Staying Positive in the Anniversary

It was my first year anniversary at this new work, this week which we are about to finish it. Things have not been so bad but kind of stressful. The manager, The Mumbling Guy has proved himself as a spinless, stupid, ignorant, coward, shithead yet he matches the other fellas in the Barn! That's what the company is called. However there're some positive sides to this job. I don't have to drive too far. The total amount of time I spend on driving on a day does not surpass 1 hour, both ways and it's 95 per cent highway driving. I get as many as 20 days paid vacation. I learn a lot. There's not much or at all physical work. My working hours are fare. There are only a few assholes whom I have to deal with on a daily basis. I get the opportunity of writing a few examinations for certification and then get reimbursed. Yet I keep my eyes open for any better opportunity. 
(Photo: I used to spend as much as one hour and ten minutes on the road, one day, each way, five days a week! It took a toll on the vehicle and resulted in so much fuel and maintenance cost. Now they all are gone and I hope I can keep it that way)

The Stinking Animals of the Barn

 There are a couple of women who come to the office usually in the last two days of the week, almost every week. They pretend they work but they laugh and talk more than they do! It gets worse when another one, who is usually quiet, when the other two are away, joins. 
Ha ha ha. Ho ho ho! Bela, bela, bela, Yap, yap, yap! 

Every 20 minutes. They never shut the f--k up. It makes the job very difficult by not being able to focus. Everyone knows nothing can be done about it. No one says anything! My solution is easy: When it becomes too much, I get the hell out and go to the other office! Spend a little time there and come back in 10 to 15 minutes, hoping their big mouths are closed! 
Something happened in an afternoon that shut these annoying, selfish, stupid, idiots up, a few days ago! One of the bosses was in the office, working! These brainless idiots became mice! Quiet. Coming and going without a peep! It showed how immature and stupid these women were. Laughing and not caring about anything and then quiet as a mute kid the minute the teacher walks in the class! Stupid and shameless. This is what I'm going to do: I've written down the date the manager was in the office and I will send these rubes a message about how pathetic they were on that day, when the time is right! 

In case someone wonders why I use the term Barn to introduce this stupid workplace, this term, surprisingly, was used first, by The Mumbling Guy and I appreciate it! It truly is what the word means! 

(Photo: The white roofed building, the barn, at William Pickton's Farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. This was the place that Pickton murdered his victim's, mostly women from Downtown East side Vancouver [East Hasting] and allegedly fed them to his pigs! I lived quite close to the far, for a short while before 2011 started and that was the time that he already had been under investigation but not much had yet been done. The farm later was turned into a set of disgusting apartment buildings, like many other places in Canada. The barn that I work in is not as dangerous as this one. However it could be very annoying and traumatizing because of some worse-than-pig, human-like animals as I described above!)

Mindless Retards at Work (3): A Little bit about the new Work

It's been nearly nine months now that I joined this company. There were two job offers and I was able to get the one with a better salary. Thanks to The Mumbling Guy! The funny thing is the games that the other guy, from the other job offer, was playing. First he said that there was an old employee coming back and then he said that he had changed his mind and asked me to join and even send me an offer. I was told by The Mumbling Guy to wait and I did until I received the other offer, which was more attractive. The guy was a phony and the company was a sham. This asshole offered me $X an hour when we were talking and when I received the offer it was $X-1! I don't know if he would have added that one extra dollar per hour to his own salary or what? Funnier than that is just six months after that I saw a new posting for the same damn job. The guy who has been or had been hired didn't last more than six months! 

Now going back to the new workplace, the first person was this fat, lying, short, mental person! Yes, I called them fat because the person who hides their eating after you offer them food, is nothing but a disgusting sick fat liar! I also don't call anyone mental unless they behave abnormally and excessively! We had a Stampede Barbecue,like many employers have during the season and the day after she comes to me and says: This was really disrespectful of you and some other nonsense! I didn't even sit close to her and paid no attention to where she was but I'm not going to argue with a mental job. I simply said that I didn't remember saying anything and if I did there was no intention of hurting her and I apologized. File closed! 

The Mumbling Guy at the other end, first asked me not to apply for the job! How did it happen? This is how it went down: There was a posting and from the name of the company I realized what business they were in. It sounded at the time, the same that my buddy had said he had just joined. So I asked him whether I should apply for the position or not. He said no! I know he would be one of the decision makers. I did not. Next week, I think it was a Mon. morning he called me and said to apply! He later told me that a candidate had been removed and there was a chance. The interview went well and everything rolled smoothly. I even got a higher salary than what I had asked for. But I must clarify why I still call my buddy The Mumbling Guy now he has done this favour and some others? The answer is simple: He still mumbles after living in Canada for more than 20 years and he cannot write correctly and professionally! There hasn't been any improvement and he doesn't seem to need one. He's doing fine but to me it looks stupid. 

There're so many issues, challenges and opportunities at this new work which I'm hoping to put them there gradually.

(Photo: I wish my office was like this but neither the manager's office is even close to this nor my previous positions!)

The first Canned of 2026

This post could be under the new set of post by the name Mindless Retards at Work(!) but decided to have it separately because this was the person being kicked out of the company in the new year, not even before the first working week finishes. I know a little bit about this guy. That's what makes it interesting. 

I met the fella one of the very first weeks at work and he seemed to be a nice guy but the more time passed, the more dislike was built in me. I think our first conversation was during the time that Iran and Israel were exchanging missiles and he asked me how my family was and questions regarding that. I didn't tell him that my family lived here at the time because very coincidentally they had traveled to the old country shortly before the conflict started and got stuck there! 

He then started on his favorite religion, the religion of PEACE(!) until I told him I was atheist! He didn't like it much and he showed the signs of disbelief but since he did not have any erratic reaction, I kind of liked him and we kept a casual sort of relationship even were going to have a lunch in a restaurant of his origin. That plan got cancelled by me and I told him that I would not jeopardize my job for a freaking meal at a freaking restaurant which makes food of the country that is notoriously unhygienic and unhealthy! The last two words, of course, were not mentioned when I told him that we would not be going to the restaurants and obviously he didn't want to go during the weekend because of his family.

I approached him a few times to ask technical questions. He told me once to check ChapGPT! so when I was told that he had lied on his resume and was laid off (not fired, apparently, because he could have been) because of lack of proficiency, I was not surprised. Not that I felt good or anything like that. 

(Photo: If you're looking for a funny story about someone who got canned, look for Seinfeld Season 08, Episode 20 but avoid canned food as much as you can! )

Mindless Retards at Work (1): You Tell 'em!

I used to have posts called Workplace Stories. I stopped about a year and a half ago. I have decided to restart that this time under a new title called Mindless Retards at Work, as we have plenty here and there! I tell the story and you are the judge:
One of the things you observe a lot in workplaces is that the majority of the people get their jobs based on their relationships or as they like to call it networking. What it means that you have lots of incompetent, pretentious, mindless losers appointed to positions. Companies do that because they don't have to pay a lot to a qualified and experienced and knowledgeable person.  
Here at work we have a so-called Safety Officer who is occupied by a sort of aid. A couple of lazy retards, I should say. You barely see any of them in the working area, sitting on their asses most of the day. 
There were a number of visitors last week whom I directed them to the work area. We were having conversations and all of a sudden I saw the " officer " show up! She turns to me and goes: One of the guys doesn't have his ear plugs in. This is his second violation. Tell him if he repeats it, he would be banned from this work area! This is how a lazy and stupid tries to prove that she's working! 
First of all this is your job to tell them. Not me! Secondly, they are the people who have placed an order with us. They have given us a business and we must have done something good to build a reputation and get the order. We simply cannot ban them from our company for a freaking earplug! Turn your brain on! 
I, often, ignore ignorance! So I told her that I would tell them and walk away! The idiot went back to her cave! Now imagine how much money the company spends on people like these every year! They have a silly monthly Safety Meeting once a month and while the main person talks, mostly nonsense  for nearly 45 minutes, the other ass, just sits and stares at the people! I'm sick of these idiots.

(Photo: These are not different types and sizes of condoms. These are earplugs to help people to protect ears from excessive noise)

The Removal of an A**hole!

There is this organization which overviews our performance at work. There are, in fact, a few. We have to deal with this specific one more frequently. At times, three or four times a week. One of their representatives was axed off a few months ago. I have a post about his. I was told that he simply was let go because he was sloppy! The question is why did this happen after so many years?! He told me once that he had been working for the organization for over, I don't know, perhaps, 20 years! 
Then they send this jerk! He was worse but it takes time to know someone. Right? I knew what kind of personality he had, the first time I had to accompany him: Belligerent, hostile, over-authoritative, rude, disrespectful, even shallow. He asked me a few questions and had some unreasonable requests. I was able to get the answer by going and find it in the related standard. He was just testing me and I kept nodding every time he said something strange! He told me to go read this or that! My answer, most of the time was the same: I will. This led to have a smooth relationship. However, my interactions with him was quite limited. When it came to interacting with the other people in the group, particularly ladies, things became different for him as not everyone takes the bullshit the way I do! The thing is I have my capacity too but being new at this work, less than six months now, and having a great relationship with every single person I had to deal with, I simply didn't want to ruin my reputation. So I came along and we found a position that we, both, I believe, were comfortable with: He kept being an aggressive and bossy a**hole and I kept being a complaint employee! The reaction of the others were different and I heard different complaints from one person and then another one. I think that was the climax! Then the last day we went to complete something together he said some people had complained about him! Not being surprised at all and being very joyful inside of me, I pretended that I was taken aback and I asked him who it had been and why! He didn't say much and just extended his arm and we shock hands. He added: You're a good man! 
That was it. When we went back to the office my manager didn't even let me to attend him! He took care of him and then the guy left after a few minutes! Two things which were surprising to me are, first why did this escalate so fast to the point that he had to be removed? And secondly why did the observing organization accepted this without any investigation and so fast?! The stranger and funnier thing is the e-mail that came after the guy had already left! It was asked to report any sort of unprofessional interaction with him! People are sentenced and then tried in some jurisdictions, apparently! I truly was joyful that I didn't have to deal with him but I still think the proper procedure of investigation should have been followed. 

(Photo: While this is not a very clear picture but it shows what happened to the fella. I don't think he will be fired from the organization but most likely will have a note in his file)

The Sloppy Fella

Do you remember I had a post about how Canadians might like you? If you don't, please refer to the link and read it. If you don't have time I give you a short version of that here: Canadians, most of them, the majority of them, don't like to see you driving a modern, shiny, new car, dressed nicely and well-groomed and in a nutshell, to look better than them. 
With that in mind I met this guy at my new job a few months ago and we talked about different things. You know how Canadians are. They like to chit chat while they don't really care. It's a gesture of being nice. I don't mind it. I go along. He, somehow saw my wristwatch one day and said that he liked it. I told him that I had purchased it in Tokyo and then when the conversation continued, he was told that I had been to different cities in Japan. He clearly didn't like it and he added that he had a watch collection. 
Another day we were talking and I told him my recent visit to a car dealership, as our usual casual conversation before we started the work. This time he jumped in and was clearly upset! He said: To buy a Rolls-Royce?! I ignored him and we went to work. 
He, in addition to disliking foreigners, whom he thought had done things that he had never been able to do or never possessed(!) he was a sloppy fella. What I mean by that is he was standing still and I had to point at the issues and then he would react very enthusiastically!  It was like this every time we worked together until finally one day, last week, I was told that he had been asked to leave by his employer and would be replaced by another guy. The guy whom is anticipated to replace him is short pretentious asshole whom I had to deal with twice and the last one was not so pleasant! He, despite the fact that I explained I was covering for someone else and the issue was originated by them, gave me a lecture! We'll see how I can handle this shorty! 

(Photo: Sloppy inspector is the nastiest creature ever. It reminds me of the dump[!] that I currently reside in. Yes it is a dump with lots of cockroaches around! I will have a post for that but the reason why I call it dump is the cheap material and poor workmanship used to build this house as well as the nasty city inspector and their stupid check-list that resulted in the acceptance of the place for habitation)  

Chaos and Disorganization

I finished the first month of my new job and have mixed feelings about it. It's close by. In the morning it usually takes me about 25 minutes on a highway to reach there. Only one set of traffic lights! People are all nice, respectful and helpful and no one bugs me. On the way home, in the afternoon, depending on the time and the route I take, It usually takes between 00:45 and 01:00 hour to reach home. There are many things to learn which will help me in the last years of my career, later, if I stay alive! The job is yet not very difficult but it's mostly shit! Doing stupid things in a very chaotic and disorganized environment! 

It's a pleasant weather now, there have been rainy days but they were not too bad. It will be a major issue during the cold season! The highway will be a death trap and the shop will freeze and become the best place to suffer from the extreme Albertan winter! It looks like the shop is not covered by a roof completely! I know it sounds stupid and impossible but that's how it looks like now unless the roof could be extended and put on at the time of cold! The people I directly work with, as I said, are mostly okay. My direct supervisor, if I could call him, is okay too but what can I expect!? Hell is Other People!I drove a minimum of 01:05 hours, in one way, at the previous job and paid nearly $450 a month for just gasoline! I think here I can reduce it to $120 a month and have a longer interval between my oil changes.

The reality is I'm tired of moving around and I'd like to stay in a workplace and retire there and enjoy the benefits. Every time a job is changed, there's a lot of stress and waste of time: Prepare tens of resumes and send all of them. Spend lots of time on each and expect the call to come and then go to a damn interview. Write the thank you letter and see their reaction. Lie! Yes! Lying is part of resume preparation and interviewing! You should've seen The Mumbling Guy's resume! Some of the things he has written there, and for that he's been given this high-paid salary, is beyond belief! 

What can I do? I have a challenging nature! I've contained myself so far and haven't said much in this new place and am planning not to do so! I don't want to induce people! Many of these people will be retired soon, not from my department, unfortunately(!) so I'm going to leave them alone! How can you change someone in his mid-60's and teach him new methods?! They say You can't teach an old dog new tricks! The company has had an attempt to obtain an ISO 9001:2015 Standard certificate and then decided not to go forward with that! Smart decision! From what I know about this company in such a short time, combined with my knowledge about that standard and also knowing the fact that many companies and auditors fake records and their audits, it would've been very difficult to deceit and defeat everyone to get the damn certificate and for what?!  

(Photo: Not taken from my workplace, of course, but not much different, in most places, from what I see every day. One of the reasons is that it's a very old place and many tools and machines look old and run down but still work. This has nothing to do with being neat, clean and organized but, again, what can you expect from a bunch of old timers!)

Reducing the Three

A long time ago I wrote about the three unpredictable things in life, particularly in Canada: Work, Whether and Women. This time I'm going to write about another three which I have been trying to reduce most of my life. If you do, you'll be happy as well! Here they are:

1) Responsibilities: We all have many responsibilities our lives but most of us don't take the majority of them seriously. Our responsibilities start from the time we wake up and then continues while we are on the road, until we get to work and then drive or ride back home. When we reach home, we sigh and relax but we still are accountable and responsible for our acts. We're just not responsible for what we normally are toward our employer! On the road you're responsible to other drivers and have to obey the traffic law or you'll be fined. Many of us challenge them on daily basis and some of us get fined. At work we are responsible toward our managers and in general our employer or we get written up and disciplined and eventually if it is too bad, canned. At home we are responsible for our families: Provide a safe shelter, provide good food, teach the kids the values of the society and train them to be good citizens, neighbours, students, friends and siblings. Our responsibilities are endless. Some not as important, some very critical which if we take them lithely, we will see the outcome later. By not having a child and spouse, I've reduced my biggest and most important responsibilities and could focus on others. That's my choice. Many cannot avoid this but I, majority of the time, sleep worry-free because I'm only responsible for me. 

2) Risks: We all face risks in our lives on daily bases but I'm the one who has taken many risks and have narrow escapes. However my constant effort for reducing and mitigating risk is never ending! The biggest risk in my life was buying a one-way ticket after getting my Permanent Residency Visa and coming to Canada. Many people do that these days but they all have people who give them guidance and a place to stay when they come. I stayed at Motel 8 during the first two days of my immigration! 

One of the biggest that we all face is the risk of unknown circumstances when we travel for vacation when we go to the countries which are notorious for trouble and issues. The country which Canadians WASTE and I would like to repeat and stress, WASTE their money is Mexico! One of the filthiest, nastiest most stinking toilets in the world. Every now and then there's news about explosions, kidnapping, mugging and other such incidents about the tourists in Mexico or the losers who move to live there but people never learn their lesson. I've been living in Canada for almost 25 years and never set foot on Mexican soil, the country where its people shove drugs up their own ass to smuggle them and make money!  

In the meantime I have taken risks every time I travel to the mountains. That's the type of risk which I'm willing to take because I have control over it. It's not like I'm walking on the street and someone's attacking me to rob me.

3) Cost: There are costs which you barely can reduce. There are some that you can do. You need to focus on the latter. I personally believe that there are many controllable costs. You only need to accept the fact that you cannot afford everything and know your limits. Don't say I'm hungry and get a small sandwich a can of Soda for $11 and stay half-hungry for the rest of the day trying to convince yourself that you had enough and it was a good lunch! It's not okay to go to a bar every other night and spend $20 on booze and think of how to pay for the credit card at the end of the month. If a piece of Stake is $21, you don't have to eat one every day. If you're not a contractor or mover, why would you need a big ass truck?! There are practically hundreds of ways to reduce your expenses and live an easier life but the question is whether you want it!

(Photo: Pick up trucks are very popular in Canada and many people who do not need them, drive them on a daily basis for commuting to work and back or even buying their daily needs. In fact the Ford F-150 pick up truck was the most sold vehicle in the Province of Alberta, last year. Imagine the amount of gasoline and consequently harmful gases which would not have been consumed and emitted, had these people simply driven a normal sedan)

The New Horizon

If you watched movies as much as I do, and I admit this is something that losers do(!) you realize almost everything you have seen in movies, somehow reflects in your daily life! I have recently started a new job and it's too early to see how it will be but it has had ups and downs. One thing I can say is the ambiance reminds me of Aline 3! 

Run down and old place where many equipment seem they don't work! Some do. Signs from years ago which no longer apply! Old cranes. Many old cranes! Old people in shabby coveralls! If you must know Alien 3 was filmed in studios in England. The shore scenes were also filmed in that country. To be specific, the opening scene where Ripley is found and a few other ones are filmed in the east cost England where it's called Blast Beach. 

As I said it's too early to say how this place is but based on the salary and benefit, if I can get a better position, I will stay here for 3 to 5 years. I will post more about this new position as I go forward.

(Photo: The beach at Fiorina " Fury " 161, a maximum security prison where Ripley's EEV crash lands at the beginning of the movie. I purposely didn't use any picture of the facility itself in case someone recognizes that. Privacy is the paramount to me!)

Various Types of Misatkes

We all made mistakes in our lives. Some big, some small. I've made many mistakes which resulted in this misery that I'm! In this stage of life, where I am, most people have a family or at least a partner, a job that even if they don't like, they can manage their lives working it, a reliable source of transportation, you name it. I have neither of them and whose fault is that? Mine! Mostly mine and no one else's! 

With that said, just to say how big of a loser I am, and make sure that I'm not targeting anyone else, I would like to describe the four major types of mistakes that one would make during their lives:

1) The mistake that you can compensate for the loss with some cost. 

Examples of mistakes of this kind are seen easily on a daily basis. I use one that I've made myself recently. When I wrote my CWB Level I Inspector examinations, there were instructions for the practical exam. which I missed and led to my failure! The exam was easy and I had once passed it but there were special criteria to be followed and I had not! It means that I was lucky that I had passed it the previous time. This time I didn't make the same mistake. I followed the instructions and passed it.

2) The mistake that you cannot compensate for it. It would be too costly or next to impossible. 

Here, again, is an example from my pathetic life! I wrote an exam for ASQ in 2006. I failed. It was a very hard exam. It's not an excuse. It is but not impossible to pass. I, at the time, thought, I was spending enough time on studying but perhaps it was not. My other mistake was that I didn't have much in my resume and was not able to build a strong resume so I tried to get this CQE certificate to enhance my resume and then apply for a job! What a stupid mistake! All I had to do at the time was to work on my resume a bit harder. There was not much competition in 2005-06 and I had a handful of interviews but being careless, I didn't work hard enough and ended up where I am here. That, however, was not my only mistake! I wrote the exam again and got closed to the passing score but failed again. Here is the big mistake: Instead of study harder and write the exam the next year, I left it and now 19 years after I am without the damn certificate and it would be very difficult to write and pass it now! 

3) The mistake which results in the person ending up in prison! 

I, happily, have not done any mistakes to that level, although, I have to admit that I was close a couple of times, if not more than that! 

4) The mistake which results in the person ending up in the morgue! 

This also, is a kind of mistake, that I have not made, obviously. 

(Photo: The Quebec Bridge collapsed twice, once in 1907 and the second time in 1916! This could be categorized under type 3 and 4 mistakes but since I do not know the details, I leave it to decide which one would be the better match! Feel free to simply categorize it under both! It's considered an engineering and design mistake, if I remember it correctly)

The UN Convention against Torture

 

The UN convention against torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment is an international treaty that prohibits torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. It defines torture as any act by which sever pain or suffering whether physical or mental is intentionally inflicted on a person by a state official or with their consent or acquaintance.

The funny thing is this convention or agreement, is not mandated and was only ratified in 1987! The other interesting thing is the US is amongst three other countries which have signed but not ratified the convention(!) but would that stop anyone doing so? Is anyone, particularly, a political prisoner, protected? What would the UN do, if someone complains about such an act being performed on their person? Is that why we have some international courts known as The Hague? This would be the subject of another post, if I would want to go deep in this subject. I just point at some examples of torture which I have come across in the past few years:

1) CAF was accused of torturing some Taliban detainees at the time the mission was on. It was at the time Harper was the PM, no offence to him or anyone at any rank but accusations, seemed proven, I think.

2) Russia and Iran, probably not in this order(!), I don't know exactly, are amongst the biggest violators of the convention. 

3) The US has been accused of torturing many suspects (of aligning with terrorism) in Guantanamo Bay prison and it was proven. I think that is why they wanted to close it and it hasn't happened, although there are not many prisoners left. It was even shown in a few scenes in Zero Dark Thirty.  

Now we're going to the main subject: Why do I have a post about torture?! This goes back to this recent job application. I was interviewed, or some might want to say, screened, over the phone once and then was interviewed by a panel, in person. I was supposed to have a formal chat, I'd like to call it, with one of the managers, and then it was postponed. I had then to go back all the way to the same location, in a few days. I had the conversation and then my buddy told me that I'd most likely am hired. 

If you ever have been laid off and have had a few interviews led to nothing and then you lived by yourself and had nothing to do and then had recently finished a certificate, passed the exam and received congratulatory message, you know what I mean by waiting when someone tells you that you'd be hired! 

Now the situation gets worse and I have this offer! I don't know what the hell to do and I don't want to be in a position that when the music stops, I'm the one with no chair, although this might not be applicable here! I started writing the thank you notes and after that and to my surprise, the said manager responded and said that he had instructed his people to process my file, meaning that I'm hired. Now I'm sitting on my butt and try to be calm until the damn offer arrives but this is a torture! The weekend passes without any message and I have to go through it with mental torture! 

Mon. is then the day. I check the e-mail twice, once around 08:00 and then around 09:00. Nothing! There in fact is a bad news! From someone else and there's no need to share it here! Now I'm really pissed and uncomfortable! It's shortly before noon that someone calls from their HR and says that the company would like to offer me a position! I finally am relived. Right? No! Because they say I would receive the offer within half an hour and when I check, it's not there! Now you probably feel what I feel! I check after another 15 minutes and finally see a few e-mails! 

The offer is in 11 pages and way more attractive than what I received last week, both in terms of the salary and benefits. In fact if I can manage my behaviour and keep up a good job, it might be easily a place to retire or in worst cases, work for at least 6 next years. However I will have to see how everything goes and what my friend says as he's a much ambitious person, in comparison to what I am.  I signed the offer and sent it back and now I will be starting soon, according to the terms of the offer. I have a lot to do. From planning for career advancement to trip and hikes. It looks like I'm back on the horse!

(Photo: A Canadian member of UN Peace Keeping team in former Yugoslavia. I could easily tell by the scope! Some of my trainers during the CLFRS days told me that they saw the most brutal fights, murders and rapes during the time they served in that regions in the 90's) 

The Manager's Interview

I was called back to the potential employer's facility for a formal chat, perhaps I can call it, with a top manager. It was supposed to happen the same day as the interview but I was told that something had come up and the gentleman had to leave!

I was there 10 minutes earlier because like the other day I was making sure that I was on time and do not make a bad first impression. The problem is the damn old Garmin GPS directed me from the east side of Deerfoot Tr., on the first day, which made me stop at, at least, 10 damn traffic lights! This was not the first time I was being screwed with this piece of garbage. 

That aside, the second day I simply took Deerfoot Tr. and avoided all the never racking lights! I waited another 5 minutes until the time that the guy I'm supposed to report to, directly, showed and invited me to his office. It was very kind of him. We chatted a little bit until an old gentleman whom I was told later would be retired soon, showed. The Mumbling Guy had briefly told me that he would replace an old fella who was a close friend of our colleague in the company we worked together! I immediately realized that was the guy. We chatted a bit and I suggested to have a coffee or lunch with the other old fella. He agreed and handed me his card. 

The manager finally came after 15 minutes and I was directed to a room and he started a conversation about the company, the position and other related similar stuff. It took a little over half an hour and that was the time I left, right after the the so-called chat. I followed the tradition (norm) the next day and sent him a thank you e-mail. He, surprisingly, responded to that and said that he had asked my file to be processed. Now I'm going to wait for this offer to compare it to the other one, while it seems the second would be more attractive. 

(Photo: I think I should not have called it an interview. He didn't even have my resume in front of him and said that he had seen it. However, I think, he could have overruled whatever decision had been made)

Recalled!

 

I received an e-mail from the young fella indicating he had decided to go with another candidate about a week after the interview. I think one of the factors contributing to his decision was the fact that I had told him I was still working! It sometimes works better because you don't seem desperate and pathetic! He said, during the interview, that one of the previous team members had come back and I and him were the last candidates. I think that is what he wanted to say in the e-mail: The other fella has been selected. 

I then received a call a few days back but before reaching the phone, it was hung up. Then I checked the e-mail the same day and saw he was saying that the selected guy had decided not to work for the company and he wants me back! Fair enough! I'd be happy to. It's just the fact that I need to settle with my current employer, I wrote. I received the offer letter shortly and I have to say that the benefits were attractive. He, however, I realized, that had slashed a dollar from what we negotiated(!), if I can say, during an interview. It is supposed to be an hourly job, with some overtime and a dollar will result in less $2000 annually! Now I'm waiting for the other job offer, if it comes, so I can make a wise decision.

(Photo: The term recalled usually is associated with calling some food items, which there is a possibility of contamination with some bacteria or something. It happens from time to time in North America and I've seen different things, from ground beef to Romaine Lettuce. I thought to use that for a post photo here. I couldn't think of anything else. I hope the food industry guys are not offended!)

The Afternoon Visit

 I was invited to attend the second, a face-t-face interview and then have a facility visit a few days ago. I was a little worried because I had seen two of the interviewers' profiles online and they were both welding guys! I anticipated a heavily structured interview based on the subject. It didn't happen! There were a number of questions but I had the upper hand! There were a few good ones, though. I, fortunately was able to answer them correctly and completely and I'm going to mention them here because you might be asked the same, one day(!) in an interview:

1) Where do you see yourself in five years from now? 

This is a typical question which is asked by many during the interview, mostly regardless of what the position is but I never thought it'd be asked for this low-level position(!) but considering there had already been an interview and this was the second one and there would be another one, it answers the concern!  The good thing is, for the first time, I had done my homework! And that was based on the advice The Mumbling Guy gave me when we met a few weeks ago. So I was ready. My answer was: I'd like to be in the same position with more responsibilities or if there was any opening, move to another position.

2) If you perform a PMI scan, can you tell if it matches the standard?! 

I got frozen for a second! A scan does not have anything to do with any standard! So it was a good question! I was caught unguarded! I looked at him after the pause and I said by scanning I can only say whether the components match the order's requirements and that would be it! 

It was difficult to say whether he liked the answers or not but he kind of confirmed them! 

The interview took longer than I thought. I think It took nearly 40 minutes. I was then escorted and taken to different parts of the facility. I didn't see much organization and cleanliness! I thought the previous worksite was bad but you never know until you work. I was supposed to see the guy who, probably, makes the final decision but he had to attend a sort of meeting and I was handed to The Mumbling Guy. 

He didn't say much about the interview which he joined after a few minutes of it but told me that when he gave my name to the company, at that point, I was hired! 

I, on the contrary, do not think so. Unless you have the offer letter in your hands nothing matters. All the praise and you did well in the interview and so are nonsense! The other problem is the salary which was never discussed. We discussed that briefly during the phone interview but the number is way lower than what The Mumbling Guy wants me to ask! He actually wants me to request nearly $15k more! It would make a big difference in my life! I don't know how much the tax is but it would be roughly $1000 extra every month! 

I'm supposed to go there again to see the big boss soon. We'll see how it goes.

(Photo: This shop is quite similar to what I visited)

From Cocky and Confident to Disappointed and Discouraged

 

I get cocky and confident every time I pass a relatively difficult examination! I know one shall be confident but not cocky! I remember when I got my P. Eng. license I thought: I would do this and I would do that! I will print a card so I can hand it in when I meet people! None of them happened! In fact it didn't take long to realize that many have the same! Some barely able to write and read properly and fluently! 

Many don't barely have any licenses and certificates and have more stability and income in their career! Why? First they are Canadians! Secondly they just do they work and question nothing the way I normally do and criticize almost everything! 

So this mode stays and then when I get nothing, it turns to discouragement and disappointment. I now have a new certificate which I have to see how it's considered. 

(Photo: A cock or a rooster is the only thing I thought I could use its picture for this post!)

An Ontario-based Interview

It's a bit strange to me that many recruiting agencies intend to find candidates for their clients outside of the province they are located in. I was directed to talk to a person in Ontario for a position in Alberta, by a friend. I had applied for that position earlier, later I found out but it was a difficult one and my resume was not good enough. I boosted it up and sent it to the recruiter.

The guy called me eventually a few days ago and asked questions for almost 30 minutes. I had not been interviewed, to that level, by a non-technical person and I did not know how to answer the questions to be considered satisfactory. I didn't have much hope but tried my best. I received no response after the interview, even after I sent him a follow-up note. It's obvious that the recruiters don't want to ruin their reputation by sending a unqualified candidate to their client but that job description was too demanding and I don't think there're many people who can cover all those requirements fully. I think I have to move on.

(Photo: Niagara Falls in Ontario is one of the main tourist attractions of Canada but I haven't been there! I've been to Toronto and Ottawa but nowhere else. I didn't think any other photo would be appropriate here!)

The CWB Level I Inspector Certificate Story

I received an e-mail from CWB, a few days ago, indicating that I eventually(!) have passed all of the required examinations and have gotten my CWB Level I Inspector certificate. I know it's not something to brag about but it really was a pain to go through the material and study, with all the mistakes and contradictions! It has been years since I wanted to do that and there was always something between me and the certificate! Once I did the practical exam without reading the provided instruction! I had passed it previously though but you have to pass all the three main exams within a specified time-frame. Other times I was busy with other exams and certificates! I did 2 courses and one certificate in 2023 and 3 certificates in 2024 and I know it's considered an excuse by many but believe me there were times that I'd go crazy by simply reading the textbooks! This is one of my many(!) issues that if I don't understand something, I can barely move on. It keeps bothering me. Now it's over! 
It's not expected from a national technical organization which administrates many major national standards in the country, in the welding industry, such as CSA W47.1, CSA W47.2, CSA W59, CSA W48, CSA W178.2 and CSA W178.1 to have major mistakes and spelling errors in their textbooks! I wrote to the organization and despite the fact that they responded to me a few times, on many occasions they were not willing to accept their mistakes and correct them! 
What can you do? There have been many positions that I simply was turned down or I didn't even apply in the first place because I didn't have the certificate but my general opinion is having a certificate or degree means nothing and I strongly insist on that. This shall be combined with understanding and experience. One Quality Inspector who worked as part of my team had a CWB Level I Inspector certificate with AMSE B31.3 endorsement but he barely was able to complete a simple Weld Visual Inspection Report! The Mumbling Guy, despite all his expertise in resume building and convincing recruiters(!), cannot do any design, I'm sure of it, although he has a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering because he has no experience in that field and has never worked under the supervision of an experience designer. In general if we say someone is an expert, simply because they have a certificate or degree, it means we say that everyone is capable of driving well simply because they have obtained an Operator's Licence! I used this analogy for the sheep(!) I used to work with them, several times, but it didn't seem to get through their rotten heads! 
The funny thing is when I was talking to The Mumbling Guy the other day, he said he would help me to get my CWB Level II Inspector certificate, if I joined the company he works for! I was not sure, despite being positive, that I would have the certificate but I thanked him for that! Now if I join, I can get the certificate easily after two years, if not earlier. I also will aim for the ABSA Weld Examiner certificate as I was turned down last year by them! They told me that I simply don't have the qualifications! I will show them what qualifications mean! Now I'm also happy that I haven't turned The Mumbling Guy down! After all it was him who signed my application! 

Here are a few useful tips for someone who wants to apply for this certificate:

1) If you are an experienced welder, aiming for Welding Inspector is much easier and possible but remember this: Welders make much more than welding inspectors! I'm not an experienced welder but I have done TIG welding and I've done lots of studies and inspection which helped me.

2) Good understanding and deep Knowledge of welding consumables is very important. It's not just memorizing the codes.

3) Get comfortable using different tools and if you can afford them, buy a few. CWB sells a pack of tools for a reasonable price (CAN $250). If you don't want to spend that much, purchase the main ones. CWB allows you to use them during your practical exam. I only have a Telescopic Mirror and Bridge Cam Gauge and I haven't paid even a Penny for them! I used the ones provided by the CWB because I've used several different types of tools and I'm comfortable using them. I got 80%. I think I know what my mistake has been. 

4) Take your time and go through the questions of the closed-book exam calmly. You have plenty of time to answer all and that's the good thing about this exam. I had extra time at the end and I got only 83%. You need 70% to pass every CWB exam. 

I'm going to start studying for Level II and I have a long way to go! 

(Photo: UT or Ultrasonic Test is considered a very sophisticated non-destructive test which requires a very skilled operator. I just know the basics of it. This picture was taken many years ago when I visited a supplier in British Columbia. I won't reveal any name or other details but this was a n skilled and very nice elderly UT operator from Acuren who patiently answered my questions)

A Phone Interview Courtesy of The M. G.

I was wasting my time(!) on the computer yesterday morning and the telephone rang. It was a lady who introduced herself as an HR person with the company that The Mumbling Guy works for. I thought she might call but didn't expect a call so early. Here's what happened:
I found a position a couple of weeks ago and was going to apply but the product of the company suggest that it was the same that The Mumbling Guy had told me that they were manufacturing. So I thought I should ask him before applying and I did. He said: Don't! I was a bit upset but I didn't because I know he would be the one who evaluates the candidates. His reasoning was someone from the floor had been selected and would start soon, someone who is a relative of one of the managers. 
Nearly a week passed and one they he called and said: Apply for the position in the company I work for! He is the type of the guy who NEVER calls unless there's something really important! So I wondered what had happened. He said that the selected fella would be going to another province for a high pay job. Good for me!
So I applied for the job through the web and also sent my resume to their HR as he had instructed me. The HR person called me just one day after sending the resume, very unexpectedly, as I wrote and sort of asked many questions, some that I had never head in any of the many interviews that I had attended. Here are some:

1) Did you get year-end bonus?(!)

2) How was your vacations or How many days off did you get?(!)

3) How do you deal with issues?(!)

4) Did you have insurance coverage?(!)

I think I've listed the main wired ones!
Then later I received an e-mail and was invited to an couple of interviews(!) at their office. I sent a thank you e-mail and confirmed. The Mumbling Guy though, argued why I had not asked for enough money?! I was going to say that I'm not sure whether I would be hired. Why would I be ruin an interview with a number which most likely not be given to me? He bullshitted for a little while and that was it. Now I have to prepare myself for the interview.

(Photo: I thought I shall use a picture of one of the products of the potential employer but privacy is very important. So I used the line of Natural Gas Pressure Regulator that one of the companies that I worked for as a trainee, many years ago in the old country, manufactured) 

The Second Application

You know how frustrating it is to wait for an interview for days and weeks and then when you're invited to one, you realize that's the same person who interviewed you a little more than 3 years ago! That's what happened to me last week! 

I remember this guy and I remember that I wore a suit and tie (it was probably a very big mistake for a low-level job like that!) and went to this little building while wearing a mask because it was still Corona time and was interviewed. The other details are in the above link, which many might not even bother going there and it's fine by me, but I don't know if the company has its name changed or what. When I first saw the position I didn't realize that I had applied for a job there and had been interviewed because I couldn't remember it. When I checked the address then, I learnt that I had been there!
The guy, this time, wanted to have a phone screening, first! One can imagine why! They call you to interview when it's a pandemic and they screen you over the phone when everything is normal!  

So he called and talked for a short while and I always have my stories set! When he asked me why I was looking for a new job, as I have indicated in my resume that I still work there(!), I told him that I need to be with my family. He also asked about my salary expectations and I know it would be as cheap as the last time, probably a little more, but because I hate staying at home, I'm going to take this job, if I can and then move on. He said that he would like to interview me and would send the address, which I already know(!) and everything. Again, fine by me.

On the day of the interview I'm there two minutes early and he keeps me waiting for about 5 minutes! The funny thing is that the guy recognizes me immediately when I'm shaking hands with him and I deny it, respectfully! I don't deny it actually. I play dumb! I apologize to him and I tell him I do not have a good memory but I also add that I'm more experienced now which indicates that I would be a good candidate for the position! He says that the company has been obtained by another company and that is why, probably, I didn't realize it was the same with a different name! 

He sounds more mature now and this time he offers me a better compensation but I make up so much that at times I think he doesn't believe me because he's looking directly into my eyes without blinking! He never called me after the interview although I sent him a thank you note. I guess I missed this one as well.

(Photo: Phone screening gets rid of a portion of candidates)