The Swamp

Raytheon Update:

Applied to 4 jobs in the 'supply chain' section with 'logistics' in the title of each of them, except for one that was 'procurement.'

1 was cancelled outright, but appeared to be re-applied automatically to the same job title in another posting a week later. I was just notified of not being selected.

2 of them I was just outright 'not selected' after a week of waiting.

1 (the procurement job) I'm still awaiting a ruling on.

All are in the pay grade of P3. Not sure if my resumé looks like crap or what (borrowed the template that my wife used to get a job there which was borrowed from our friend who's been working there a long time), but I'll be applying to more jobs here soon.

I guess I'll manage expectations accordingly after years of hearing "Psssh. Prior military, security clearance, master's degree, and all those years in logistics? Easy 6 figures when you get out." I might even go to USAJOBS and do a profile there in the event Raytheon fizzles completely and I try to go GS and have to work on base -- which I would hate.

On the chair topic:

Timely discussion there because I need to outfit my game room with 4 chairs for gaming and I'm leaning towards Secret Labs because my gamer friends swear by them. However, it's good to see other options as well.

Raytheon may be exempt, but a looooooot of companies are running out layoffs or atleast hiring freezes right now. Could be that no one was selected versus you being passed over.

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 4:16 pm Raytheon may be exempt, but a looooooot of companies are running out layoffs or atleast hiring freezes right now. Could be that no one was selected versus you being passed over.

That's a very good point. I may just be trying to get hired at an inopportune time. Thanks for the heads up.

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 4:16 pm Raytheon may be exempt, but a looooooot of companies are running out layoffs or atleast hiring freezes right now. Could be that no one was selected versus you being passed over.

I dunno about that. I got a solicitation from someone looking to fill a position. They even put the pay in the solicitation, which is rare. Granted, they had a placeholder of $1/hour listed, but that's more than most do.

(it was a specialized materials engineer position and I've no idea how they decided I was a candidate so it was likely a blast email or something.)

Nevermind, Johnnie. Looks like Raytheon (and perhaps the whole public sector) hates you and guys like AB are swimming in offers.

A_B wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 4:22 pm

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 4:16 pm Raytheon may be exempt, but a looooooot of companies are running out layoffs or atleast hiring freezes right now. Could be that no one was selected versus you being passed over.

I dunno about that. I got a solicitation from someone looking to fill a position. They even put the pay in the solicitation, which is rare. Granted, they had a placeholder of $1/hour listed, but that's more than most do.

(it was a specialized materials engineer position and I've no idea how they decided I was a candidate so it was likely a blast email or something.)

A number of states passed laws requiring salary range in job descriptions, so they may have that as a required spot in their template. Or, they know your worth.

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 5:50 pm Nevermind, Johnnie. Looks like Raytheon (and perhaps the whole public sector) hates you and guys like AB are swimming in offers.

Then they are NOT welcome for my service!

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 5:50 pm Nevermind, Johnnie. Looks like Raytheon (and perhaps the whole public sector) hates you and guys like AB are swimming in offers.

Of course they only pay $1 per hour.

I've seen some rumblings around potential layoffs at Raytheon, which is really incredible given their needs. The company just feels too big for them to be able to put all the puzzle pieces together. Sounds like if you are on a program you are good, but they have missed on some other things they thought they were going to win. This puts people they have hired anticipation of a win at risk.

FYI Johnnie, I learned that my large well-known company just secured a massive contract with the Air Force if you want to PM.

I mean, news out today is that the US added over 500k jobs last month and the unemployment rate is at a long-time low of 3.4 percent.

Can't speak to Raytheon, but the labor market is kind of on fire right now.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 3:09 pm I mean, news out today is that the US added over 500k jobs last month and the unemployment rate is at a long-time low of 3.4 percent.

Can't speak to Raytheon, but the labor market is kind of on fire right now.

Which is so shocking, as I am hearing nothing but massive layoffs and one of my first tasks in my new firm is heading up a major Reduction in Force, and we are one of the last of the big firms to start firing.

Yeah, the job market is so weird and often difficult to really track what's going on from sector to sector.

Like, the restaurant industry is really struggling because they can't find workers right now. And as you say, the tech industry and other larger companies appear to be downsizing. So... who knows?

I have a meeting in a few minutes with a C-level executive at one of the Swamp's favorite companies. You know, the one that owns many local news stations around the country. Can't let him know I'm one of those dirty liberals!

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:18 am I have a meeting in a few minutes with a C-level executive at one of the Swamp's favorite companies. You know, the one that owns many local news stations around the country. Can't let him know I'm one of those dirty liberals!

Does it rhyme with "finclair"?

brian wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:46 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:18 am I have a meeting in a few minutes with a C-level executive at one of the Swamp's favorite companies. You know, the one that owns many local news stations around the country. Can't let him know I'm one of those dirty liberals!

Does it rhyme with "finclair"?

It might. Turns out here wasn't there. Just folks who work for him. Did trade some emails with him last week though.

In addition to those right-wing larger broadcast/media companies, we have some other customers who have nutjob right-wing websites (including one in Canada!) and you (the royal you) might not be surprised to learn that the site contacts we have to deal with are raging assholes. I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

You guys do a great job of making me happy to be retired.

I didn't know that South African leftovers were as repugnant as fish when reheated, but the two guys from Joburg working in this office now have made sure we all know. I'm all for reheating last night's dinner but holy bobotie.

You should tell them to go eat elsewhere.


Or introduce them to "pizza".

rass wrote: ↑Wed Feb 08, 2023 4:04 pm You should tell them to go eat elsewhere.


Or introduce them to "pizza".

Are you inviting AB’s coworkers to NJ?

New job has lots of perks, but also some differences. Share an office for the first time in 20yrs, which is different, but not horrible. Love the French group coffee breaks, one mid morning, one after lunch. They also all eat together, and we go en masse to the canteen (our R&D facility is on its own campus and well away from anything). This is culturally very different for me. I’ve typically either eaten by myself at my desk, or left site to eat.

Also, completed my first week of riding my bike to work each day. Roughly 7 miles one way, so not a huge haul, but the way home is up out of the valley and a steady climb for 4 miles at about a 4% gradient. Not the steepest, but pretty long for a commute. I can limit the hill to one short climb but then it’s 16% and fuck that. Worst part is the last 200m up to our house which is a 10-12% slap in the face right when you’re almost home. But if I do this almost every day I’ll be in fighting shape soon.

Square Rob wrote: ↑Fri Feb 17, 2023 5:09 am New job has lots of perks, but also some differences. Share an office for the first time in 20yrs, which is different, but not horrible. Love the French group coffee breaks, one mid morning, one after lunch. They also all eat together, and we go en masse to the canteen (our R&D facility is on its own campus and well away from anything). This is culturally very different for me. I’ve typically either eaten by myself at my desk, or left site to eat.

Also, completed my first week of riding my bike to work each day. Roughly 7 miles one way, so not a huge haul, but the way home is up out of the valley and a steady climb for 4 miles at about a 4% gradient. Not the steepest, but pretty long for a commute. I can limit the hill to one short climb but then it’s 16% and fuck that. Worst part is the last 200m up to our house which is a 10-12% slap in the face right when you’re almost home. But if I do this almost every day I’ll be in fighting shape soon.

Awesome!

Just curious, but how many hours do you work a week? I seem to recall a full-time work schedule in France is 32 hours a week, but I may be wrong.

35 is the standard work week, but we don’t count in that. And almost no one works that little. What they do is banknthe extra hours, and can get up to two weeks extra vacation each year. Standard vacation is five weeks, so most people end up with 7. Those two weeks can be rolled forward each year and accumulated, which in turn means when most professionals retire, they have like a year of vacation accumulated that they will draw full pay on.

I have to admit, it’s a hell of a system and they are fanatical about work life balance.

I’m working around 45-55 per week. It depends on if I am travelling (then I put in 12hr days on site) or in the office (typically 9 but up to 11). We are not supposed to spend more than 11hrs in the home facility, but we have the occasional late call with the us. When that happens we get to comp some time.

Sounds like you are adapting quite well, Robert Cinque-côtés!

I'll miss being in a division with you, el flaco.

Got laid off today. C’est la vie.

Sorry, brian (and Giff/flaco?).

brian wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 6:34 pm Got laid off today. C’est la vie.

That sucks....but weren't you thinking of quitting soon? Maybe you can get a severance package out of the whole deal!

Sorry, man. That sucks. As DiS said, hope you get some severance.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:21 pm Sorry, man. That sucks. As DiS said, hope you get some severance.

I got one day severance. Thanks for the nice thoughts though. Appreciated.

Johnny Carwash wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 6:37 pm Sorry, brian (and Giff/flaco?).

Nope, we are ok (at least I am). My company’s division move makes sense.

Sorry to hear it Brian.

Sorry, bud.

Sorry man.

brian wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 9:44 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:21 pm Sorry, man. That sucks. As DiS said, hope you get some severance.

I got one day severance. Thanks for the nice thoughts though. Appreciated.

Fuck them. And fuck that.

Sorry, dtw.

Really. One day is just salt in wound. Silver linings and all. Maybe it will lead you down an interesting path

brian wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 9:44 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:21 pm Sorry, man. That sucks. As DiS said, hope you get some severance.

I got one day severance. Thanks for the nice thoughts though. Appreciated.

WHAT??? At that point, why bother? That's almost like intentionally insulting. Or is there some tax or COBRA benefit to having a single day of severance? (and BTW, fuck COBRA)

Shirley wrote: ↑Thu Feb 23, 2023 9:04 am

brian wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 9:44 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:21 pm Sorry, man. That sucks. As DiS said, hope you get some severance.

I got one day severance. Thanks for the nice thoughts though. Appreciated.

WHAT??? At that point, why bother? That's almost like intentionally insulting. Or is there some tax or COBRA benefit to having a single day of severance? (and BTW, fuck COBRA)

In many cases severance is contingent upon the person being let go do/not do certain things. So if I recall Brian had not been there all that long (and maybe it was a math formula). But lots of those agreements say we will pay you n-weeks per years of service as long as you don't go out and bash us.

Also it may just me or when I hear COBRA, my mind goes straight to this every time (and his battle cry)

Sorry to hear it Brian.

Johnny Carwash wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 6:37 pm Sorry, brian (and Giff/flaco?).

wait, what?

Giff and i work at same multi national -- although as of yesterday due to exec shuffle, we are now in different divisions...Giff's got moved to a different division although i hear they're kicking ass these days.
don't think Brian works with us.