Welcome to the Melbourne Community Daily Discussion Thread.

  • Probably petty but I just declined a “pre-work assessment” because after reading the fine print it appears some of it will be AI assessed, and it also requested access to my webcam while I sat the test to record me.

    I’ve emailed the recruiter and told them I’m withdrawing my application and why I’m withdrawing it. Probably won’t hear anything back but I’d rather not work for a company that can’t even assess me themselves.

      • It very much is. I’m in the process of trying to change jobs in the public sector, and easily 8/10 result in some sort of psychometric testing or one-way video interview with absolutely no human interaction. I’ve heard from friends in the private sector it’s all very much the same as well, lots of video pitches and AI assessments through 3rd party agencies.

      • Years and years and years ago when I was desperate and was applying for anything, I applied online for Krispy Kreme and it was legitimately an hour’s worth of torturous round a bout questions which culminated in asking for you to record and send them a video of yourself pitching why you wanted to work at Krispy Kreme.

        I was exhausted at that point, found some way around doing that part of the endurance marathon, and wrote a MASSIVE essay in the comments section about how horrible the whole process of applying for a job at Krispy Kreme was and how crazy it was to do all of this just to get your resume in front of someone so they could decide whether or not they were going to interview the applicant.

        Several months later, they rejected my application.

  • Bacon ( baconmash@aussie.zone ) 
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    17
    ·
    3 years ago

    As an enjoyer of Asian mushrooms, having sampled a wide variety of mushrooms from Asia, I can testify that none of the popular Asian mushrooms look remotely like death cap.

  • StudSpud The Starchy ( StudChud@aussie.zone ) 
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    edit-2
    3 years ago

    Mushroom Murder Lady is a cack. “Asian grocery store” my ass, she’s a racist apparently.

    Edit: also she lives in a smallish community in buttfuck Vic and she doesn’t remember which of the three “asian groceries” she went to? Ha ha ha, liar!

  • bull⚡ ( bull@aussie.zone ) 
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    12
    ·
    3 years ago

    I really didn’t need to take today off work, I’m not leaving for the airport until 4:30pm, but godDAMN I’m glad I did 😎

    I just need to shave, beard trim, shower and pack the toiletries I use for that and I’m good to go!

    No word yet on my business class upgrade bid… they said they’d email between 24 and 9 hours before the flight so that means up until 11:25am. I’m expecting I won’t get it.

      • bull⚡ ( bull@aussie.zone ) 
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        3 years ago

        Yep picking up the car from LAX and driving 2 hours to Bakersfield on landing. I probably won’t be the one driving that though I suspect, but if I am I’ll be extra vigilant 🫶

  • Finally have completed my exercises for today. It was a hectic day at work, and hectic even before I left the house! The Minipeelers are both currently ill; the Miniest has improved and the Elder was coughing a bit and looking a bit NQR at the time, so I thought bugger it, they might as well both have the day off. I set them up with their needs as much as possible before I left so it’s less their father has to do. Today however was the day the WGAC delivery arrived and also the grocery delivery arrived early (with all the disso, Glen 20 and tissues etc). The Elder Minipeeler showed a brilliant side of himself in taking the initiative and bringing it in mostly on his own (he woke his dad to help with the groceries but by his own admission Mr Peeler wasn’t much help). Was also totally supportive to the Miniest, helping to keep hydrated and offering food. I said, “you’re a great brother and a great son too, and I’m proud of you.” Bloody legend.

    • Hello this is Force? Oh yes Outlier1031! Yeh they worked for me for about 18 months - honestly one of the most productive staff we had, it sucked they left. Amazing workplace culture fit too - super friendly and got along with everyone. Yeh look if you don’t accept them for the job let me know I’m actually short staffed myself now. Yeh no worries.

    • bleepitybloop ( bleepitybloop@aussie.zone ) 
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      3 years ago

      I am right there with you. I’ve been looking for about 6 weeks now — landed a few good interviews, but there were better candidates each time. The worst part? The interviews have all been for incredible positions that I landed with rough as guts application written by chatGPT — yet the handwritten, bespoke, thoughtful (and by all other metrics) clearly superior applications have all been flat out rejected.

      no idea what to make of this but uhh yeah i hate moment of this cooked as process

        • bleepitybloop ( bleepitybloop@aussie.zone ) 
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          3 years ago

          Isn’t it cooked? My lord. Especially writing responses to selection criteria. I’m looking at entry level academic/research, learning design & peripherally related jobs — so yeah lol each application has ~10 criteria to respond to. Brutal.

          How about yourself, what kinda of work are you looking for?

          • I’m looking for office based customer service roles as I’m trying to get out of retail and store management. Addressing selection criteria is the blurst I can even imagine how annoying it would for academic jobs. It also doesn’t help that employers seem want you to provide a really detailed responses with as little words as possible. Like sure let me just truncate 20 years of experience into two paragraphs.

            • bleepitybloop ( bleepitybloop@aussie.zone ) 
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              3 years ago

              the most annoying is long applications odd when there’s pre-screenings and multiple rounds of interviews, like goddamn spare us all the pain of writing and reading this b/s and ask these things face to face

              and that’s dope! getting out of retail, that is, must be an exciting step forward.

              are you having much luck finding these types of office customer service roles? asking bc my sector is cooked rn, not enough jobs and too many applicants

              • Yeah I am pretty over retail, It’s not a stable industry and my current employer and previous one has toxic people at the top. I’m also not interested in moving up the retail ranks to be an area manager or national or anything like that so there’s not much more room for me to grow. The only answer is to move into the larger customer service industry where the majority of skills i have learned are transferrable and see what happens. I agree with you about multiple rounds of interviews. Such a complete waste of everyones time. I also find them to be a bit of a dick move on the part of the employer. It’s like they know how inconvenient it will be for you to take more time off. But if you really want the job you will jump through the hoop, then most of the time you don’t get it anyway.

  • Uh oh. Uh oh uh oh uh oh. Was having a good enough day, but after being made aware of some stuff at work that is very very relevant to my particular skill set but purposely kept from me because of some contrived administrative procedural thing that I am still completely unclear about, I am having a Moment trying to regulate the rush of trauma-response emotions of being unworthy or punished or abandoned, and also unprecedented rage trying not to scream I’VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU BUT YOU WOULDN’T LISTEN. This is definitely a Bad Vibe.

    I am going to read some saved emails of people saying very lovely things to me and then reach out to some friends. Specifically one who works in actual proper HR and can tell me the calm factual aspects of what’s going on, what the next steps are and how to resolve it with assertiveness, instead of getting struck in angry toddler space.

    • bleepitybloop ( bleepitybloop@aussie.zone ) 
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      3 years ago

      probably an obvious comment to make but if you are feeling it, take some notes on the situation at hand, being as factual as you can given the circumstances. contemporaenous notes are powerful documents to possess during conflicts and when things go to shit.

      • Yeah, I’m starting to realise I should’ve taken more notes from last week too to assess what is reasonable and what isn’t in this context. Never mind, I’m here now. Have a lot more clarity now after a long chat with a friend who works in HR and knows what I’ve been dealing with

          • Yeah she’s awesome. One of my longest friends here and she’s a real stand up mate. Thank goodness I spoke to her because now I think I know what’s going on (work seems to be behaving like I’m angling for workers comp, which I haven’t even the foggiest idea about and isn’t remotely my intention)

            • bleepitybloop ( bleepitybloop@aussie.zone ) 
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              3 years ago

              honestly that’s so awesome of her, i always wanted to know what it was like on the inside and its so great that you can get that perspective bc workplaces get real funny when it comes to this kinda thing

              in a job awhile back there were multiple claims against one staff member and the gov paid several people out due their behaviour. yet hr had the audacity to emphasise on numerous occasions that nobody was guilty, the workplace environment was safe, yadda yadda

              but anyway stoked you got some perspective on your situation and again i hope it mellows out for ya

  • So it’s pretty to sign easy up to volunteer for the yes23 campaign. I did it this morning. I can’t manage much more than handing out how to vote cards, but I’ll probably do a couple more things in the mean time. I think this is a time to step up. Deciding you’re going to vote yes and figuring everyone else around you is “Melbourne Basic Woke 101” is probably not enough. https://www.yes23.com.au/volunteer

    The no campaign is based on complete bullshit. Pretty much the cookers and liberal cunts who grew up after their covid misinformation campaigns have learned their lessons very well. They know how to make people believe conspiracy theories and are under no obligation to tell the truth.

    Our democracy is a bit of a joke, but it’s no laughing matter what colonialism has done in Australia and all over the world. The yes side are doing an ok job, but Albo is a bit of a wet paper bag.

    • I am so SO fucking sick of this. I hate it. Its a bit like the gay marriage thing. There is an OBVIOUS right and an OBVIOUS wrong. But sure lets to a litmus test of how strong news corps’ influence is. Or how uneducated the country truly is. Albo looks weaker and weaker by the day by refusing to call the vote. And the longer this goes on the more room is created for hate under the guise of “Debate”. Pathetic leadership.

      • Yes. This is why I volunteered. This shouldn’t be a political issue at all. It’s about the constitution not being left or right wing. Australians are often either racist or just don’t give a shit so they buy Murdoch’s bullshit. What Murdoch has to gain from the no vote is anyone’s guess, but it’s probably just cos he and his staff are all racist scum.

  • I might be putting an offer on a house to someone who is apparently desperate to sell for personal reasons. I’m going for another look and will get a building inspector to also take a look. The kitchen needs to be redone because apparently it was made for Shaq - for real the bench tops are so high - and the oven looks like it wouldn’t be up to code (it’s all old anyway).

    The house has been on the market for a long time without much interest it appears as well.

    I was once told that the first offer you make should be so low it even embarrasses you to offer it. I figure if the guy is keen to sell and “very flexible” may as well try it - especially given a few things need to be done to the house. It’s livable now, but it needs a split system, a small part of it is unfinished (very minor and no big deal but why I am also getting a building inspector) and definitely needs a new kitchen so I figure I’ll put those reasonings in for a lower offer too.

    Any one ever done this? This is all new to me. It scares me spending so much money.

    • When we brought this place I had put in 3 offers on other places and got royaly dicked around. So I called the agent and went “My offer is 5k below asking range. Take it or leave it. Present it to your clients and if they agree you’ll have the writing in offer 2 seconds after you call me. But Im not sending you a deposit to just talk to them”. Turns out we were the only one, got it for 5k below the asking range (which even then was probably 10k too much). Worst case, they come back and say “Nah, how about X instead”. But you never open negotiations high in the vendors favor. You miss 100% of the shots you dont take. Good luck!

      • Yep. I don’t want to dick around either. If I like it and the BS comes through ok I’ll put in an offer that can be without subjecting to finance, dude can go on his merry way (apparently divorce and ex is taking him for everything), while I still have to fix up the issues. It’s going to be a ridiculously low offer though but he is happy to negotiate. And if not. I am not in any hurry either.

    • That’s not really good advice. If you insult the person they’ll reject it. Being ruthless wins no friends. Especially in small towns. Definitely cost the kitchen and take that off, and the other repairs. But most likely the person has an amount in mind which has already considered those factors.

      Just lowballing someone because you don’t think anyone else is interested won’t necessarily sway someone who has a figure in mind. Don’t listen to real estate agents or anyone else with a financial interest in the sale other than the vendor. Apparently desperate to sell doesn’t mean someone will take something insulting or would not line up with what they need the money so desperately for in the first place.

      If you’re wanting to make an offer, set out some conditions, like pending finance and pending building inspection. Go 10-15% under their asking price as a place to start a negotiition so the vendor knows you’re serious. Lowballing often means tyre kicker. Source, I just sold my place and had a few fuckheads who wasted my time and tried to lowball me.