I'd have to do my own acquisition. I don't know the *first* thing about that!

Go on the hunt for customers.
People who would need my services.

I'm currently doing ICT Project Management... it's always harder to sell services than products (it's not like I could open a store).

Not right now, which is the main strike against moving out on my own now.
I definitely need to wait until the economic tide changes, and work on my professional network before I'd be able to enter into a venture like this.

Excellent!!!
I cannot overestimate the need for a network!
Get people to know you and rely on you and your products and your building a customer base, right there!

It's something I found out way too late, so I'm far more dependent on intermediate agents: the guys and companies who *do* have the contacts, and can offer me job perspectives and opportunities from there (at a price...).

The only thing is -obviously- that it's far more stressful.
Once your customer well dries up (for whatever reason) you're without money straight away.
Also, generally financial requirements and regulations tend to be a lot more complicated for freelancers (though obviously you could hire accountants for that).

Your best position is when you're able to do something few others can.
Unfortunately project management is dime-a-dozen, so I'm competing witha LOT of good people out there.

In music technology I may well believe, as niche-market as it is, you should be able to hack out your own pedestal quite quickly (if you're any good ;-) ).

Somebody de-stupify her please....and make her shut up as well!

Martijn, you're also in a good position because you have a job which can make it easier to find another. I just know that things will be ok.
Thomas

When i hear the oh mai gawd narmean alerts, i can't control myself.

I've been doing a bit of volunteer work at a local thrift store called Hidden Treasures, within walking distance for me. Today I had an interesting customer. I had cleaned up and put out an old am-fm-cassette unit with two speakers for the ridiculous price of only 99cents. The cassette player was broken but heh for a buck. A customer looked at the unit and when he started to complain I quickly showed him a unit that both worked for $5.00. He finally admitted it didn't really matter to him because he didn't have any tapes anyway but he wanted me to include a set of batteries for the 99 cent one. Well, four D batteries cost $5.00 and when I told him that I couldn't he said this isn't a thrift store. You people want way too much for your merchandise. Ah the general public.
Thomas

For the amount of time I spent on the unit I should have just thrown it out but we're really trying to recycle material as much as possible.
Thomas