libertus

I logged my first dive for the third time today. I’ve paid £3.95 for one month in which time I can log as many dives, write as many stories and make as many changes as I please.

Hot off the press! Al’s done it! Transcended the ranks, no more lifting tanks, getting no thanks or pulling silly pranks.

Congratulations. A new Instructor is born. Read all about it on Al’s blog.

Does anyone who knows me think that a “Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences” would be a bad place for me to live if I were intent on using my talents to do works of good? If so, please sound off. Hell, sound off anyway. It’s good for the soul.

My prospective employers felt that my ethos and approach to software engineering would not be of benefit when serving their customers. We’re a commercial organisation. We cannot do the right thing for all our clients all the time.

So, basically, all the depth of knowledge, innovation, creativity, service and quality I could bring to the relationship was not welcome.

How very British.

Or “Libertus rants on the subject of poverty”.

It may seem like a tiny change to the site but the appearance of that little “Google” logo over the search bar can mean only one thing. Yes folks, I’m getting desperate and I need to get it off my chest. Christmas is approaching. I’ve been back in this country for half a year and can I find work? Can I buggery. So tell me, how does a decent, honest, hard-working, mysteriously odd guy earn a decent, honest living around here? I know for sure it would be simpler in Malaysia and wouldn’t involve lowering my standard of sexual and intellectual behaviour.
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A person for whom I have great respect once told me that there are no ethics in business. I disagreed at the time and I still disagree. It is possible to be in business and have ethics - they just don’t do you much good.

A topical example. Last Wednesday, an agent called me with an urgent requirement for a C# programmer in Sheffield at a decent rate starting on the Thursday. Excellent - I took it. The procedure was a little odd; multiple people represented the agency and I was not interviewed by the client. No matter. The agency and I arranged that the first two days would be probationary.
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A flurry of activity on the job seeking front. Today saw two promising contacts from agents, one of whom, bless her, gave me feedback on improving my CV. Taking that advice on board and with Liberta’s help, bless her, I now have a minimal, punchy, to-the-point CV guaranteed to get me highly remunerated employment. Or my money back, she says. I’m hopeful!

Buggeration. No success with either of the interviews I attended. The second was a disaster. I completely misinterpreted what type of programmer the firm were looking for. My skills were not appropriate and so I failed the test set for me. That was a little embarrassing but educational.

I’m going to aim higher from now on.

We may not be homeless from this weekend, hopefully.

Close to 20 hours of driving later, I’m back in Sheffield following my short jaunt up to Fraserburgh. I had two job interviews; one face-to-face with a firm in Aberdeen and the other by telephone with a firm in Nottingham.

Both interviews went well. I have been invited for a face-to-face with the firm in Nottingham on Tuesday. I’m told that part of the interview will be a programming test, which is great news. Bring it on - I love ‘em! The last firm to give me such a test hired me and we spent two profitable years together.

My family is getting more musical. My brother is now strumming and my sister tinkles the ivories once again. I’m looking forward to their gigs. Maybe I should learn flute? Or better, invent a new instrument. The music world will tremble to my cowpipe - a bit like a bagpipe but instead of one bag and four pipes you have four bags and two pipes. Just be careful which pipe you blow into.

Still in Sheffield.

Spending as little as possible. A friend has generously allowed us to stay in his apartment until the end of September which provides free accomodation and broadband internet. A lovely music system too.

Finding a job. A little depressing. I’m following the obvious approach and looking for a .Net developer position since that’s my most recent experience. I’ve been using modern technology to find, apply for and discuss jobs. Finding and applying works fine as far as the website is concerned but so far only one irrelevant phonecall from an agent. Back to the old approach - using the phone. My CV also sucks and that can’t be helping matters.
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