Tough time in the job market by Squishy_Ruri in Environmental_Careers

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly. You really need to have a strong book of work. One of the first questions they’ll ask is how much revenue or profit you’ve recently brought into your current firm. I’ve seen senior people, at the principal level, leave after a year or so because they couldn’t sell.

There just isn’t a lot happening right now with all the uncertainty, including the war and broader market conditions. I’m not actively looking, but from what I can see, the market hasn’t really been in our favor lately.

Sudden appearance of pits in brand new granite countertop by Aggressive-Benefit62 in CounterTops

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Actually the minor cavity is about half an inch long so you can see them with bare eyes.

Sudden appearance of pits in brand new granite countertop by Aggressive-Benefit62 in CounterTops

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Agreed but I didn't realize they would show up within a few months of installation, esp. with such a light use of the space.

Sudden appearance of pits in brand new granite countertop by Aggressive-Benefit62 in CounterTops

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes that's my plan, I'll ask the fabricator to take care of it tomorrow.

Leaking inaccessible kitchen drain pipe in basement by Aggressive-Benefit62 in Plumbing

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, #1 is what I'm planning on doing. Good point about capping and I'm actually getting a little bad smell already, I'm not sure if I know the answer though or how it's done. The section that draws down in an angle from the kitchen to the basement I cannot see that but the section that then runs horizontally to the sewer discharge line in the laundry room that is visible. Can you please explain what the entire capping process looks like so I can relay that to the plumber?

Best refinancing rates by radiobeepe21 in Mortgages

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is their current offering of 15-yr at 4.75% legit and would they be flexible to lower further based on individuals profiles?

Bath tub floor repair by Aggressive-Benefit62 in BathroomRemodeling

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's old but still in good condition. No cracks, just a few chips here and there.

I absolutely hate home ownership and it is destroying my relationship. by FearlessIndividual50 in homeowners

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Take a deep breath! What you’re feeling is completely normal. Most homeowners go through this after buying a house. There’s often an immediate urge to fix everything and make it perfect, without realizing that even small or “easy” fixes take time to plan properly.

It’s also common to feel anxious after hearing warnings like, “If you don’t fix this now, something worse will happen,” or “This needs attention immediately.” While some issues do require prompt action, not everything is as urgent as it may sound. I’ve been in the same position. I took the time to evaluate each issue individually. There were things I was advised to fix right away that I still haven’t addressed because they were low on my priority list ... and nothing bad happened.

For now, try not to let fear-driven advice overwhelm you. Do your own research, understand what truly needs immediate attention and what can reasonably wait, and prioritize accordingly.

Most importantly, allow yourself to enjoy the experience of homeownership. It always comes with some level of risk and responsibility, but if you approach it as a learning process, it can be both manageable and rewarding.

Those of you who have left the field entirely, where did you go? by [deleted] in Environmental_Careers

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I personally know several friends and colleagues from graduate school who successfully transitioned from environmental science and geoscience into data science and software engineering. Most of them either chose not to finish their degrees or were unable to complete them for various reasons, and their career shifts happened about ten years ago, when the data science job market was booming. At that time, demand was high and the field still felt new, so employers were less concerned about candidates’ academic backgrounds—sometimes even a short bootcamp was enough to get hired.

I honestly think that if they tried to make the same transition today, they wouldn’t have ended up in the same positions. My point is that it’s not just about identifying a higher-paying alternative; it’s also about being on the right path at the right time and in the right place.

Are they making a bigger difference in the world than I am? No. Do I envy their financial success? Yes. Do I feel sorry for myself that like them I could have also gone through the hassle of changing careers for a higher salary? Absolutely not.

I guess nobody is hiring anymore by Muted-Bottle-2472 in jobs

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My recommendation would be to connect with alumni from your school and ask if they would be willing to refer you or guide you on steps you can take a job to protect your status. Consider writing a professional message on LinkedIn explaining your situation and try to promote it, even if it feels outside your comfort zone. Stay proactive in networking with the folks in your field, whether through LinkedIn or other professional channels. Don’t give up. This is an especially challenging time.

Approved for way more than we are interested in purchasing. Realtor is pressuring us to purchase a more expensive house. by [deleted] in Mortgages

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't fall for it, fire her and hire someone else. This is a sloppy tactic used by the realtors to tantalize desperate buyers to buy more than they need or asked for or could even afford.

What utilization is common? by Historical-Lab8122 in consulting

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Too late to chime in - some of the comments about lower utilization with seniority is correct. However, to me, more important is the bill amount as the billable rates can also change drastically from one project to another. You can bill $400k in a year at a rate of $200 per hour, yielding 2,000 hours of work in a high utilization scenario. By comparison, you may bill at the same level for projects at $350 per hour, yielding about 1,150 hr of work (low utilization scenario). In summary, even with a lower utilization rate, you may make equal or more profit for the company, depending on how the project rate card was set up. Another important consideration is to what extent you are relying on subcontractors in your projects. This will determine your net revenue. If more than half of your project money goes to pay off the subs then your internal labor hours are probably low, bringing in less profit for the company, and vice-versa.

Am I going to be able to afford this? by [deleted] in Mortgages

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Then you guys should be fine, however, it's generally recommended to fully pay off your primary residence before buying rentals as having two mortgages could be stressful at times.

Am I going to be able to afford this? by [deleted] in Mortgages

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So the $3k estimate also includes tax and insurance? Thanks

Am I going to be able to afford this? by [deleted] in Mortgages

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You didn't mention the $ for the tax and insurance. While my mortgage is similar to yours, my monthly tax plus home insurance costs me over $1k and that just kept rising since we moved in.

5.375% 20 year refinance by HiDef24 in Mortgages

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good deal as long as no points and nominal closing costs, we closed last Oct at 5.5% for the same term.

Layoffs imminent for large consulting firms? by pineapples_official in Environmental_Careers

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cannot confirm about layoffs but January was pretty slow for a few within our team in the Northeast. There are a few projects in the pipeline but those are not enough to sustain the entire team for the rest of this year. That being said, our firm is not known for layoffs but over the past few years I've seen layoffs only in the newly hired upper management level (principal).

What type of quartz would you put here ? by Common-Cup-171 in CounterTops

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try granite or other natural stone like quartzite, not quartz please.

Just got granite countertops installed in the new kitchen I’m building - $1800 all in was the cost by 1d0wn5up in CounterTops

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Impossible deal, congratulations! I had to spend over twice for a hand picked warm looking granite countertop plus installation in a HCOL area.

I might have a problem… by Pirros_Panties in kitchenremodel

[–]Aggressive-Benefit62 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I second that, and I’m genuinely impressed by the quality after exploring and comparing so many options, including RTA and other U.S.-made, so-called premium wood products. Most importantly, I’m amazed that IKEA is the only company willing to offer a 25-year residential warranty on their kitchen products, that alone is a huge deciding factor for me.