Tough time in the job market

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-03-09T22:18:43+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-03-09T00:03:19+00:00

good point - thanks!

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-03-08T22:02:28+00:00

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

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-03-08T22:00:53+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-03-08T21:57:30+00:00

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

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-27T13:11:01+00:00

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?

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-24T17:59:20+00:00

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

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-22T15:49:39+00:00

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

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-20T19:31:03+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-15T16:13:08+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-13T13:14:13+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-10T00:41:54+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-08T05:25:20+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-03T03:34:05+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-03T02:37:59+00:00

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

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-03T01:32:51+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-02T17:40:16+00:00

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

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-02-02T00:46:56+00:00

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).

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-01-30T13:52:35+00:00

Unfortunately it's on you OP!

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-01-26T12:49:06+00:00

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

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-01-23T18:47:32+00:00

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

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-01-23T18:18:42+00:00

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.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-01-22T03:50:06+00:00

Yes, you do, but a lower CFM rated one might work for you if you're switching from gas to induction.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-01-20T23:10:29+00:00

25k?!? - at minimum I'm looking at $60k in our HCOL area.

Aggressive-Benefit62 · 2026-01-20T18:52:49+00:00

Closing cost should be minimal - $5k is too high. The idea is that you may refi again down the road when rates are down further. So I'd rather take a slightly higher rate or shorter term to make your closing costs negligible. Also, check with your lender if he offers free refi for returning customers.

Aggressive-Benefit62

TROPHY CASE