u/pasquale83

Hi everyone,

I’m a freelancer in the space, specifically working on EIC Accelerator and Horizon Europe bids. I’ve recently been reviewing contracts from several consultancies to work as a subcontractor, and I’m a bit shocked by how one-sided the terms seem.

I’m used to some level of protection for the firm, but some of these clauses feel like major red flags. For example:

• One contract has a 7-year ban on working with any client I’m introduced to. Another has a 2-year ban. 7 years feels completely out of touch with industry standards, is this even enforceable?
• I’ve seen a contract that imposes a flat €2,000 penalty if I have to drop a project before completion, regardless of the reason.
• Most have a "pay-when-paid" policy for success fees, and some set the liability cap at 4x the total fees, which feels like a lot of risk to carry for a single project.

I’m trying to figure out if this is "just how the industry works" for boutique firms or if I’m looking at particularly aggressive agreements.

For those of you subbing for larger consultancies:

1. Is a 7-year non-solicitation actually common?
2. Do you usually manage to negotiate a "liability cap" closer to 1x your fee?
3. How do you handle these "pay-when-paid" clauses?

I'd love to hear your thoughts before I sign anything. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m a freelancer in the space, specifically working on EIC Accelerator and Horizon Europe bids. I’ve recently been reviewing contracts from several consultancies to work as a subcontractor, and I’m a bit shocked by how one-sided the terms seem.

I’m used to some level of protection for the firm, but some of these clauses feel like major red flags. For example:

* One contract has a 7-year ban on working with any client I’m introduced to. Another has a 2-year ban. 7 years feels completely out of touch with industry standards, is this even enforceable? * I’ve seen a contract that imposes a flat €2,000 penalty if I have to drop a project before completion, regardless of the reason. * Most have a "pay-when-paid" policy for success fees, and some set the liability cap at 4x the total fees, which feels like a lot of risk to carry for a single project.

I’m trying to figure out if this is "just how the industry works" for boutique firms or if I’m looking at particularly aggressive agreements.

For those of you subbing for larger consultancies:

1. Is a 7-year non-solicitation actually common?
2. Do you usually manage to negotiate a "liability cap" closer to 1x your fee?
3. How do you handle these "pay-when-paid" clauses?

I'd love to hear your thoughts before I sign anything. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m a freelancer in the space, specifically working on EIC Accelerator and Horizon Europe bids. I’ve recently been reviewing contracts from several consultancies to work as a subcontractor, and I’m a bit shocked by how one-sided the terms seem.

I’m used to some level of protection for the firm, but some of these clauses feel like major red flags. For example:

• One contract has a 7-year ban on working with any client I’m introduced to. Another has a 2-year ban. 7 years feels completely out of touch with industry standards, is this even enforceable?
• I’ve seen a contract that imposes a flat €2,000 penalty if I have to drop a project before completion, regardless of the reason.
• Most have a "pay-when-paid" policy for success fees, and some set the liability cap at 4x the total fees, which feels like a lot of risk to carry for a single project.

I’m trying to figure out if this is "just how the industry works" for boutique firms or if I’m looking at particularly aggressive agreements.

For those of you subbing for larger consultancies:

1. Is a 7-year non-solicitation actually common?
2. Do you usually manage to negotiate a "liability cap" closer to 1x your fee?
3. How do you handle these "pay-when-paid" clauses?

I'd love to hear your thoughts before I sign anything. Thanks!

Hi, I purchased a Tapo P115 for the purpose of making my dishwasher smarter.

I wanted to set a rule to turn off the power on the plug when the power drawn falls under a given threshold.

At the end of the washing cycle the dishwasher keeps absorbing 22 Watt but it seems to me that the Tapo app does not allow to set a cut off threshold higher than 20 Watt for the Charge Guard control it implements and also the Smart Features are limited and they do not offer any power based control of the status of the plug. Is my only option to return the product?

Thank you for your help!

https://preview.redd.it/vnbgvynh76gh1.png?width=1123&format=png&auto=webp&s=928d9a62d623d0d2d8eb10204a7d56e03ef96888

Hi! I want to invest with my company through IBKR. Where can I find the rates for businesses? Are they very different from the ones for private individuals?

Hey everyone,

I’ve got an old built-in Miele G 1173 SCVi from 2008 (code 48/080365955). Structurally and mechanically it’s still an absolute tank and cleans dishes amazingly well, but it has one extremely annoying quirk.

When the wash cycle finishes, it just sits there powered on forever, continuously soft-beeping until someone physically walks over and presses the main power button to turn it off.

Before I start overcomplicating things, two quick questions:

1. Is there actually any hidden button-combo/service menu on these mid-2000s Miele units to toggle an automatic shutdown mode after the cycle ends? Or was staying on just standard behavior back then?
2. If it can't be done via software, I'm thinking about putting a power-monitoring relay behind it (like a Shelly) and setting up an automation (Home Assistant / Homekit) to kill power once the wattage drops to idle for X minutes. Has anyone done this with older Miele dishwashers? Does cutting power externally cause any memory/board issues for the next run, or does it handle hard power-cuts fine?

Would love to hear if anyone has tackled this or knows the service sequence. Thanks!

Hi! I sent a payment request to a friend in the US. I'm in Europe. The transaction has been blocked with the message: "Declined - your bank declined the transaction" as I can see when logging into my account.

I'm confused as it's not clear to me if it is Revolut to have blocked the transaction or my friends bank. He said he has used the Apple Pay linked to his bank.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Salve a tutti. Sto cercando di aiutare mia moglie.

Ha un fondo pensione Azimut Previdenza. Fino a non molto tempo fa entrava nella sua area privata myAzimut usando certe credenziali. In questi giorni ha riprovato ma non vanno piu' perche' hanno rinnovato il sito. Nel frattempo, ci siamo spostati all'estero e non abbiamo piu' numeri di telefono italiani (sembra che l'accesso si basi su numero di telefono e non email) ma i numero non italiani non sono utilizzabili. Qualcuno in una situazione simile che abbia risolto in qualche modo?

Grazie in anticipo a chiunque voglia dare il suo contributo!

Hi everyone,

I want to buy an investment apartment in the Metz or Thionville area to rent it out under the LMNP status (furnished rental).

I am looking at a few options:

• New apartments (VEFA)
• Medium apartments (50-60 sqm)
• Small apartments (20-30 sqm)

A lot of the apartments I see on the market already have tenants with standard, unfurnished contracts.

The real estate agent told me that it is "very easy" to ask the current tenants to leave so I can switch the flat to LMNP. Also, because I want a good return, the agent suggested buying small 20-30 sqm apartments (rented for €400-500/month). He says they have a better return percentage, and it is better than putting €200k-300k in one big apartment.

I have two questions for you:

1. Is it really easy to evict tenants in France? I thought French laws protect tenants a lot. What are the risks of buying an already-rented apartment with the plan to end the contract for LMNP? How would you mitigate these risks?
2. What do you think about small vs. medium apartments in Metz/Thionville? Is the higher return of 20-30 sqm flats worth the risk of tenants changing often?

I would love to hear your advice.

Thank you!

What is the mandatory action in the title about?

Hi! I'd like to invest in Metz city and surrounding areas as a foreign investor. I've been in the area a few times and I think that the proximity to Luxembourg makes it attractive .

I'd like to buy new (but open to buying used if I find a good opportunity) and rent it out long term under the LMNP real tax regime. I'll purchase cash.

Does this subreddit have any tips or recommendations for me? I've just started searching for VEFA properties ready to move in but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hi everyone, I have been working in the semiconductor industry for quite a while now. I have seen the industry change from the inside, sat on the hiring side of the table, and helped a lot of people land roles in big fabs and tech companies. I am posting this because I see many talented engineers getting rejected not because they lack skills, but because they struggle to communicate the value of their experience effectively. I cannot talk about specific employers due to confidentiality, but I am happy to give you honest, no-nonsense advice on how managers look at technical profiles, what they are really searching for during an interview, and how to successfully transition from academia or other fields into high-volume manufacturing or AI hardware. Ask me anything!

Hi everyone,

I spend a lot of time looking at resumes. I started my career at Intel and now I am at ASML, so I have seen thousands of applications. I see many great engineers get rejected, not because they are not good, but because their CV is a mess.

I also work as a Career Counsellor for technical professionals, so I know exactly what recruiters are looking for. If you want to get an interview, stop making these five mistakes:

1. Stop writing your CV like a lab report. I don’t need to see your academic projects at the top. I need to see your work experience first. That is the most important thing. If I have to scroll down to find it, I am already bored.
2. Stop listing "tasks" and start listing "wins." Don't tell me you were "responsible for maintenance." Tell me you reduced downtime by 10% or you fixed a yield issue. I want to see numbers, not a job description.
3. Clean up your contact info. You are not applying for a job in 1995. Take off your photo and your full street address. Just put your City and Country. And if you are willing to move, say "Open to relocation." Simple.
4. Use a normal font. Don’t try to be an artist with your layout. Use a clean, simple sans-serif font. If the computer system (the ATS) can't read your file, I will never see it.
5. Two pages is enough. If you can’t tell me why I should hire you in two pages, you are probably rambling. Delete the empty space, delete the third page. Keep it tight.

Look, your CV is not a history book. It is a marketing tool. You have 10 seconds to catch my eye before I move to the next one.

I hope this helps you get more interviews. I had a few people ask me for advice recently, so I decided to open a few slots this week for a 15-minute "CV Pulse Check." If you want me to look at your specific CV and tell you exactly what is wrong, send me a DM.

What do you guys find the most annoying about the job search right now? Let’s talk about it.

I’ve noticed a lot of posts here from engineers (especially PhDs and Junior Process Engineers) feeling "stuck" or confused about how to move from R&D into high-paying HVM (High Volume Manufacturing) roles at companies like Intel, TSMC, or ASML.

I’m doing some research on the professional development landscape in our industry. Career services at universities are often too general, and technical managers don't always have time to mentor.

The Question: Have you ever considered (or would you consider) using a specialized Semiconductor Career Counsellor—someone who has actually worked at Tier-1 companies—to help you with your pivot, interview prep, or salary negotiation?

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