I was offered a job after an interview but they want me to come in for a few hours first as a “trial”. They haven’t mentioned paying me for it and I’m a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing. I don’t have much experience pushing back on employers, so I’m not sure whether I should just do it or ask about payment first. Will it sound rude if I do so?
Had one of those shifts where the client said no to pretty much every activity we had planned. No outing, no cooking, no walk, nothing. I didn’t want to keep pushing and make them more frustrated, but I also didn’t want to spend the whole shift sitting there doing nothing. How do experienced workers usually handle this?
I’ve come across a few properties where what’s been built doesn’t quite line up with the old approvals. If the owner wasn’t aware that the work had never been approved, how do you usually handle it with them? Do you normally start by trying to work out when the work was done and what records are available, or is there a standard process you follow?
I had the Centrelink app fail during a reporting period in a way that wasn't obvious until I checked whether the report had actually gone through. The process of fixing it involved a call, a wait and an explanation that took longer than it should have for what should have been a technical issue on their end rather than a compliance problem on mine. Would love to know how people here have managed reporting failures and whether there's a way of protecting yourself from the downstream consequences of a system error that the official guidance about technical issues doesn't really address.
Our landlord jacked our rent up by $75 a week last month. I updated my accommodation details on myGov and uploaded a signed copy of the new lease agreement showing the higher rent.
However, my latest Centrelink payment summary shows my Rent Assistance rate hasn't changed at all. Is there a maximum threshold cap where Rent Assistance stops increasing, or has my document update just not been reviewed by a human processor yet?
Currently working in local government handling development applications and class 1-10 building permits, but thinking about moving across to a private surveying consultancy for better remuneration and broader exposure to class 2-9 commercial works.
For anyone who has transitioned from council to private practice (or vice versa), what was the biggest culture shock in terms of workload, billable hours, and risk exposure?
I've already got an AM5 board, decent DDR5 and a good cooler, so upgrading the CPU would be relatively straightforward. The current processor isn't terrible, but I'm starting to notice it in some games. Would you upgrade now or squeeze another couple of years out of the platform?
I'm considering reducing my training hours rather than trying to keep doing full-time hours while juggling everything else. I know it could add years to the pathway, but the idea of having some breathing room is becoming more attractive. Anyone who's trained part-time - did you regret taking longer?
I recently received my intern offer for next year and ended up getting my third preference at a small regional hospital in New South Wales instead of the massive metropolitan tertiary centre I was aiming for. I am slightly terrified that I will miss out on seeing complex cases and getting high level specialist teaching. For those who did their intern year rurally, did you feel underprepared when you eventually moved back to the big city hospitals?
I am obsessed with rescue dogs and keep looking at pet adoption profiles every evening. I keep imagining cute weekend walks and cuddles on the sofa, but I live alone and work long hours
I didn't report something for a bit before I realised I was meant to and now I'm worried about getting in trouble. Are they harsh about this kind of stuff or do they just adjust your payments? What actually happens if you come clean about it?
Maybe I'm in the minority, but while the huge outdoor catering challenges are great for showing leadership, teamwork and who can handle a proper service, the replica pressure tests are still peak MasterChef for me. There's something about watching contestants spend three hours trying to nail every tiny detail of a dessert while the clock ticks down that creates a level of tension the team challenges never quite match.
Which challenge format do you reckon makes for the best television?
People always talk about public service having better work-life balance and I do leave closer to five o'clock most days, but the actual intensity of the work feels pretty similar. Deadlines still exist, bosses still expect things done. Maybe it's just that there's less of the hustle culture performance thing but the workload is still workload
I took a mid level role recently because the salary bump was great, but the workplace culture is incredibly toxic. The manager micromanages every email and the handover was non-existent. If I start applying for new roles now, should I include this short stint on my resume or just leave a gap?
Trying to find something easy to clear
Had an appointment today where the worker was incredibly condescending and openly mocked my career goals. I left the office in tears. Who do I actually lodge a formal complaint with that isn't just their own manager?
I have an upcoming trip from the Sunshine Coast to London. The long haul international sector is booked in business class, but the domestic flight to connect with it is in standard economy.
Assuming it's all on the same booking, would I still get full business lounge access before the first flight departs, or is lounge access only available once I reach the airport where the business class sector begins?
What is the sweet spot for you guys without killing your credit score?
For anyone who’s recently bought a first home, did you stick with CommBank for your loan or go with another lender, and what actually influenced your decision in the end?