CUBE LIFE! Office Etiquette

[sancarlos]

A project manager used "project cadance" the other day. Still don't know what it means.

"Cadence" is just another way of saying schedule or frequency.

For example, just a couple of weeks ago I got the ok to change the "cadence" of some triage meetings from 4 days a week to 2 days a week.

That's not how she used it. Cadence is a measurement of iterations that could lead to future actions.

Which means nothing to me.

That's a very weird, outlier way to use cadence. It's typically just saying how often do you want to meet or send out regular communications and the like.

Cue the Inigo Montoya meme.

[The Sybian]

Had a Zoom interview yesterday and I struggled not to crack up at the interviewer several times. He looked like a Mike Myers character, maybe Myers doing an over-the-top impression of Oliver Platt with a giant pompadour and Morty Seinfeld's glasses. He spoke a little slow and loud, and if I couldn't see him, I'd 100% believe it was a John Mulaney character. Voice was Mulaney's Andrew from Big Mouth, if Andrew was a Jersey-mafia guy who was flamboyantly gay. It's a great job opportunity and the interview went great, but I don't know if I can work with this guy! When I looked up his LinkedIn profile before the call, I pegged him as a Wall Street finance bro douchebag. Hair slicked and combed back in a wave and no glasses. Threw me off when I spoke to him.

[sancarlos]

We need one of the Swamp artists to do a sketch of this guy, based on your description.

[Shirley]

Had a Zoom interview yesterday and I struggled not to crack up at the interviewer several times. He looked like a Mike Myers character, maybe Myers doing an over-the-top impression of Oliver Platt with a giant pompadour and Morty Seinfeld's glasses. He spoke a little slow and loud, and if I couldn't see him, I'd 100% believe it was a John Mulaney character. Voice was Mulaney's Andrew from Big Mouth, if Andrew was a Jersey-mafia guy who was flamboyantly gay. It's a great job opportunity and the interview went great, but I don't know if I can work with this guy! When I looked up his LinkedIn profile before the call, I pegged him as a Wall Street finance bro douchebag. Hair slicked and combed back in a wave and no glasses. Threw me off when I spoke to him.

Dall-E took at a crack at it.

[The Sybian]

Had a Zoom interview yesterday and I struggled not to crack up at the interviewer several times. He looked like a Mike Myers character, maybe Myers doing an over-the-top impression of Oliver Platt with a giant pompadour and Morty Seinfeld's glasses. He spoke a little slow and loud, and if I couldn't see him, I'd 100% believe it was a John Mulaney character. Voice was Mulaney's Andrew from Big Mouth, if Andrew was a Jersey-mafia guy who was flamboyantly gay. It's a great job opportunity and the interview went great, but I don't know if I can work with this guy! When I looked up his LinkedIn profile before the call, I pegged him as a Wall Street finance bro douchebag. Hair slicked and combed back in a wave and no glasses. Threw me off when I spoke to him.

Dall-E took at a crack at it.

Huh, I think if you softened up the look on #2 by combining with #4, it wouldn't be too far off.

[DaveInSeattle]

My PITA co-worker is back at it today....he sent me this on teams:

image.png (41.57 KiB) Viewed 632 times

I mean...what the hell am I supposed to do with that? (I sent it to his functional manager and asked him to try and defuse things).

I swear, its like dealing with a toddler.

[rass]

At least he likes/respects you?

[DaveInSeattle]

At least he likes/respects you?

Doubtful...I'm the only person who has to listen to him (I'm the program manager on the stuff he's working on).

[mister d]

Tell him you don't know what interagtion is either.

[P.D.X.]

They really should upgrade to phpBB emojis.

[DaveInSeattle]

They really should upgrade to phpBB emojis.

I'll put in the request!

And here I am, worrying about writing emails/teams messages that read as passive/aggresive.

[mister d]

Do you think he copied the order or that he's OCD and made sure it was the same each time?

[The Sybian]

Had an interview this morning for a US based position with a publicly traded Chinese company. First, anyone have experience working for a Chinese company? A lot about that makes me nervous, but it does seem like they have a large HR presence in the US and understand the need for a good workplace culture for Americans.

Anyways, I had a second round this morning with a person based in China, and my recruiter followed up shortly after to let me know I'm moving on to the next stage, which is a "written test." They sent over three essays, asking how I would implement two new programs and the third is asking how I would prepare a powerpoint presentation teaching someone to conduct a workplace investigation. Not to actually prepare a ppt, but an essay explaining what I would do. I got it late this morning, due by midnight on Sunday. I actually think this is a great tool for an interview, but makes me nervous the expectations if they are expecting me to spend the weekend writing these essays, what are the demands going to be if I'm in the job.

[P.D.X.]

Do note that there seems to be a current trend of companies doing this exact thing simply to get some work done for free.

[Brontoburglar]

Do note that there seems to be a current trend of companies doing this exact thing simply to get some work done for free.

that's shitty

(I wish I could relate to not working on the weekends. it's normal to me at this point)

[DaveInSeattle]

A white knight!

Patient Square Capital, a Leading Health Care-Focused Investment Firm, Agrees to Acquire NanoString Technologies

NanoString Technologies, Inc. (OTC: NSTGQ) ("NanoString" or the "Company"), a leading provider of life science tools for discovery and translational research, today announced that it has reached an agreement with Patient Square Capital ("Patient Square"), a prominent health care investment firm, pursuant to which Patient Square will serve as the "stalking horse" bidder in conjunction with a court-supervised sales process.

Under the terms of the agreement, Patient Square intends to purchase substantially all assets of the Company’s global business operations as a going concern for $220 million.

A private equity firm! What could possibly go wrong?

[degenerasian]

Had an interview this morning for a US based position with a publicly traded Chinese company. First, anyone have experience working for a Chinese company? A lot about that makes me nervous, but it does seem like they have a large HR presence in the US and understand the need for a good workplace culture for Americans.

Anyways, I had a second round this morning with a person based in China, and my recruiter followed up shortly after to let me know I'm moving on to the next stage, which is a "written test." They sent over three essays, asking how I would implement two new programs and the third is asking how I would prepare a powerpoint presentation teaching someone to conduct a workplace investigation. Not to actually prepare a ppt, but an essay explaining what I would do. I got it late this morning, due by midnight on Sunday. I actually think this is a great tool for an interview, but makes me nervous the expectations if they are expecting me to spend the weekend writing these essays, what are the demands going to be if I'm in the job.

How'd everything go? Did you submit groundbreaking essays?

[tennbengal]

A white knight!

Patient Square Capital, a Leading Health Care-Focused Investment Firm, Agrees to Acquire NanoString Technologies

NanoString Technologies, Inc. (OTC: NSTGQ) ("NanoString" or the "Company"), a leading provider of life science tools for discovery and translational research, today announced that it has reached an agreement with Patient Square Capital ("Patient Square"), a prominent health care investment firm, pursuant to which Patient Square will serve as the "stalking horse" bidder in conjunction with a court-supervised sales process.

Under the terms of the agreement, Patient Square intends to purchase substantially all assets of the Company’s global business operations as a going concern for $220 million.

A private equity firm! What could possibly go wrong?

oh god.

[The Sybian]

Had an interview this morning for a US based position with a publicly traded Chinese company. First, anyone have experience working for a Chinese company? A lot about that makes me nervous, but it does seem like they have a large HR presence in the US and understand the need for a good workplace culture for Americans.

Anyways, I had a second round this morning with a person based in China, and my recruiter followed up shortly after to let me know I'm moving on to the next stage, which is a "written test." They sent over three essays, asking how I would implement two new programs and the third is asking how I would prepare a powerpoint presentation teaching someone to conduct a workplace investigation. Not to actually prepare a ppt, but an essay explaining what I would do. I got it late this morning, due by midnight on Sunday. I actually think this is a great tool for an interview, but makes me nervous the expectations if they are expecting me to spend the weekend writing these essays, what are the demands going to be if I'm in the job.

How'd everything go? Did you submit groundbreaking essays?

I think I did a good job, but I'm not quite sure what they were looking for. This job description is my ideal job, but I'm still leery working for a Chinese medical technology company. I saw some things in the past where Congress named them on a list of companies to remove from the US due to potential ties to the People's Liberation Army (Chinese military), but they provided evidence to the contrary and were removed from the list. They are publicly traded and have over 17,000 employees in 5 countries, so they must have a certain amount of transparency. I'm waking up at 3:00 am from vivid dreams of working there and realizing they are tied to the CCP and either evil or having their US operations shit down. OTOH, it'd be a big step up career wise, and focuses on all the aspects of my experience that I like the most. Plus it sounds like potential to eventually oversee their operations in Ireland, which would be great.

[sancarlos]

A white knight!

A private equity firm! What could possibly go wrong?

I hope congratulations are in order! (Although, as I’m sure you know, private equity ownership might mean “from the frying pan into the fire”, as they lean into cost-cutting mode.)

[Brontoburglar]

I'm waking up at 3:00 am from vivid dreams of working there and realizing they are tied to the CCP and either evil or having their US operations shit down.

oh no

[degenerasian]

I think it's pretty safe if the company is that big internationally. The US is falling apart, start learning Mandarin and accept your new Chinese warlords!

[The Sybian]

I think it's pretty safe if the company is that big internationally. The US is falling apart, start learning Mandarin and accept your new Chinese warlords!

I'm not (consciously) worried they have any evil intent in the US, but I am afraid of Congress banning them from working in the US. When it first happened, their stock immediately took a nosedive. Now it looks like it might be back on the table. I need to understand if it's just a limited part of their business, or if they would have to fold US operations.

[wlu_lax6]

I think it's pretty safe if the company is that big internationally. The US is falling apart, start learning Mandarin and accept your new Chinese warlords!

I'm not (consciously) worried they have any evil intent in the US, but I am afraid of Congress banning them from working in the US. When it first happened, their stock immediately took a nosedive. Now it looks like it might be back on the table. I need to understand if it's just a limited part of their business, or if they would have to fold US operations.

Syb being asked what does he think about the job

I think, er...

who remembers that high school

basketball game at pittsburgh?

Remember that guard

for roosevelt, brickhouse?

He averaged 20 points a game.

And, if you'll recall,

I was our best defensive player.

Anyway, the coach

puts three other guys on him.

He rotates these other three.

He doesn't put me on.

The last quarter, down five,

these guys have all fouled out,

and brickhouse has 25 points

or something ridiculous.

Now, coach pulls me aside,

looks me in the eye and says,

"now's the time.

He's yours, take him."

So I took him.

Remember what he scored

in the fourth quarter? Nothing. Zip. Zilch.

Point is, you gotta pick your spot.

Now look, we're very lucky

to have the chinese over here.

We just gotta know how to play 'em.

I know it was Japan not China

[DSafetyGuy]

Wow, that is one long "Gung Ho" reference.

[DaveInSeattle]

A couple of our Software Testers that were laid off back in November were hired back as contractors, starting yesterday.

One of the guys, who'd been with the company for about 7 years, came in fully decked out in company SWAG...hat, polo shirt, hoodie, jacket. It was pretty funny.

I was talking to him about what he's been up to, and turns out things have been pretty nice...he got 3 months of severance, went to Brazil for a month in January (his wife is Brazilian), and was just starting to look for a new gig when he got asked if he'd be interested in contracting for 3 months.

[DaveInSeattle]

My manager just stuck his head into my office and said "you're still here? Its sunny and 60 degrees, go home"...

[Johnnie]

I've been at work at my job for just under 3 months and my commander has already given me major kudos and said, in front of people, "So do I have to get you some type of retention bonus or something because I really don't want you to leave anytime soon." It completely caught me off guard.

Basically, the Air Force is shifting how we deploy and my squadron on my base seems to be the only one proactive enough to realize we can't do everything. I've put together different Excel documents detailing numerous shortfalls based on assumptions and it has heads turning at higher headquarters levels. Soooooo, it could be a blueprint for other bases going forward.

[sancarlos]

Way to go, (former) airman!

[Shirley]

I've been at work at my job for just under 3 months and my commander has already given me major kudos and said, in front of people, "So do I have to get you some type of retention bonus or something because I really don't want you to leave anytime soon." It completely caught me off guard.

Basically, the Air Force is shifting how we deploy and my squadron on my base seems to be the only one proactive enough to realize we can't do everything. I've put together different Excel documents detailing numerous shortfalls based on assumptions and it has heads turning at higher headquarters levels. Soooooo, it could be a blueprint for other bases going forward.

Nice!

[The Sybian]

I've been at work at my job for just under 3 months and my commander has already given me major kudos and said, in front of people, "So do I have to get you some type of retention bonus or something because I really don't want you to leave anytime soon." It completely caught me off guard.

Basically, the Air Force is shifting how we deploy and my squadron on my base seems to be the only one proactive enough to realize we can't do everything. I've put together different Excel documents detailing numerous shortfalls based on assumptions and it has heads turning at higher headquarters levels. Soooooo, it could be a blueprint for other bases going forward.

Correct answer is yes.

[Johnnie]

I said "Well, do you know who Kirk Cousins is..."

[Jerloma]

Anyone ever make a really sharp looking PP deck, and then proceed to open it every half hour just to admire your work?

[Giff]

Anyone ever make a really sharp looking PP deck, and then proceed to open it every half hour just to admire your work?

No, but I did recently see an invoice where a lawyer charged his big pharma client $480 for 45 minutes creating a slide deck.

[Nonlinear FC]

Anyone ever make a really sharp looking PP deck, and then proceed to open it every half hour just to admire your work?

I used to do presentations in Prezi and I would roll that back multiple times.

[A_B]

Is it bad when you are asked to lead up a project a few weeks back, you were doing it, then in the course of doing it, you hear from a third party that the person that used to do this job is probably coming back? It seems bad.

[Giff]

Why did that person leave in the first place?

[A_B]

Why did that person leave in the first place?

Moved to take care of his mother.

(That sounded ominous. He moved to be the primary caregiver for his mother.)

[Giff]

Why did that person leave in the first place?

Moved to take care of his mother.

(That sounded ominous. He moved to be the primary caregiver for his mother.)

Sounds like you're not happy his mom got better tbh.

Seriously though, to me that seems like it would be less worrisome knowing that.

[A_B]

Well, she didn't get better I don't think.