What Are You Doing Right Now? (164 Viewers)

[Siamak]

I don't quit my job if things get tough for me. I try to line up another job while employed, when possible. The unemployment gap and finding a job is frustrating and I have to spend my savings.

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[swag]

Thanks. But I'd be way too arrogant to say that (only) I take the credit.

Pretty tough question and it falls into the category of those that I hate answering because it reminds of BS that I can't stand which are motivational speakers and coaches on how to be happy or successful. But I share my point of view, though.

When I worked in the previous jobs it was a handful of everything. I've been into sales, journalism, coordinating teams & administration, CS, finance, you name it. Some company was some, some medium and some multinational corp. There were a lot of people with high school, universities, motivated, non-motivated. All sorts. However, despite the companies profits, the horizontal and vertical promotions were quite tight. There were literally no room for getting up there and grabbing the bucks. You simply had your salary and you can fuck off. Good companies (compared to the west) were pretty non existed or at least closed for me.

What changed? I know people would love to hear how I learned some soft skills, or how I have enrolled some course, but no. It was just two things: luck and opportunity. I had been asked if I wanted to work as a CS agent at some promising company where people are satisfied (which is rare, like I said). I had to accept second and third shifts which was (still is) very hard for me as I value life over work. But I was willing to give it a shot and it turned out it was a great move. My starting wages were that great and considering the shift flaws, I'd say the offer was below average. But I wanted to give it a go. It was very tough at first, way too much work, but everything fell into order. You know what was different (employee related) compared to previous jobs that I had? Nothing. People who worked there were just like in every other place where I worked before. However, in this company they valued how you work, which was new to me, and prize wasn't small at all. I'll also have to mention that it was great getting into gabling industry because it's a gold mine. After 6 months I got promoted to another department. Then I kept staying there and got raises for doing some good work & going extra mile quite often. I'm still an ant there but I'm involved into business decisions and hit meetings with big heads so I've earned some respect down the line. I had periods of 1-2 years without a job with almost zero spending habits. I was furious. But it was a period of time when I was swallowing the books. Sure, it was pure literature, but now when I look back I still think it's one of the most valuable things that I've done for myself. Being an introvert and somebody who loves cinematography since a little boy, I think it gave me a wider knowledge which got recognized and respected. So as a late payback I think it was worth a lot even though I never planned to capitalize it per se. My initial thoughts got shattered because I was expecting some beasts in the company. Turns out it was just regular people and nobody to be afraid of. I had a chance and I gave my best to get recognized. It was not easy and my biggest reward came in the last 4 months (my newst/biggest salary is yet to hit me on Monday). So it was a combination of many things and I'll have to highlight luck and opportunity because it's quite underlooked and very important. I also think I learned so much over the past 2 years, both work and people related. It was a bumpy year so I hope I get to relax more in this one. Despite big salary spikes my feet are on the ground. I'm just a regular guy trying to life for his own bread & not turn into a dickhead. I'm not saying I'm living it the right way but people at my place are really not appreciating what they are getting. Most likely because they don't know for worse. Might be good, but I see that as a weakness. Some opt to waste a huge chunk of their salary on booze, drugs, gamble and cars. I'm actually saving.

That is fantastic. Many congrats.

And I love your backstory about the value of developing your cultural education. The world today produces people with a transactional mindset. Those with such a mindset dismiss things like culture, literature and the arts because it doesn't have direct utility for a reductionist job skill.

Instead, you boosted your social credibility at the office as a learned man who is capable of knowing things, people, society, etc. far more than what people might guess just on face value of looking at you. Coworkers have learned not to underestimate you, which is more market value than any Python programming course could ever get you.

In our modern, atomized world, there's a false belief that we're all independent actors at a company job who can be successful doing our own thing isolated from everyone else. The whole "Work at Home is the Future of Work" nonsense bought into that mindset 100%. But companies are social constructs. As hard as OKRs try to make success individual, companies live or die based on collective success. Otherwise we'd all just be independent contractors working from home.

The people stuff is critical. And for a self-professed introvert, that's a game-changer.

@Buck Fuddy


Tried out Arsenico and Taverna Libria of your fine list you recommended for Turin restaurants. Both quite good. Especially Arsenico.

Damn, Piemonte is one of my favorite food destinations in the world. I need to get back to Torino.

@Buck Fuddy : May I have a copy of this list?!

I'm actively applying at the moment but not confident that I'll be able to get something on my own, for the same reasons described in that link. I talk about it with a coworker all the time, and we've pretty much come to the same conclusion. He's a developer with maybe 3-4 years of experience, which I see plenty of postings for all over the place. I thought it would be much easier for him, but maybe it's just worse than I thought? Assuming he's actually applying and now casually looking around.

I've been at this company for a little over 3 years and in that time I've actually survived something like 4 rounds of layoffs. It's surprising to me because I'm sure this private equity-owned company would LOVE nothing more than to get rid of me to hire someone in Ukraine or Poland where all the other QAs on my team are. The last time was jarring, I was just having a conversation with a coworker about 20 minutes before it was announced that she was one of the ones let go. Really it only tells me that it's just a matter of time.

Oh man, Private Equity will cut off its own nutsack if it could make a few extra bucks off of it. I hear you.

PE is America's greatest leeches in society, infecting hosts and drawing all the nutrients away from the body in management fees while burdening the acquisition with the debt of the purchase price and everything else until taxes all it to discard the spent husk of debt and all its remaining employees.

So yeah, I'd say you've surfed that hazard really well. And as I've said since Covid started, the minute you don't have to go into the office is the minute that a PE investor wants to replace you with a hungry dude in Malaysia for a fifth of your salary.

You are probably right that it is only a matter of time. So definitely ideal to have a couple of alternate strategies in the works should things suddenly go south.

 

[swag]

Btw, I’ve found a new office chair for some of you at work

https://www.instagram.com/share/BBFRpnzzui

 

[Scottish]

Happy new year @Rockets and anybody else!

 

[Buck Fuddy]

Damn, Piemonte is one of my favorite food destinations in the world. I need to get back to Torino.

@Buck Fuddy : May I have a copy of this list?!

Like Jay said, trying random places is good idea in Turin. There's just too much that's appealing.

But some (recent) favourites of mine:
Regular restaurants: Arsenico e Vecchi Merletti, AM restaurant
Enoteca / restaurant: Taberna Libraria (go for one of the 4 course menu's, great value for money)
Slightly more fancy: Ristrot Guviol (also go for a preset menu)
Street food: Gofreria Piemonteisa

 

[swag]

Speaking of chairs at work, does anyone have a new Macbook? I have an M4, and I jumped on a video call with a friend this afternoon. But my video wasn't working.

Then I realized I had my laptop closed and was viewing our call on my monitor. Duh. So with the lid closed, guess what? No camera.

So I open up my laptop to activate my built-in laptop camera. But what shows on our shared screen?

My crotch.

I wondered if somehow my iPhone got activated as a remote camera, but it wasn't even in the room. So I fiddle with the video controls and discover that there is "MacBook Pro Camera". But what was activated was "MacBook Pro Desk View Camera".

I'm like wtf?

Turns out it's legit:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/121541

Apple built a dick-pic camera in its laptops. Legit! The MacBook Pro is now OnlyFans ready.

I honestly am counting the days when some Senator jerking off in his office gets publicly caught by this when opening his laptop on a video call with donors.

 

[Siamak]

Our company is planning to hold a course for employees and professionals. We have the option to introduce the course from the institute/Bootcamp and the cost will be paid by the company and we will have the opportunity to participate in the course. What course do I take in the field of security?
I discussed it with one of my techie friends and he advised me to take San courses, He is currently working as a cybersecurity specialist in a reputable company in Canada. The courses available in my area are limited and I don't have a wide range of options due to my work schedule.
Some courses which is available at the moment and I can pick one:

SANS SEC 504

SANS SEC 301

SANS SEC PACK

SANS SEC 275

and etc.
@mjromeo81 @Wings

 

[Wings]

Our company is planning to hold a course for employees and professionals. We have the option to introduce the course from the institute/Bootcamp and the cost will be paid by the company and we will have the opportunity to participate in the course. What course do I take in the field of security?
I discussed it with one of my techie friends and he advised me to take San courses, He is currently working as a cybersecurity specialist in a reputable company in Canada. The courses available in my area are limited and I don't have a wide range of options due to my work schedule.
Some courses which is available at the moment and I can pick one:




and etc.
@mjromeo81 @Wings

I am not very familiar with SANS certification but they seem to coveted. Briefly looking through the ones listed above they focus on different aspects e.g. cloud, network etc. Select one in the area you are interested in & you should be good.

 

[Siamak]

I am not very familiar with SANS certification but they seem to coveted. Briefly looking through the ones listed above they focus on different aspects e.g. cloud, network etc. Select one in the area you are interested in & you should be good.

Among institutes which offer security courses EC-Council, offensive security and Sans What course/company do you think is more applicable and also more suitable for getting a job?

 

[Wings]

Among institutes which offer security courses EC-Council, offensive security and Sans What course/company do you think is more applicable and also more suitable for getting a job?

Check out OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional). It's more practical than SANS. Both certs are desirable in the workplace.

 

[Siamak]

Check out OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional). It's more practical than SANS. Both certs are desirable in the workplace.

I gained some info about OSCP based on online reviews, what makes me hesitant to choose OSCP is this course for the most part, is focused on Kali Linux and it's tools.

 

[Wings]

I gained some info about OSCP based on online reviews, what makes me hesitant to choose OSCP is this course for the most part, is focused on Kali Linux and it's tools.

What's the problem with kali linux? Aren't already familiar with it?

 

[Siamak]

What's the problem with kali linux? Aren't already familiar with it?

I passed Security+ and CEH which are both entry level certifications. I learned the concept and basics of scanners, scripts and tools(bash and python). Working with Kali Linux tools is part of my daily work, NMAP, Burp Suite, Wireshark, Metasploit, Harvester and etc. I don't know what level this course is at, whether it will add to my knowledge or just present working with the tools in a little more detail.

 

[Wings]

I passed Security+ and CEH which are both entry level certifications. I learned the concept and basics of scanners, scripts and tools(bash and python). Working with Kali Linux tools is part of my daily work, NMAP, Burp Suite, Wireshark, Metasploit, Harvester and etc. I don't know what level this course is at, whether it will add to my knowledge or just present working with the tools in a little more detail.

OSCP is all about ethical hacking. You learn how to break into computers legally to understand and prevent hackers. It is quite intensive.
PS\ All such certs usually cost a lot of money & I would only recommend them if your employer is paying for it.

 

[Siamak]

OSCP is all about ethical hacking. You learn how to break into computers legally to understand and prevent hackers. It is quite intensive.
PS\ All such certs usually cost a lot of money & I would only recommend them if your employer is paying for it.

I will do a proper write up later.
I want to point out the combination of Web Application(attacks on websites) along with computer forensics, which I don't think there is a course that presents them together. They are not bundled together in the frame of one course.

 

[mjromeo81]

Our company is planning to hold a course for employees and professionals. We have the option to introduce the course from the institute/Bootcamp and the cost will be paid by the company and we will have the opportunity to participate in the course. What course do I take in the field of security?
@mjromeo81 @Wings

Wings makes some really good points.

I have a few colleagues who went down the CISSP path, but my understanding is that cert is primarily for those aiming at managerial and strategic leadership roles.

So for a technical hands-on role (e.g. pen testing), OSCP appears to be well-regarded in industry.

Even if you already have the skills, having the piece of paper helps to "tick the box" for HR screening.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, I just wanted to share some exciting news. My wife and I are expecting our first child, a baby girl! She is due early April - we're both very excited for the next chapter of our lives.

 

[Siamak]

Wings makes some really good points.

I have a few colleagues who went down the CISSP path, but my understanding is that cert is primarily for those aiming at managerial and strategic leadership roles.

So for a technical hands-on role (e.g. pen testing), OSCP appears to be well-regarded in industry.

Even if you already have the skills, having the piece of paper helps to "tick the box" for HR screening.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, I just wanted to share some exciting news. My wife and I are expecting our first child, a baby girl! She is due early April - we're both very excited for the next chapter of our lives.

Congratulations, buddy, it feels nice.

 

[Wings]

Also, I just wanted to share some exciting news. My wife and I are expecting our first child, a baby girl! She is due early April - we're both very excited for the next chapter of our lives.

Congrats!
Advice from a father. It's your first child & am sure you are super excited as you should but:
- Make sure you rest properly the day before (not easy but you will be needed on the day)
- Do take turns at sleeping. It's no use for both of you to lose sleep at the same time.
- Don't buy new expensive stuff.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Speaking of chairs at work, does anyone have a new Macbook? I have an M4, and I jumped on a video call with a friend this afternoon. But my video wasn't working.

Then I realized I had my laptop closed and was viewing our call on my monitor. Duh. So with the lid closed, guess what? No camera.

So I open up my laptop to activate my built-in laptop camera. But what shows on our shared screen?

My crotch.

I wondered if somehow my iPhone got activated as a remote camera, but it wasn't even in the room. So I fiddle with the video controls and discover that there is "MacBook Pro Camera". But what was activated was "MacBook Pro Desk View Camera".

I'm like wtf?

Turns out it's legit:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/121541

Apple built a dick-pic camera in its laptops. Legit! The MacBook Pro is now OnlyFans ready.

I honestly am counting the days when some Senator jerking off in his office gets publicly caught by this when opening his laptop on a video call with donors.

More like "Pro Deck View", amirite?

 

[Fab Fragment]

Wings makes some really good points.

I have a few colleagues who went down the CISSP path, but my understanding is that cert is primarily for those aiming at managerial and strategic leadership roles.

So for a technical hands-on role (e.g. pen testing), OSCP appears to be well-regarded in industry.

Even if you already have the skills, having the piece of paper helps to "tick the box" for HR screening.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, I just wanted to share some exciting news. My wife and I are expecting our first child, a baby girl! She is due early April - we're both very excited for the next chapter of our lives.

Congratulations man!!
A friendly advice: encourage breast feeding. Good for health.
But also good for YOUR sleep. Obviously, you can't breast feed so you can sleep through the night.

- - - Updated - - -

When its time for a poopy diaper change, look busy and find something that has to be done right there and then.