Linkedin Job Search Crippled

[Dorkeaux]

It's been a few months since I used the Jobs search function on Linkedin.
Admittedly, it's always been dogtulip. But at least I could do a search with "Contract" ticked and a search term to attempt to sift out all the permie jobs.
It would save my searches automatically so I could...

[Dorkeaux]

I've had a few business bank accounts, mainly to spread out the corporate funds to take advantage of the FCS 85k protection.

All of them have asked for a turnover figure, but none of them have cared what it is, nor checked it. Why would they?
Just tell them 0, or what you hope to...

[Dorkeaux]

Well, I did say "I would argue that..". I'm not presenting these observations as empirical facts.



Yes, of course.
I didn't mean to imply that it was a wasted four years. Only that as applied practitioners of computer science the value of curriculum-based...

[Dorkeaux]

I don't denigrate education at all, including university degrees.
And I appreciate the frankness of your views in this post, though I agree with very little of it.

Certainly it represents a significant outlay, in cash as well as 4 years (or so) of your youth. So I can see why you...

[Dorkeaux]

AH ha haa.. I love Alan Partridge....

[Dorkeaux]

Or, "How do you improve the aerodynamics of a CS graduate's car?"
"Remove the Domino's Pizza sign from the roof."

Alternatively,
"What do you call a nerd after graduation?"
"Boss"

[Dorkeaux]

Your experience is much different from mine.
But then again I don't really know where my colleagues were educated unless they volunteer it.

When they _do_ let me know, there seems to be no correlation of quality to post-secondary education, standing of their uni among the Russell...

[Dorkeaux]

Good luck.
Don't get too attached to the role yet, though. You know what you're like!...

[Dorkeaux]

All umbrella companies have to provide a KID (Key Information Document) that outlines the exact calculations for your net income, including all deductions.
It's very straightforward. The umbrella companies I've used have calculators that you can use as well.

I've never seen one that...

[Dorkeaux]

Yes, it is. If that's how you use it.

Or, you can _not_ read the idiotic posts and treat it as a place to post your CV/job history/profile and search for roles.
As a side benefit, it allows me to keep track of colleagues and exchange messages with agents.

As a sidebar,...

[Dorkeaux]

Haha.. We all look down on non-STEM degrees to be sure, but don't write off your daughter's Media degree completely.

I think most of what is taught in uni is not directly useful to your eventual career anyway. What education I had just taught me how to crack a book, study and do basic...

[Dorkeaux]

Edison and the other posters are right, I reckon.
I spend 0 time on my linkedin network, and expect nothing from it except to provide a convenient way to get in touch with the individuals. That has worked out pretty well.

Using it to canvas for work is good try, though....

[Dorkeaux]

Respect for applying for permie jobs.
I couldn't do it.

I've only been on one permie interview in the last couple decades, and I blew it very badly.
Started talking about Nazis to the HR guy. Don't know what I was thinking.
I was wrong-footed by the complete difference...

[Dorkeaux]

Agents have often viewed contractors as insentient commodities to be sold on at a profit.
I hasten to add that when we were in higher demand, many agents adjusted their approach. Asking about our kids, and so on.
But there is more automation now, professional human interaction is less common....

[Dorkeaux]

I'm currently on a contract that could be described as a death march.
Sadly, in our profession these are far too common.
I remember describing one to my father, an actual engineer. He was horrified at our tolerance for project failure, the antithesis of engineering.

I probably...

[Dorkeaux]

'engineer'

...

[Dorkeaux]

Agreed.

Regarding CV harvesting, do you mean tulipy pimps getting a copy of your CV by pretending to possibly put you forward for a role, but instead assembling a "virtual team" to bid on work?

If so, why should that bother you? It's getting your CV distributed,...

[Dorkeaux]

I've riffed on this before, but I'm often gobsmacked at how bad CompSci Uni graduates can be.
I believe it is more of a talent, like music or languages. If you don't have it, no amount of education can make up the shortfall.

I was the senior architect on a programme made up of a...

[Dorkeaux]

Yes, I do.

I've started working for an umbrella company, I find it as you describe.
But I was never one of the forum IR35 nerds, imagining Hector around every corner waiting to pounce should you so much as touch one key on a corporate laptop.

I don't behave that much...

[Dorkeaux]

Harsh.
I've always believed that you make your own luck, but I'm considering now that my relative good fortune could be partially down to accidents of history and instinctively moving away from disaster like an ant in a microwave.

I graduated in the 80's from a programme that included...