The totally off-topic thread

[Katie]

For the job which I am taking up in five weeks time in Switzerland, one of the questions I was asked was my marital status.

I believe this answer has some tax implications.

From my experience submitting job applicatioms for work experience in Germany, the standards fpr what is and isn't asked, and what is and isn't put on a CV are different in Europe to what we're used to. We had to attach photos to our applications, and all CVs needed to be no more than one page long.

That being said, once an EU employer has certain data about you, they cannot relese that data. I asked HR for a list of staff in our Moscow office before going there 3yrs ago, and due to EU privacy regs, they wouldn't release that info.

 

[Flashback]

From my experience submitting job applicatioms for work experience in Germany, the standards fpr what is and isn't asked, and what is and isn't put on a CV are different in Europe to what we're used to. We had to attach photos to our applications, and all CVs needed to be no more than one page long.

That being said, once an EU employer has certain data about you, they cannot relese that data. I asked HR for a list of staff in our Moscow office before going there 3yrs ago, and due to EU privacy regs, they wouldn't release that info.

UK seems to want nice and long - depending on the role.

 

[anat0l]

Getting the length of resume correct is a pain....and academic CVs are a different kettle of fish again.

I tried to be quite sharp this time and kept the length (including referee list but excluding list of publications) to about 3-4 pages. I guess in a good deal of parlances that's too long.

 

[Hvr]

I liked APS applications (when they were hiring) where they had a word limit on selection criteria.

Was great both for applying and being on the selection panel.

 

[medhead]

I mean consistent service that wasn't bad service. just consistent service. I actually mentioned the standard in the last sentence. Consistently treated the same as everyone else. Maybe not good, but consistent. Anyway, gone now after tonight.

As for the J overheads, the CS loaded a whole heap of bags into them from all the other passengers around me in Y. No doubt because of the crew luggage taking up space above row 3 and 4. There were also crew luggage in J lockers as well. It was a complete failure.

See for me this is slightly ambiguous. When you say "broke a record" does that mean that you had a good record for a while and now with this incident your good run has stopped, or does it mean you've had a bad record for a while and it is now even longer than you've had in a period of time?

VA can be a mixed bag (pun intended) as to whether the FAs get quite defensive about guarding the J overheads only for J, even if J is nowhere near capacity. It would likely be more pragmatic if, as doors are shut and manifest signed, if there is space in the J overheads then to at least move crew bags which may have been occupying Y overheads into any vacant J overheads, if possible.

And of course, given that row 3 (and exit rows) has no choice but to put bags up, this is even more crucial.

 

[jetlagger]

Lausanne. No specific desire to work in Switzerland, but given it's somewhere which is not home in a climate where postdocs are a tad scarce (or any fruitful job for that matter), I'll take it!

But honestly, Switzerland sounds like a great place to go work, let alone visit.



I believe you're right about the marital status having some effect on the visa (or rather ability to get one, which has implications for both me and my employer).

We'll see about the mileage runs....my status / mileage strategy might drastically change over there, not in the least also considering differences in my time availability, as well as positioning from my new home town. Historically and likely still now, BA have some decent runs in J and also popular "discounted" premium long haul fares (if you're prepared to part with that kind of money). Or people just get a cheapie across the Atlantic and use the well known techniques we are familiar with here.....

Congratulations on your appointment!
I'm sure you will enjoy the experience of living & working in Switzerland.
Having had the opportunity of being a resident of Switzerland, I still very much value the healthy quality living environment & positive work/life balance of the Swiss.

 

[JohnK]

Got my EEG results. Doctor noted some abnormal activity spikes but all were under a second. Dee-Anne says when I'm asleep they last in the seconds up to minutes of convulsions.

Dosage increased from 800mg/day to 1400mg/day with another EEG and blood test in August.

Hope all goes well for you.

All this medical activity has seen me hit my medicare threshold for the year!

What sort of threshold? Money wise?

 

[Flashback]

anat0l, I think you'll do just fine: The Lausanne Guide to Life and Style: About :mrgreen:
Yep .. shall definitely pop over to visit once settled in

 

[JessicaTam]

For that money you could get a cheaper portable hard drive with 2TB.

I am after a portable device that can fit on my keyring, so HDD are of no use. Besides I have a few already. It is the physical size of the device that is important.

 

[Hvr]

Prices are over $200 for a brand name, and I need the capacity for my iTunes library when travelling.

I am after a portable device that can fit on my keyring, so HDD are of no use. Besides I have a few already. It is the physical size of the device that is important.

Kogan 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive | External Storage | Computers & Tablets |

That's a big library.

 

[JohnK]

VA can be a mixed bag (pun intended) as to whether the FAs get quite defensive about guarding the J overheads only for J, even if J is nowhere near capacity. It would likely be more pragmatic if, as doors are shut and manifest signed, if there is space in the J overheads then to at least move crew bags which may have been occupying Y overheads into any vacant J overheads, if possible.

And of course, given that row 3 (and exit rows) has no choice but to put bags up, this is even more crucial.

VA flight attendants are awful. Well at least for me they are.

One person in business and I am the last to board and they guard the overheads like their lives depended on it. You can shove that attitude where the sun don't shine. There is no way I am going to sit in row 3-4 while my laptop bag is placed down in row 9-10. I am not sitting there waiting for everyone to get off. One reason I try to avoid row 3 as I could easily put the laptop bag under the seat in front in row 4 back.

The less I have to fly this airline the better but unfortunately as I am commuting I need to carry bags back and forth so end up flying Virgin more than I need to fly them to maintain status for luggage allowance.

Now compare that with Qantas flight attendants who see me looking for overhead space in row 4 on 737 or row 23 on 767 and rush over and look for room in front of where I am sitting. Not behind. That is customer service not the tripe received from Virg....

 

[markis10]

VA flight attendants are awful. Well at least for me they are.

One person in business and I am the last to board and they guard the overheads like their lives depended on it. You can shove that attitude where the sun don't shine. There is no way I am going to sit in row 3-4 while my laptop bag is placed down in row 9-10. I am not sitting there waiting for everyone to get off. One reason I try to avoid row 3 as I could easily put the laptop bag under the seat in front in row 4 back.

The less I have to fly this airline the better but unfortunately as I am commuting I need to carry bags back and forth so end up flying Virgin more than I need to fly them to maintain status for luggage allowance.

Now compare that with Qantas flight attendants who see me looking for overhead space in row 4 on 737 or row 23 on 767 and rush over and look for room in front of where I am sitting. Not behind. That is customer service not the tripe received from Virg....

You have at least a year of not flying Virgin before you would lose any free luggage benefit, so I find that excuse somewhat laughable.

 

[JohnK]

You have at least a year of not flying Virgin before you would lose any free luggage benefit, so I find that excuse somewhat laughable.

Laughable? Hahaha.

FWIW I have to be prepared in advance because the plan is to commute for another 4 years until I achieve long service.

 

[medhead]

I've never had problems with overhead space in the past. But then Ive also not board late in the past. I wonder why priority boarding is important to me.

 

[serfty]

VA flight attendants are awful. Well at least for me they are.
...

Must be for you then - I have had similar experience both ways on both airlines (more on QF, but have had over 1000 flights on them so greater chance).

Meh - using premium/priority boarding by being at the gate when boarding starts eliminates any issue.

 

[penegal]

Access to overhead bins has been an issue for many years and will continue for many years to come. With the rise of checked bag fees it is only going to get worse!!!

Having spent time as a "domestic road warrior" in both Australia and the US, flying mostly in economy, priority boarding is one of the most important status benefits.


However, as serfty fortuitously points out, using this benefit and/or being at the gate early eliminates many issues with overhead bins.

 

[drron]

Nibali's performance last night was just awesome.Have to have a major problem to lose it now.
Only 3 more early mornings to go!

 

[JohnK]

Must be for you then - I have had similar experience both ways on both airlines (more on QF, but have had over 1000 flights on them so greater chance).

Meh - using premium/priority boarding by being at the gate when boarding starts eliminates any issue.

Different people have different priorities. Different things are important to different people.

I need to minimise the time I spend in the cabin. I need a second beer. Qantas does both very well. I have never had an issue. But that's probably just me then.

 

[drron]

The JB hifi site needs some geography lessons.Went to pick up in store.They have a store at Kawana just up the road.So put Kawana 4575 to search for store and it tells me the nearest store is in Rockhampton and the next is Kotara,Newcastle.
Mrsdrron did it first and it gives her a choice of Chermside and number 2 is Gawler,SA.

 

[NM]

Seriously if you haven't been sacked how the hell else do you leave a job if not by resigning.

I have transitioned between various employers without resigning. All through acquisitions, mergers, outsourcing etc. In all cases, length of tenure and benefits like long service leave have been retained. So 4 different employers, but never resigned or been dismissed.