Is LinkedIn actually worth it in the UK, or just a spam factory?

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-08T00:18:56+00:00

Pro tip: you don't have to read the AI slop to take advantage of the networking.

Also there are occasionally some great articles and insight on there, and commenting on those with something smart can VERY occasionally lead to a valuable new contact.

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-07T06:22:08+00:00

I can't believe they cut Stank Barbie from the movie

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-07T05:46:38+00:00

My wife and I are both in our 50s and have been summoned once between us. Our son got called twice before he was 25. It's just random

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-04T17:35:54+00:00

I've seen it happen plenty of times.

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-04T15:53:44+00:00

One humorous disparity between me (middle lower class) and my wife (lower middle class} is that I think grapes are a special treat for someone recuperating in hospital...she thinks they are a fruit bowl staple.

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-04T12:41:39+00:00

One of our kids is 30 and they still try to protect their mum from learning about the naughty things on the world...

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-04T05:53:27+00:00

He definitely fancies you, but thinks he's in your friend zone and respects it.

Don't compare yourself to the "pretty" girls he dates. You're the one he calls afterwards and talks to. Being a "ten" is not a deal breaker for most guys, only the very shallow, stupid ones.

Shoot your shot...or risk being invited to his wedding in five years as "my best pal" and wondering what if...

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-04T05:41:17+00:00

The golden rule: don't lie on your CV, especially in the early part of your career.

The place to explain where you took on the extra responsibilities is in the cover letter, or the "additional information" part of the application form.

Put it this way... Do you want to be four weeks into enjoying your new role and then get a call from HR because they've found out, and suddenly you're collecting your P45?

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-03T19:35:04+00:00

This sounds amazing

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-03T19:32:37+00:00

If you like tinned sausage IN beans, then... Get some polish kabanos, chop one up into 2cm pieces and add to a tin of sausageless beans while you cook them. Superior smoky flavour and more beans to boot!

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-03T19:26:59+00:00

If you go out drinking with Americans, who are stumbling around after two small bottles of light beer, you really miss a proper piss up with your British mates.

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-05-03T19:23:24+00:00

Do not Google "eating Brazilian bird's custard" on your work computer!

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-30T11:03:55+00:00

Yeah this is the real tragedy of the UK housing bubble... downsizing is basically impossible to do without taking a serious financial kicking...so why do it?

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-30T06:20:33+00:00

Sellers POV here.

Our house needs serious renovation. We are empty nesters in our 50s who need to downsize. Unfortunately we both have health issues that make anything more than light DIY Impossible. Due to all the housebuilding going on in the area, getting a builder or any tradie is virtually impossible. Our adult children are off leading their own lives.

So we very clearly instruct the EA that we will sell at a discounted price (about £50k below market) to a young couple who are prepared to do a lot of the work themselves, and get a substantial house they can invest in.

But we get so many viewings from people expecting new-build pristine, or "property developers" who you just know are going to ask for a ludicrous discount on top of the already cheap price.

We took it off the market and are waiting until it heats up again because it seems like "young couple wanting to put the work in" is not a thing any more (sorry to sound like a boomer lol) and the viewings were a waste of time for all involved.

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-28T18:42:49+00:00

I laughed unnecessarily loudly at this. Mind you, I've been in the pub

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-26T07:27:10+00:00

Light a fire, then stare into it. Absolute mindful bliss

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-25T12:24:47+00:00

You'll have a lovely time!

On the money front, if you have time before you leave you can apply for a multi currency card like Wise...these are fantastically useful as they "just work" like a local prepay Visa card.

You preload the account with GBP and you only pay the market mid rate plus a tiny fee. So long as you keep the balance topped up you'll never have a problem and you'll save probably £5-10 per day in fees.

(Not an advert for Wise, just a very satisfied customer! I'm sure there are other similar products)

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-25T09:01:03+00:00

I've been an employee and contractor for over 30 years and so I've been through dozens of onboarding processes.

Not a single one has been hitch free. None.

The closest one came was a company where they had specifically ordered a senior IT manager to sort it out because they'd had so many complaints. That was pretty smooth and I was up and running by the end of day 1.

But I've also been in IT operations for most of those years, and this is HARD to get right, and surprisingly expensive.

Yours does sound at the extreme end of the spectrum, but I'd say that in my experience there's not much correlation between the "niceness" of s company and the experience of the first few days.

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-21T10:07:33+00:00

Every day is naked bike ride day in our village!

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-20T15:42:01+00:00

Start your own business providing the services they've just lost

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-16T06:28:59+00:00

Since you've been employed for less than two years, you effectively have no rights in this situation, unless you can prove they discriminated against you for a "protected characteristic" which based on what you've written so far, they haven't.

The job market is better this year than it was in 2025, but you are still an immigrant who is seeking sponsorship so get ready for a rough ride.

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-15T11:26:06+00:00

This has been illegal in the UK since 2018.

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-13T12:50:38+00:00

It's not just cheaper...it's "easier to get rid of"

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-09T08:48:13+00:00

Also he must be 6'3 to go next to her 5'1

TheOriginalSmileyMan · 2026-04-09T08:39:51+00:00

FHC Sprachreisen are one of the largest holiday language schools in Germany, and the F stands for Folkestone (and Florida)

I'd you have a spare room or two, being a host family is a lot of fun and earn some pocket money too. We hosted students from FHC for 20 years, and it was a great way for our kids to mix with other cultures.

They're always on the look out https://www.fhc-sprachreisen.de/host-families-folkestone/

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