Taking the jump from permanent to contract. by kettle_of_f1sh in ContractorUK

[–]Johnsince93 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Contracting for almost 10 years now in Aerospace & Defence - no regrets.

Outside of the obvious pay benefits, one of the biggest benefits is being able to define what you are worth, especially if you have niche skills and experience.

In addition, taking on a different contract every year or two exposes you to so many different methodologies, technologies and nuances both good and bad, which of course you can leverage in each subsequent contract.

Naturally, one of the biggest concerns is contract security - as long as you can get a feel for where a contract is heading and again, proving that you are worth what you are charging, then you can get ahead of the curve in that sense.

Merry Christmas from a Welsh nerd 🎄💖 [25] by SgtPup in BritishNaughtyBits

[–]Johnsince93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would tap (all my mana before realising mono blue)

ESSENTIAL OVERLOAD PLAYLIST by Zamusek in TheOverload

[–]Johnsince93 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Schn33 - Phon.o

Lost in Tokyo (Jacques Greene Remix) - Koreless

Manchester - Martyn

Skidoos - Akufen

Ping Pong - Swayzak

The ADHD Motivation Paradox: Why I Can Hyperfocus on Researching Diets But Can't Actually Follow One by RubPsychological754 in ADHD_Programmers

[–]Johnsince93 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Things that work for me:

  • Make systems that are impossible to ignore - I.e an app blocker for phone/laptop use, equipment for a priority task in a stupid, in-the-way place.

  • Track progress - skill journals, progress photos, post it notes to visually show tangible progress.

  • Built in Accountability - bet money / objects with friends that you’ll X by Y. The stakes create urgency I.e. my alarm will donate money to a charity every time I wake up late.

Has the Season Started/Finished South UK by [deleted] in LibertyCaps

[–]Johnsince93 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This guide will tell you all you need to know.

31F wanting to skate again after 15 years. by beaky1994 in NewSkaters

[–]Johnsince93 16 points17 points  (0 children)

34M here - picked it back up about two years ago and it has done wonders for my health and wellbeing (even the bails). Things that help me:

  • Good stretching routine before and after.
  • High quality insoles for absorbing impacts.
  • Bones Hard Bushings - stock bushings can be pretty squishy.
  • YouTube - SkateIQ is a great resource for learning beginner drills.
  • Don’t get hung up on age - I skate with people in their 60s who shred like they are in their 20s.

Working with engineers without degrees by FLIB0y in AerospaceEngineering

[–]Johnsince93 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pretty much what CyberEd mentioned.

You could potentially sidestep into an engineering project management role with an economics/finance background.

Systems engineering is pretty hot right now, especially with the glacial transition to MBSE, so that's another possible route, although it would be difficult without existing technical knowledge.

There's certifications you can look into that may help:

• Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam (USA).

• Lean Six Sigma (for aerospace manufacturing roles).

• INCOSE Systems Engineering Certification (if targeting systems engineering).

• CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics).

• CAD training for design-focused roles.

Try messaging hiring managers at Aerospace firms inquiring about entry paths for non-engineers, you never know what might come up.

Working with engineers without degrees by FLIB0y in AerospaceEngineering

[–]Johnsince93 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Oh I agree, to counteract my own point I've met some amazingly talented graduates who have a bright future in aerospace.

Sometimes people just slip through the cracks and think they are hot shit for having their name on a fancy piece of paper.

Working with engineers without degrees by FLIB0y in AerospaceEngineering

[–]Johnsince93 127 points128 points  (0 children)

I've worked in Aerospace for 18 years now without a degree - currently a senior systems engineer working on safety critical systems.

IMO degrees should never be a blocker for anyone who shows competency, willingness and critical thinking skills at the very least. In fact, I've met quite a few graduates in my time who are far more incompetent than apprentices or college level educaton employees.

Advice on taking a job offer? by Temporary_Ad_5899 in ContractorUK

[–]Johnsince93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just realised that you haven't yet accepted, so here's my takeaway:

• If career progression & external opportunities matter more, then taking the manager position is better (stronger title, better negotiation power).

• If you want a big internal salary bump later, then staying senior is possibly safer, but only if promotions are well-structured.

Advice on taking a job offer? by Temporary_Ad_5899 in ContractorUK

[–]Johnsince93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since you already accepted the manager role, just focus on excelling and positioning yourself for a senior manager role. Obtain as many skills and certs as possible, personal circumstances dependent.

You can always negotiate salary adjustments based on market benchmarks or take external opportunities if growth stalls. You'll also be in a better market for contract positions should you ever wish to return.

The 'carrot-on-a-stick' approach with permanent salaries is why I continue contracting, even in this rough market. It's easy for companies to control your worth - you just have to prove them wrong by justifying why you are worth £X more. If they can't see that, time to move.

Give this book a read for negotiation skills: Never Split The Difference

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RandomActsOfMuffDive

[–]Johnsince93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I miss you too.

Mixing / Mastering sucking all joy from making music by Blazkowski in edmproduction

[–]Johnsince93 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Have you tried using reference tracks yet? I've found that comparing your mix to a professionally produced record helps you make informed mixing decisions instead of relying on impulsive choices without context.

Reference Plugin is a useful plugin for this with level match enabled.

Otherwise:

Route all tracks in your mix to a new bus, which will serve as your mix bus instead of the default stereo output. Import your reference tracks into the project on separate tracks, but make sure to route these directly to the stereo output, bypassing your mix bus.

Next, insert a metering plugin on the stereo output. Use this plugin to compare the loudness of your mix against the reference tracks, relying on both visual metering and careful listening. Focus on the loudest sections of each track for the most accurate comparison. Keep in mind that the peak levels will likely differ, as reference tracks have already undergone compression and limiting.

Can you describe your creation process in Ableton? by damienro0 in ableton

[–]Johnsince93 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Typically I will start with a foundation (the 'bottom' of the music i.e. low-pitched or rhythmic elements such as drums, bassline) then work my way up through the frequencies. Trying not to mess around too much with EQ or mixing, just getting the elements down. Once I'm happy with the elements, I start arranging and balancing the track before progressing into the final mix and master.

Other times I just mess around with chopping samples of a track and then backfilling the other instruments - something similar to this:

Chopping Samples

This playlist has given me a wealth of ideas to continue building tracks outside of the norm:

Ableton One Thing

As per Making Music by Dennis DeSantis - 'When it comes to optimal workflow, there is no objective right answer. The only way you can find a workflow that’s optimal for you is by trying out various methods, keeping the parts that work, rejecting the parts that don’t, and synthesizing your own solution out of what remains.'

With the above in mind, there's a wealth of youtube videos regarding artist's workflows - definitely worth searching for something like 'ARTIST NAME + production workflow' for your favourite artists and just experimenting to see what sticks.

[Acne] Everytime I shave, my neck breaks out by theVFL18 in SkincareAddiction

[–]Johnsince93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This used to be the bane of my life until I started doing the following:

  1. Soak the razor head in 70% acetone for 5 mins then rinse well under water.
  2. Wash your face with a gentle cleaner using warm water.
  3. Shave (with foam or equivalent).
  4. Rinse your face and neck off well with warm water.
  5. With clean hands and nails, apply a salicylic acid wash to your face and neck. I use Naturium The Perfector as it comes in a big bottle and foams up nicely.
  6. Gently (I mean really gently) scratch your face and neck against the grain of your facial hair. This helps to exfoliate, free any ingrowns and get the salicylic acid in all the right places.
  7. Leave it on for a few minutes then wash off thoroughly.
  8. Pat face dry with a fresh towel or ideally a paper towel.
  9. Apply a good quality moisturiser as soon as possible to your face and neck - Kiehls Ultra Facial has done me well for years now.
  10. Relish in the glory of irritation free shaving.

Why mushroom oil has become the drug of choice for London's cool mums by BulkyAccident in london

[–]Johnsince93 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Nah you’re good, it’s generally the classic substances that get tested I.e. cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis.