BS: I can do that - give us a job...

Subject: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 02:09 PM

Well, my contract finished last week. It was due to run till the end of the year but the work was not coming through. C'est la vie! Anyone in the computer industry wih a job for a HPUX and ServiceGuard guru with a good grounding in all sorts of sysadmin, design and consultancy could do worse than get in touch with me:-) UK long term but Europe or the Americas for short term (3-6 month) contracts would be great.

Keep the offers flooding in please...

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 03:10 PM

Good luck Dave.

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: fat B****rd
Date: 29 Jul 08 - 03:51 PM

Seconded. ATB Dave.

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 06:37 AM

Thanks guys - One may come up for a few weeks reasonably localy. Keep your fingers crossed. There is another I am well qualified for but it is in Surrey.

Anyone ever heard of Fort Chapard btw? They are a placement agency. I know they charge but they seem very professional and I have no reason to doubt their claims as yet.

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 11:09 AM

Who do they charge? If the employer pays the fee, that's one thing. If they charge the employee, that's another. I wouldn't go near them, if that's the case. They can be bloodsuckers.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Paul Burke
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 11:26 AM

Charging the work seeker is illegal in the UK, and Irlam's o' th' Height too:

The general rule is that it is a criminal offence for a person carrying on an employment agency or an employment business to make any charge to a work seeker (directly or indirectly) for finding employment for him or her (Employment Agencies Act 1973 s.6(1)).

There are exceptions to this general rule. The main exception allows employment agencies to charge fees to specified categories of people (mainly those who are likely to have their own professional agents, such as actors) who are involved in professional sport, theatre, cinema, TV or modelling provided in each case that the "employer" has not also been charged a fee.

Offenders are liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (Employment Agencies Act 1973 s.6(2) and see Criminal law aspects/fines (levels of), for offences ). They may also be banned from running an employment agency (see Employment Agencies/prohibition orders ).


(from here).

Happy hunting Dave, I've been trying to get a job for a while, but being self-unemployed doesn't help: just enough work has been trickling in to keep me from looking too hard!

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Emma B
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 11:34 AM

Good luck Dave (Yosser) Polshaw :)

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 11:51 AM

Thanks Paul - Not sure how they fit in with that then - I'll ask:-) I have checked their web site and Companies house details and they don't seem to be a 'fly by night' at least - Been going 3 years now and the accounts look OK. I will tread warily anyway.

I am my own company as well - Tried explaining to my 85 year old dad why I didn't realy want to make myself reducndant this morning but I may get to that yet!

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 11:52 AM

Wouldn't mind doing as well as Yosser, Em - Liverpool layabout to King of Rohan - Hell of a career move:-)

D.

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 11:55 AM

King of Rohan - is that like 'Man at C&A' but with a crown?

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 02:06 PM

Nice one Manitas:-) Rohan made a range of trousers once called 'striders'. Dunno how many people got the pun.

D.

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Bert
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 06:46 PM

I wouldn't touch any agency that charges the employee a fee.

I have found that agencies in England are pretty good and agencies in the United States are completely useless.

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Donuel
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 11:56 AM

In the US the slave trade is alive and well with the new laws that require people to work off their welfare checks. The employers have positioned themselves in the welfare system to provide minimum wage jobs with huge commuttes.

Free Trade is also alive and well. It is a system designed to profit huge investments by the wealthy and will not profit either the worker OR the nation.

China is now exporting 20% of our computer tech so even the collge educated workforce in the west is being downsized.

Free Trade abors any tariff or protectionist safeguards, but that is what we need again.

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 09:15 AM

David,
Just thought I would ask whether you had a good experience with Fort Chapard...

Ian

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Oct 09 - 01:42 AM

Yes I did, Ian. They are not a job agency. It is more like a year long, longer if required, training course and coaching/mentoring. I am still contracting but with the job market as it is even that is a bonus! They charge quite a lot but it is definitely value for money. Well, it is for me anyway! PM me if you want further details
Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: GUEST,Paul T
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 01:30 PM

David
When you say 'charged you a lot' roughly how much??
Paul

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 01:37 PM

£3000 - That was for a years support but, considering the current job climate, they have been happy to continue until I find my ideal job!

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: I can do that - give us a job...
From: HuwG
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 04:23 PM

Best of luck. I was made redundant May 2008, just about the first victim of the credit crunch; still looking. So far, the cash I made has lasted, topped up with casual bar work.

The computer world keeps moving on. I tell agencies and employers that if I did not move with it, I would still be writing FORTRAN. However, they would rather believe 21 year old graduates who insist that they have 5 years' commercial experience of C#, the latest buzzword language.

I have found agencies in the UK vary in quality from fair to execrable. None of them can compare for idiocy with the Job Centre (UK Employment Service) who seriously suggested I apply for a job as "Administrative Assistant" (required skills/attributes: recent school-leaver with 5 GCSEs and ability to look good in womens' clothing) with the firm who made me redundant. Had the firm itself made a similar offer, they would have been before a tribunal for Constructive Dismissal before they could draw breath.

I have had six interviews since being made redundant, but two pending. I come cheap, which must count to my favour.