u/Parking-Log-8368

I am an intermediate EE , 4 years in. Both design firms I've worked in have thrown around this figure of 12-18 months before a grad is even profitable. I assume based on them not coming out of uni ready to do the job from day 1, and needing to be shown/corrected a lot by seniors in the first few years. The grads I work with seem to have an attitude that it's just used as a way to justify poor pay raises. Maybe they haven't realised we're all underpaid and overworked yet idk, or maybe I am wrong?

In my experience as a grad, there was no structured training plan. It was just work under a senior and do as they assign/teach you. For those who have implemented a more structured plan, have you found that you can get grads profitable quicker?

I'm just wondering if it's worth the effort/cost to allow an hour or two a week of structured training time (e.g running a short workshop tutorial where they do an exercise)? Has anyone done this and has it been at all useful getting grads up to speed quicker?

I have an older car that is still functional - would be worth around 5-6k if I hadn't been terrorised by multiple repeat break ins... I want it gone like yesterday because I can't stop it repeatedly being broken into.

They messed up the ignition and the back quarter panel window - what are my choices as I don't want to spend money and time sorting repairs I won't recover the cost of. Other than the wreckers.

Is it acceptable to sell on trade me if its in a not driveable condition? Would turners or something like that be better?

I'm designing a serious game for university students, and I'm looking for examples of really clear and well communicated rules for inspo.

Because the audience of the game is not seasoned board gamers but engineering students, its really important that the game is easy to pick up for them in one session. I have kept the design itself simple, but I'm conscious that for some people reading dense text can be difficult to process. Does anyone have any examples of just outstanding rule booklets?

The game has three different kinds of cards and scoring tokens (just using little wooden cubes for that). The cards get shuffled into one hand and played much like many other card games for context.

It’s renewal time, and my pet insurance is going up 15%. I’ve never claimed and my pet is still only 3 years old. And I’m now spiralling a little.

The corporate greed is seriously pissing me off. My power bill is soaring because of the phasing out of low user plans.

Insurances across the board are all through the roof and tbh I get the car insurance and contents hikes due to more weather events. yet we’re doing nothing about climate change!

The short termism of our politicians is fucking me off to the extreme. I just feel angry. I know the only thing I can do is get out there and vote - and I will be voting greens. But it still feels that it will be green tacked on to labours shitty same old.

I feel such a lack of hope for my future. I’m 26F an engineer and struggling so much. Theres no jobs. There’s no funding anymore for startups and no ability to save up to try yourself. There’s nothing to look forward to getting better, only the idea that we could stave off the far right a little longer. Why is it so fucking hard to see capitalism in this state is not serving us.

Why is so hard to tax the super rich? why can’t we tax companies like meta and uber that operate here and benefit from being here? What are we the normal people getting in return from all of these groups?

Is anyone organising any protests etc? I’m very pro wealth taxes and I wonder how many people would show up if I started organising something.

Anyone got a recommendation for a piano tuner? How much is the going rate these days in chch?

This is my first windows and I'm selling to go back to mac.

Just want to know when I advertise it if I can safely say it comes with windows as I will obviously have to wipe it.

Looking at the licence info it says the description is "Windows(R) Operating System, OEM_COA_NSLP channel"

Am I correct that this means its tied to the motherboard? and that I can therefore safely hit 'remove everything' and be able to reinstall windows?

Had two attempts to steal our cars in the past 2 months. The latest one last night.

Spreydon/ Barrington - are we a hotspot for car theft or something? Had no trouble for the past 3 years now this.

What can we do that it is effective as a way to deter given one of us always has to park on the street? do the steering wheel locks do anything? dashcams?

Recently rediscovering enjoyment in board games and looking for a group I can join bc none of my friends share the love.

I'm a little intimidated by and don't really enjoy the RPG style games like D&D. Also not into magic or other collectibles. Can anyone recommend any particular group to join? Apologies if there is some fb group I am missing (I am not on fb).

I wrote my first poem, maybe you guys can relate? Pls be nice, sharing is terrifying.

I love early mornings, before the day has begun.

Though I never feel energised being up before the sun.

The office at 8, is a different place —

just me and my tea and all of that space.

No pings, no chatter, no patter of feet,

just the hum of the aircon and me in my seat.

The first few arrive, chatty and bright,

Then in flow the rest, suits black and shirts white.

“Good morning,” they boom, “how was your weekend?”

“Great,” some replied., “caught up with a friend.”

The chorus grows as voices add to the choir,

The room fills up as the volume climbs higher.

The emails are read, after coffees and greetings, 

Then headsets go on, and so start the meetings. 

Five people talking, all fighting to speak,

I sat there in silence for most of the week. 

It’s not that I don’t have something to say,

It's just that the loud ones won’t clear the airwaves. 

By the time it's midday, the quiet comes back.

I can finally think! I must get on track.

But my stomach is growling and it must be appeased.

So I’m forced to abandon this moment of peace.

My colleagues are calling, “Come join us and eat!” 

I politely decline, and split down the street. 

It's not like I’m weird and I don’t have a crew,

Just  being alone doesn’t make me feel blue.

I really do need some time to recharge,

So I sit by the river and help the ducklings get large.

I throw in the bread and make friends with the birds,

And then it is time to get back to the herd. 

The afternoon drags, but hometime is near

I put on some white noise so that I can’t hear,

As the sound of more meetings swells through the space,

I try my hardest to find some headspace.

I feel unproductive, frustrated, annoyed,

It's so hard to concentrate inside all this noise.

5pm strikes and the noise changes shape,

Zippers close bags, as they plot their escape.

They wanted to go out for drinks and a bite,

I smiled and I told them “I’m sorry, not tonight.” 

I hate saying no, I know its not fair,

But I can’t seem to find the energy to spare.

“How was your day?”, my husband will ask 

I’ll say that I’m happy to take off the mask.

To climb into bed, with my book and the cat, 

Where it's finally quiet, and calm - just like that.

My eyes growing heavy, I sink into bed.

I can finally hear all the thoughts in my head.

28F - I want to develop a product and have a research based masters degree in the same field. The idea fits with some successful research out there, but I want to take the ideas and bundle them into a commercial solution.

I'm an engineer, so have some relevant skills to be able to pull off developing a product. But I really just couldn't afford to fund much myself given the cost of living, already being unable to afford a house etc. The most I can give is my time and development skills.

It looks like Callaghan Innovation has significantly changed - what options are left for funding for kiwis like myself? Do the universities offer much in the way of support?

I'm an intermediate, but I'm a confident speaker/presenter and I've started to be invited to bid interviews from time to time.

What skills and lessons did you guys find really helped you hone in your abilities? I feel as though its something that is rarely talked about in terms of professional development but incredibly important!

Where I live the process is largely you get a brief, put in a written bid selling the company, then you get invited to an interview if shortlisted, and a decision gets made. Not sure if its different elsewhere?