Bumped Random Chat - I want BBQ

[Theseventhhamster]

View attachment 338922

Or some other institution will do as well...

Got my degree through deakin last year. Did the first half of it online, did the job.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

It's quite hard, i need to fore fill fulltime commitments to appease the government, i'm not sure some online courses are regarded as full time. I also feel i respond better to hands on training. And lastly i'm afraid i'm becoming a hermit

Move to the city-ish and go to a uni.

 

[Yakker]

It's quite hard, i need to fore fill fulltime commitments to appease the government, i'm not sure some online courses are regarded as full time. I also feel i respond better to hands on training. And lastly i'm afraid i'm becoming a hermit

Just a suggestion

Do some sort of a finance course if possible. The best way to make your way in the business world is to be able to add value. Lots of people add value and come up with ideas but very few can articulate the value in a financial sense.

As you progress in the business world a little financial acumen will go a long way. Also if you get to middle age, crack the shits with big business and strike out on your own having a financial understanding will be a feather in your cap

Just a suggestion, not sure if it helps

 

[Cannon82]

Got my degree through deakin last year. Did the first half of it online, did the job.

Doing online study now. Can't say I'm a huge fan. Some of the material is next to useless or completely indecipherable / unintelligible.

 

[Cannon82]

The best way to make your way in the business world is to be able to add value. Lots of people add value and come up with ideas but very few can articulate the value in a financial sense.

I find it's the opposite. Plenty of people talk about adding value but can't actually do it. Boondogglers. Welcome to manufacturing.

 

[Yakker]

I find it's the opposite. Plenty of people talk about adding value but can't actually do it. Boondogglers. Welcome to manufacturing.

No doubt plenty claim they can and can't but I have found plenty who can/could add value but can't initiate change because they cant financially articulate the value and ROI.

I hear you WRT manufacturing. Worked in manufacturing for a long time, plenty of "shopfloor experts" who think they can run the business better but all they do is grumble and groan and say how "The Man" is taking advantage, but also plenty of people who could see waste and opportunities to improve but weren't listened to. This just ended up in them getting jaded and saying what's the point.

 

[Cannon82]

No doubt plenty claim they can and can't but I have found plenty who can/could add value but can't initiate change because they cant financially articulate the value and ROI.

Bit odd, that's the easiest part in most cases. Capex, estimated spend, time to implement, ROI. Have seen multi million dollar project outlines scribbled on napkins.

I hear you WRT manufacturing. Worked in manufacturing for a long time, plenty of "shopfloor experts" who think they can run the business better but all they do is grumble and groan and say how "The Man" is taking advantage, but also plenty of people who could see waste and opportunities to improve but weren't listened to. This just ended up in them getting jaded and saying what's the point.

True from both ends in my experience. Management I've had the pleasure of dealing with in the last 5 odd years have been the typical slash and burn, "do more with less" types. Every 6 odd months we seem to lose another person or two and get more work spread around the rest of us. Similarly, people bring ideas forward to improve things that have been shitting them long term and get ignored or have it put on the backburner. Don't know about running the business better, but with some Facility Managers I've had, I reckon the place could have run better if there was no one there at all. Nothing like having your job threatened on a daily basis to get you up and about for work.

 

[TheCount]

True from both ends in my experience. Management I've had the pleasure of dealing with in the last 5 odd years have been the typical slash and burn, "do more with less" types. Every 6 odd months we seem to lose another person or two and get more work spread around the rest of us. Similarly, people bring ideas forward to improve things that have been shitting them long term and get ignored or have it put on the backburner. Don't know about running the business better, but with some Facility Managers I've had, I reckon the place could have run better if there was no one there at all. Nothing like having your job threatened on a daily basis to get you up and about for work.

If it makes you feel any better, I work for the Govt, and this is perfectly describes life in my office since Can-Do Campbell's reign of terror. In fact, in my Dept, they've just created a bunch of new senior management positions, but the plebs are still doing double the workload because we're not allowed to fill vacant positions

 

[Yakker]

I have been lucky. Have worked for 2 large Australian businesses that promote within and by and large support innovation. The first business developed me from a shopfloor forklift driver who hadn't finished year 12 to a state management role. I left that business after 17 years and moved to my current employer. I actually moved backwards to come here but in the ten years since I have been here I have been developed to my current role in a Asia Pac managerial role. I like to think thats because I added value. No degrees, no letters after my name, just from finding ways to add value and demonstrate how you add value.

Cannon82 I hear you with regards to bad managers. Have seen plenty of them and worked for plenty of them. Luckily in a large business you can find ways around them usually.

TheCount Mate that Can Do period was brutal and I feel for you and your colleagues going through that. Had a family member that was affected. Not a nice time at all.

 

[Cannon82]

If it makes you feel any better, I work for the Govt, and this is perfectly describes life in my office since Can-Do Campbell's reign of terror. In fact, in my Dept, they've just created a bunch of new senior management positions, but the plebs are still doing double the workload because we're not allowed to fill vacant positions

Doesn't make me feel better. Similar here; we've got a hiring freeze as well. Imagine it's the same in most industries given we're competing against people who work for a ****teenth of the wages or against companies who have superior automation / higher quality / better processes. Don't imagine there are many places you can go where they're hiring for well-paid cushy roles with plenty of development, job satisfaction and with a healthy work-life balance.

I have been lucky. Have worked for 2 large Australian businesses that promote within and by and large support innovation. The first business developed me from a shopfloor forklift driver who hadn't finished year 12 to a state management role. I left that business after 17 years and moved to my current employer. I actually moved backwards to come here but in the ten years since I have been here I have been developed to my current role in a Asia Pac managerial role. I like to think thats because I added value. No degrees, no letters after my name, just from finding ways to add value and demonstrate how you add value.

I think the landscape would have changed a lot over that time. Training and development is much lighter on due to people's greater propensity to switch jobs and the expense and time commitment required to train someone up to a decent level. Uni degrees are common as muck and worth about as much, but it'll be an uncommonly brave HR person these days bypassing shiny credentials for actual knowledge and know-how. It's not a great economy at the moment, and the current company I work for and the one before are up for sale. Pretty much identical treatment in both cases: punt the knowledge out the door (too expensive), gut the maintenance crew (too expensive, too much risk and liability, get the contractors in), slash the maintenance and production budgets and run the machines 24/7... might look like a great business to buy for a year or three, until the place falls apart.

Had a barbecue for some bloke being with the company for 40 years earlier in the week. Don't think I'll ever see that again. He still wants another 10 out of the joint.

Cannon82 I hear you with regards to bad managers. Have seen plenty of them and worked for plenty of them. Luckily in a large business you can find ways around them usually.

Mmmm... sometimes. Not on a huge site here, and the two bad managers we have; one is about to become my immediate boss, and the other runs the site. Probably should leave it at that on a public forum.

 

[LeverPuller]

If you're planning on studying in the near future...cannot recommend a Surface Pro 4 highly enough. Flexibility central plus it's the first device I've been able to split-screen and read both sides.

 

[Yakker]

I think the landscape would have changed a lot over that time. Training and development is much lighter on due to people's greater propensity to switch jobs and the expense and time commitment required to train someone up to a decent level. Uni degrees are common as muck and worth about as much, but it'll be an uncommonly brave HR person these days bypassing shiny credentials for actual knowledge and know-how.

Oh that's for sure mate, I reckon I am the last "generation" (for now) where hard work and initiative was rewarded. My 16 year old who is in year 12 likes to say to me (when I lecture him about getting good marks at school) "But look at you Dad, you finished year 10 and you're doing alright".... Them days are gone son, long gone.

 

[Klyntonius]

So does anyone here have much/any experience with grey imported phones? After four years of enjoyment my phone (Nokia Lumia 920) is starting to look like it's getting to it's last legs. I don't really want to lock into a phone contract so I'll have to buy a phone outright but A-Tick phones are too damn expensive. There are a tonne of grey import options but it's fair to say the reviews on the sellers are mixed. Any pointers of what to look for?

 

[LeverPuller]

Oh that's for sure mate, I reckon I am the last "generation" (for now) where hard work and initiative was rewarded. My 16 year old who is in year 12 likes to say to me (when I lecture him about getting good marks at school) "But look at you Dad, you finished year 10 and you're doing alright".... Them days are gone son, long gone.

Now you need a masters and 3 years experience for entry level...

 

[Proper Gander]

Hey. Question.

Someone comes over to your house - say a related-to-your-partner type person. And you've put in shitloads of effort cooking etc. And in the course of the evening the person, while sort of pretending they're just being blokey-jokey manages to:

a) call aborigines "Abos" multiple times;
b) say all aborigines are lazy and can't keep off the grog;
c) say all aborigines in AFL are soft;
d) crap on about how the thought police are ruining afl with introducing the women's comp;
e) say what a shit team Melbourne is multiple times (while JLT match with Melbourne, that I was hoping to relax and enjoy, is on);
f) go on about Melbourne supporters, Mt Buller, land rovers etc all being shit;
g) crap on about having working class values while in reality owning a franchise finance company;
h) accuse you of being a liberal voter (I'm not)

What exactly is the right way to handle the situation? (You can assume I didn't necessarily handle it well on this occasion at all but I was pretty fed up.)

 

[TheCount]

Hey. Question.

Someone comes over to your house - say a related-to-your-partner type person. And you've put in shitloads of effort cooking etc. And in the course of the evening the person, while sort of pretending they're just being blokey-jokey manages to:

a) call aborigines "Abos" multiple times;
b) say all aborigines are lazy and can't keep off the grog;
c) say all aborigines in AFL are soft;
d) crap on about how the thought police are ruining afl with introducing the women's comp;
e) say what a shit team Melbourne is multiple times (while JLT match with Melbourne, that I was hoping to relax and enjoy, is on);
f) go on about Melbourne supporters, Mt Buller, land rovers etc all being shit;
g) crap on about having working class values while in reality owning a franchise finance company;
h) accuse you of being a liberal voter (I'm not)

What exactly is the right way to handle the situation? (You can assume I didn't necessarily handle it well on this occasion at all but I was pretty fed up.)

 

[PerfectFooty]

Hey. Question.

Someone comes over to your house - say a related-to-your-partner type person. And you've put in shitloads of effort cooking etc. And in the course of the evening the person, while sort of pretending they're just being blokey-jokey manages to:

a) call aborigines "Abos" multiple times;
b) say all aborigines are lazy and can't keep off the grog;
c) say all aborigines in AFL are soft;
d) crap on about how the thought police are ruining afl with introducing the women's comp;
e) say what a shit team Melbourne is multiple times (while JLT match with Melbourne, that I was hoping to relax and enjoy, is on);
f) go on about Melbourne supporters, Mt Buller, land rovers etc all being shit;
g) crap on about having working class values while in reality owning a franchise finance company;
h) accuse you of being a liberal voter (I'm not)

What exactly is the right way to handle the situation? (You can assume I didn't necessarily handle it well on this occasion at all but I was pretty fed up.)

Frankly, i'd tell them they're no longer welcome in my home

 

[Proper Gander]

Frankly, i'd tell them they're no longer welcome in my home

Yeah that's pretty much what I went with. Now I feel sort of guilty for not just keeping quiet and avoiding a scene, but the fact is even now I'm not prepared to apologise, so it's not as though I'm looking back in a calmer frame of mind and feeling as though I went over the top.

 

[ponsdale]

Did you call them out on it in the moment?

Your house, anyone coming in and offending you can gagf.

 

[Proper Gander]

Did you call them out on it in the moment?

Your house, anyone coming in and offending you can gagf.

I did. I sort of wore it for a bit but it wasn't showing any sign of improving as he drank more and warmed to a theme so I told him to leave.

 

[LeverPuller]

In your house? Ask them to leave and then they're no longer welcome.

 

[TheDarkDwarf]

I did. I sort of wore it for a bit but it wasn't showing any sign of improving as he drank more and warmed to a theme so I told him to leave.

I hope like hell you asked him to leave before you served the main course, and if you didn't, I trust implicitly that before serving said meal you "doctored" it appropriately, before slamming it down in front of him.

 

[jhong]

Hey. Question.

Someone comes over to your house - say a related-to-your-partner type person. And you've put in shitloads of effort cooking etc. And in the course of the evening the person, while sort of pretending they're just being blokey-jokey manages to:

a) call aborigines "Abos" multiple times;
b) say all aborigines are lazy and can't keep off the grog;
c) say all aborigines in AFL are soft;
d) crap on about how the thought police are ruining afl with introducing the women's comp;
e) say what a shit team Melbourne is multiple times (while JLT match with Melbourne, that I was hoping to relax and enjoy, is on);
f) go on about Melbourne supporters, Mt Buller, land rovers etc all being shit;
g) crap on about having working class values while in reality owning a franchise finance company;
h) accuse you of being a liberal voter (I'm not)

What exactly is the right way to handle the situation? (You can assume I didn't necessarily handle it well on this occasion at all but I was pretty fed up.)

Old waiter's trick , accidentally drop a plate of food over said pain in the arse . On the lap works really well .

 

[Klyntonius]

Hey. Question.

Someone comes over to your house - say a related-to-your-partner type person. And you've put in shitloads of effort cooking etc. And in the course of the evening the person, while sort of pretending they're just being blokey-jokey manages to:

a) call aborigines "Abos" multiple times;
b) say all aborigines are lazy and can't keep off the grog;
c) say all aborigines in AFL are soft;
d) crap on about how the thought police are ruining afl with introducing the women's comp;
e) say what a shit team Melbourne is multiple times (while JLT match with Melbourne, that I was hoping to relax and enjoy, is on);
f) go on about Melbourne supporters, Mt Buller, land rovers etc all being shit;
g) crap on about having working class values while in reality owning a franchise finance company;
h) accuse you of being a liberal voter (I'm not)

What exactly is the right way to handle the situation? (You can assume I didn't necessarily handle it well on this occasion at all but I was pretty fed up.)

Similar to TheCount, just punch him in the throat and hopefully crush his voice box.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

Now you need a masters and 3 years experience for entry level...

Yeah I reckon at least 3/4 of my grad class have post grad qualifications.