Yep, the day had come. The day that I will be delivered from the suffering that is work. The salvation of unemployement is upon me.
I still had 14.5 vacation days left, so I took them all. So as of today, I do not work at Mammoet anymore. Sorry Bugsy, no more cranes for me.
Now I have time to do the following things:
- Sleep
- Get my driving license
- Sleep
- Train
- Not doing any updates at the VG Press.
- Did I mention sleep?
- Play games
Life of hobo > engineer
Recently Spotted:
Foolz (9m)
There's actually something to be said for "flying to close to the sun." A failure at a spectacular job can actually look good to potential employees. Shows them that you do have experience and know what obstacles to avoid. It's all in how you spin it.
I think you've got a lawyer's job backwards.
Okay an update.
I got a mail from the goverment that they are missing some documents. I replied I sendt the documents to them, but if you want I can do it again. I never got a mail back, so I start calling because they are not taking my unemployement money. That's a matter of hobo pride. I called them and they said they did not get it, of course I did wrong for sending all the papers in one envelope. Yeah, I did that because your people told me to do that. Okay, I made a deal with them to scan the missing documents and send them over. Of course I will send it to myself for proof. My sister even made a mail.
So after I scanned it in and am about to send it to them, I get a call. It's the woman that never applied to my mail and she said she has everything. Oh, so I did not do anthing wrong, fucking fucktards. So I will get my money. You also have to talk with a jobcoach, he will try to help me find a job. Sorry if I am sceptical about that, they have trouble answering emails. And then I even get a mail to get ready for a speeddate, where I will speeddate various temp agencies, sure temp agencies will definitely have Master of Sciences work. I cancelled that, because I have a job interview at the same time.
The job interview I have tomorrow is with Keppel Verolme. They build various ships, offshore platforms and offshore windmills. It is something I can see I would enjoy doing. Or failing that teaching some skills that will help me further. My driving insructor will drop me off there, not sure how I will get back. The public transportation is on a strike that day. I also have a job interview in March with KCI, not sure what they do exactly, but I will check out their site in due time.
Just came back from a job coach. Besides some tips about my Resume, it was nothing worthwhile. He tried looking for jobs, but they were way below my level. So that was a waste.
Welcome to dealing with the government.
Okay had the job interview today.
It was in the middle of nowhere, but I did my driving lesson in the morning and drove myself to the company. The way back would last one and a half hour, but I can worry about that later. First the interview.
It had an appointment on 10:00 in the morning. After walking around, I found where I needed the go. Then the secretary offered me a drink and I had to wait until they pick me up. I waited half an hour and was picked up by guy number one. He quickly explained the two branches, project engineering and research and development.
The interview was little weird. I would first talk to the manager of the project engineer part and then the manager of R&D. So guy number 2 took me away and we talked about what the company does and I had to talk about myself. That went well, he explained very well what they company did. It was repair, retro fitting and new design. New design is where my interest lie the most, but retro fitting is also nice. Basically you have a platform and they want for to put a larger crane on it. So lots of things need to be designed, like the crane, but also the platform. A Larger crane and load could actually sink the whole thing. And sinking a multi-billion platform is definitely in the 'bad things' category. Also we talked about the cause of the BP oil rig accident. Apparently it was all Vader's fault, wow what a twist, never knew that.
Also I could explain well why I left Mammoet without telling them that I suck. They even believed me, well it was true, but never said that Mammoet kicked me off. The next with the R&D was even more awesome. They are doing Research and Development on Wind Energy. Not the windmills themselves, but other things. Like ships that are place the windmills and platforms, etc. They do the research themselves, they do not ask the customer what he wants, they try to predict what will hapen in the future and develop the tech accordingly.
Of course guy number 3 explained that you need to get expereince first. He worked for 5 years in the project engineer part before he did R&D. So I got back to number 1, he told me I would start there in a traineeship. He told me that guy numbr 2 and 3 where both impressed with me. Not sure why, I never demostrated anything, must be a smooth talker or something. Normally a traineeship lasts 2 years, but I would do 1.5 years, because I already have 1 year work experience. Normally they check what you like, but they said that they will put me in the Engineering traineeship. Normally they also see if someone has talent in Project Management. They did not see that in me, they see me more as an engineer. Good thing they did not see my personality test, that screamed manager or sociopath, not much difference between those two.
So back to guy number 1 they asked me about how much I made with Mammoet. I replied with Golden Rule Number 1, he said it was fair and they will give me a little more. Then we talked about how I would get there. I replied I am woking on my driving licence and they said it is smart if I take a scooter. So that part is done. They will call he guy who introduced me there and then I might get the job. I also explained where my ambitions are, something that I did not know when I worked at Mammoet and they thought it matched well with the company.
So a very good interview, if they accept I can start in April.
Nice! Hope you get it but does that mean you will be out at sea all the time? Thats a major lifestyle change if so. They all said you were impressive cause they feared that you would kill them if they said otherwise.
I live in Rotterdam. You know the city with the biggest port in Europe and the second biggest world wide? You know there are these things called dry docks and you do not build a ship in the middle of the sea? So no I won't be on sea all the time, hardly ever. The ship come's to them and not the other day around.
Ah, that must be where the cruise ships get built then. And no I have never heard of it, I am American I know nothing of the outside world.
Some ships, biggest business is off-shore platforms. IHC Merwede (company that thinks I am a sociopath) is more specialized with ships, so is Dame (the company that is affraid of me). Keppel Verolme, the company I had a interview with, is more off-shore based.
Okay, the very next day I get contacted and I hear they want me. But guess what, I won't get a contract from them, but from the person that introduced me to that company. And I met that guy before I invented Golden Rule #1. So much for my €2700+ per month, and hello €2500,- per month. That an whoping increase of 2.04%. Or in absolute terms a gross incease of €46.15,-
Also the contract is on project basis, which means if they do not like me, they can let me go without any problems. For instance my previous employer hired me for a year, this one can kick me out in a month if needed.
Of course, because I am a trainee and that guy that introduced me there needs to be paid, I accept the lower pay. But I need to know what then? It would be unacceptable if they offer me the next contract, but with a little more pay. No I want the contract anyone else is getting. Yes I understand that I get less, but that hole needs to be fixed the next contract, otherwise I keep getting paid less that my peers no matter what I do. You see some companies contract pay you for performance. If you perform well you get 3% increase, if do exellent you get 8% increase. But if you start with a contract with lower pay, you will keep having the lower pay that your peers. Maybe you grow faster, but you still get paid less in absolute terms.
So many questions are open still. One being my function description another being what happens next. If will stay use Golden Rule Number 2, don't roll over and give in. Plus I always have the other option.
Another thing I am surprised that there are no more interviews, not even psych tests. After one talk they decided that they wanted me. Why? I never showed anything special, they did not even test me! But yet they see something in me. My previous employer thought that I did not fit the profile, yet they hired me. He saw something in me too. I heard my previous employer had high expectations of me. Again not sure why. Well someone is going to be mighty dissapointed in a few month. I give myself two months before they lose patience with me. Hey at least I won't have to work menial task for the rest of the year. They will just kick me out, quick and painless.