Re: Zero hours contracts : Mon Sep 16, 2013 4:02 pm  

BogBrushHead wrote:

Most big companies in the engineering sector (the little ones with less than 20 employees have been forced out by legislation) now don't even handle their own recruitment these days, instead appointing outside agencies who liaise with corporate HR depts. Contacting the manager who will be your boss, which I always try to do as a matter of courtesy, has become futile.

One incident sums it up (and is sadly not an isolated one): I was head of a network analysis dept for 3 years at a water utility 12 yrs ago. I always hit/exceeded targets etc. During those 3 years, I trained up an engineering graduate to take over the post so I could move on, and moved to a job at an outside consultancy. Last year I applied for a job at that utility co. which 'skill matched' my CV - It turned out to be as an assistant to the bloke I had trained up, so he could finally move up the ladder! ..... Even with his help I couldn't get past the HR gestapo who kept insisting "The post requires a degree qualification" ..... No it doesn't !!! He was eventually given the choice of a Polish engineering graduate who spoke little English so couldn't write reports (essential to the job), a history grad, and someone with a maths degree, none of whom have any experience in the water/wastewater industry.

And people wonder why there's hosepipe bans & flooding in the same areas .... Global warming, my ar5e.

Again you have my sympathy.

I deal with many of the biggest recruitment company's in the country as clients, I see the "account managers" most days and frankly your tale does not surprise me for how can a person organise recruitment for a technical post when they had never heard of the trade until five minutes ago, you might as well put me in charge of recruiting for your job

Although they keep me in work I do despair sometimes at the number of large engineering companies that they have as clients and when I go to those sites I find that the majority of staff are agency staff, its like there is no responsibilty within technical and engineering any more to find, train and retain a workforce, not when you can just get a body to fill a space with one phone call.

Re: Zero hours contracts : Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:25 pm  

BogBrushHead wrote:

Most big companies in the engineering sector (the little ones with less than 20 employees have been forced out by legislation) now don't even handle their own recruitment these days, instead appointing outside agencies who liaise with corporate HR depts. Contacting the manager who will be your boss, which I always try to do as a matter of courtesy, has become futile.

One incident sums it up (and is sadly not an isolated one): I was head of a network analysis dept for 3 years at a water utility 12 yrs ago. I always hit/exceeded targets etc. During those 3 years, I trained up an engineering graduate to take over the post so I could move on, and moved to a job at an outside consultancy. Last year I applied for a job at that utility co. which 'skill matched' my CV - It turned out to be as an assistant to the bloke I had trained up, so he could finally move up the ladder! ..... Even with his help I couldn't get past the HR gestapo who kept insisting "The post requires a degree qualification" ..... No it doesn't !!! He was eventually given the choice of a Polish engineering graduate who spoke little English so couldn't write reports (essential to the job), a history grad, and someone with a maths degree, none of whom have any experience in the water/wastewater industry.

And people wonder why there's hosepipe bans & flooding in the same areas .... Global warming, my ar5e.

That's a f'kin joke and simply highlights the flaws in the way many companies are now conducting their recruitment process.

Re: Zero hours contracts : Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:55 pm  

Are zero hours contracts a new thing? Just wondering why the focus on them all of a sudden.

Re: Zero hours contracts : Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:02 pm  

BiffasBoys wrote:

Are zero hours contracts a new thing? Just wondering why the focus on them all of a sudden.

Question has already been asked, read the thread and find out.

Re: Zero hours contracts : Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:07 am  

JerryChicken wrote:

How old are you, just so I know what your level of knowledge of British industry is/has been these past 40 years ?

The industries I speak of are still around by the way.

Dunno about his real age but Bet Victor have opened a book on how long before this persona goes the same way of previous incarnations

Re: Zero hours contracts : Tue Sep 17, 2013 1:23 pm  

Mintball wrote:

:D

When did you last visit?

There's one right next to the beach at Port d'Avall that we use, which is three cubicles with squats inside, plus one 'disabled' cubicle with a conventional toilet, which I tend to use – I've never seen anyone flogging bog roll, but I always take my own. All these are proper fittings – even the squats – and are washed down thoroughly (with hose) at least three times a day, so maybe it's improved. So basic, but essentially clean. I haven't used the ones for years that are up steps and in the little side bit of the church near Boramar beach.

I only really discovered, this summer, that it's an incredibly new, in terms of serious tourist trade. Just 30 years ago, there were still fishing boats on the beach and the old women in black lined up by the wall. It was one of the poorest regions in the country, but it's been an astonishing turnaround – specifically for Collioure – since then. Thirty years ago, there were no galleries, for instance.

And then there are things like the vineyards above the village: although those hills were first planted with vines something like 3,000 years ago, many had been allowed to get into a state of disrepair. There's a cooperative in the village making good wines already, and slowly reclaiming and rebuilding the terraces, which with the increasing opportunities to market the regional wines beyond Roussillon is obviously a rather good idea.

But you're absolutely right about it being staggering beautiful.

I didn't actually use the toilet, it was my daughter and niece, that is they went in and pretty quickly came back out again, still clutching their unused toilet paper, faces horror struck.

It was back in the 80's the first visit and everything was so cheap, you could hardly spend your money. The wine co-ops used to set up bodegas with barrels of wine from each of their own vineyards with loads of free tapenade, olives and radishes. We bought wine, drank it, handed the bottle back and they refilled it and wouldn't take any money. In fact, we got rip roaring drunk along with the guys and gals selling the wine.

Our last visit was in 2001 and things had changed considerably, especially prices. The atmosphere of the place was still lovely, the people very friendly but it was very busy and a little bit more reserved, with lots of German, Dutch, Brits and Italian visitors.

We're going back next June, ferry to Bilbao, flirt through Spain and then doing the A9 run through to Montpellier and on the way spend 5 days in Collioure then catch a Dragons game. Can't wait.

Re: Zero hours contracts : Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:58 am  

JerryChicken wrote:

How old are you, just so I know what your level of knowledge of British industry is/has been these past 40 years ?

The industries I speak of are still around by the way.

I have an excellent knowledge, which is why I asked you to which industries you were referring. I didn't ask whether they still existed or not. I asked what had happened to them.

Re: Zero hours contracts : Thu Sep 19, 2013 1:01 am  

cod'ead wrote:

Dunno about his real age but Bet Victor have opened a book on how long before this persona goes the same way of previous incarnations

What previous incarnations are these?

Let's hear it, instead of juvenile whispering campaigns between you.

Re: Zero hours contracts : Thu Sep 19, 2013 5:42 am  

BiffasBoys wrote:

I have an excellent knowledge, which is why I asked you to which industries you were referring. I didn't ask whether they still existed or not. I asked what had happened to them.

Then you should already have the knowledge of which you ask, I know I do because I was involved in one of the trades, so how old are you and what is your experience of industry these past 40 years ?

Or do you not like questions ?

Re: Zero hours contracts : Thu Sep 19, 2013 7:27 am  

JerryChicken wrote:

...Or do you not like questions ?

His/her posts are mostly composed of questions and very few, if any, statements or attempts at answers.
My assumption is that this is how (s)he hopes to undermine another person's posts without presenting facts that might be disproved.

As with a child who constantly asks "why?", "what for?", "why?", you can't debate with such a fog.