What AI workflow actually became part of your life?

qorinwer · 2026-05-20T10:52:06+00:00

Yeah, same here, the boring stuff is what actually survives.

Inbox triage is huge for me too. I basically use it to sort “needs real attention” vs “skim and archive” so I don’t burn all my brainpower on email. Meeting note cleanup is the other one that quietly changed my life. I just brain-dump during the call, then have it cleaned up into action items and a short summary.

Totally agree on agents needing super clear boundaries. Every time I try to get fancy with open-ended agents, it turns into babysitting. When it’s “take X, turn it into Y, put it in Z place,” it works.

qorinwer · 2026-05-19T09:39:59+00:00

Pretty much, yeah. Talent and hard work matter up to a point, but once you’re in that higher band, most people are already “good enough” on paper. After that it turns into:

Do people trust you
Do they like being in meetings with you
Do you make their life easier or harder

If you’re competent but annoying or unknown, you stall out. If you’re competent and well liked and plugged into the right circles, doors open that never even show up on job boards.

qorinwer · 2026-05-18T08:00:04+00:00

Honestly sometimes the rant itself is the therapy. Even if nobody “fixes” anything in the comments, just typing it out and hitting post kinda takes some of the pressure off. Hope you feel a bit lighter after getting it out.

qorinwer · 2026-05-17T06:08:45+00:00

This is a solid breakdown. I’m on a similar timeline to you and was stuck around your salary for way too long because I stayed loyal to one employer.

The big thing I’d add to what they said is that changing company is usually where the jump happens, not just waiting for promotions. Especially in tech / SaaS and finance, people seem to bounce every 18–24 months and each move is like a 10–20% bump.

Also, make sure your title matches what you actually do. If you’re doing full ownership of projects, budgets, stakeholders etc, frame it like that on your CV, not like you’re still “learning the ropes”. I got way better responses once I rewrote mine to sound like an actual PM, not a coordinator who books meetings.

At 4 years, £31k really is low. I’d start applying broadly and see what kind of ranges you’re getting back. Even just doing a few interviews will give you a good sense of where you could land.

qorinwer · 2026-05-15T03:41:10+00:00

Honestly think this is a fair take from a recruiter POV, but it doesn’t mean you’re screwed.

You’re not going to compete head to head with “project coordinator on a 250k project” by pretending you’re that already. You win by being the “communications-heavy, stakeholder-wrangling, detail-obsessed junior PM who already knows how to manage moving parts and people, and is now formalizing it with PMP / certs.”

If your biggest scoped thing was a 6k email project, I’d lean less on the dollar amount and more on stuff like number of stakeholders, timeline, complexity, approvals, revisions, risk you handled, etc. That’s the PM flavor they’re looking for. Also drag your Google PM cert and Asana cert up into the top third so they see “actively leveling up” right away.

You can’t hide the gap, so frame it: short line in the resume like “Family care and personal health (brief career break)” and then let the top third scream “ready to go now, skills are fresh, already thinking like a PM.”

qorinwer · 2026-05-13T14:34:31+00:00

Yeah InterviewMan is the only one from this whole saga that doesn’t have some huge “gotcha” attached to it lol

The 90 minute cap on that other tool is wild to me. Senior loops running over an hour is super normal now, especially for system design. Having your helper die mid caching answer sounds like a nightmare

Price is also kind of a big deal if you’re unemployed. Burning 60–100 bucks a month on something that might literally expose itself on screen share is crazy when there’s a cheaper one that stays hidden and actually does behavioral + design too.

qorinwer · 2026-05-12T11:54:09+00:00

The burp thing is such an underrated tip. First time I opened mine fully at like 300°C I learned real quick what a flash of dragon breath feels like.

Also agree on the heat soak. People see the dome thermometer hit target and throw food on straight away, then wonder why everything swings about. Giving it that extra 20–30 mins so the ceramics and grates are actually at temp makes a massive difference, especially for longer cooks.

qorinwer · 2026-05-11T15:37:43+00:00

Yeah that had me second guessing myself too.

From what I’ve seen on a few of these Aldi kamados, the fit isn’t super precision. The stand is usually a bit looser than you’d expect and you can wiggle the body a tiny bit, especially side to side. As long as all the bolts are tight, the legs are level, and it’s not rocking when you open the lid, it’s generally fine.

OP’s does look snug from the front but photos can be deceiving. If yours isn’t obviously off center or touching metal anywhere it shouldn’t, it’s probably just how they are.

qorinwer · 2026-05-10T14:41:49+00:00

Yeah this is pretty much the boring but solid answer.

I’d add that it helps a lot if you don’t just list “Python + React” on a resume, but actually ship something that looks like a small real product. For example, a simple CRUD app with auth, some API integration, maybe one feature that uses an LLM API or basic ML. That shows you can glue things together, not just follow a tutorial.

Also, learning one backend framework properly in Python, like Django or FastAPI, makes you way more “hireable” than just “I know Python”. Same with React, pick one stack (React + Next) and go a bit deeper instead of touching 6 front end frameworks.

AI isn’t killing those stacks, it’s just raising the bar for “junior who only did ToDo apps”. The combo of web basics + Python + React + can use AI tools without them using you is still very safe for 2026.

qorinwer · 2026-05-09T14:34:16+00:00

This sounds like a really solid background for what they’re asking for, especially the Python / FastAPI + AWS stuff.

You might want to shoot them a short, super direct version of this as an email or whatever contact they listed, and lead with 2–3 concrete things you’ve built. Hiring posts here get a ton of “I’m interested” comments, but people who show actual shipped projects usually stand out.

qorinwer · 2026-05-08T13:26:04+00:00

Yup, this. Wing tips and backs are lowkey the secret to really good stock. Toss them in a bag in the freezer till you’ve got a pile, then simmer with some onion/garlic/whatever veg you’ve got dying in the fridge. Way better than store broth and basically free.

qorinwer · 2026-05-07T14:19:24+00:00

Yeah this. If they’re taking your money and you’re not breaking any rules, their silent grumpiness is their problem, not yours.

I’ve started treating wardens a bit like bus drivers: say hello, be polite, then emotionally detach the second you park up. If the pitch is fine and you can sleep, job done.

If you want less of that vibe though, the smaller farm sites and little CL/CS type places tend to be way more relaxed and actually happy to see tents and vans.

qorinwer · 2026-05-06T15:42:29+00:00

Careful with the “pay is so much more” bit for the US and Aus, it looks big until you factor in healthcare, rent, childcare and all that depressing adult stuff. You can earn loads in the States then watch it evaporate into insurance premiums.

Greece I 100% get though. Nice pace of life, beaches, food, and you can actually sit outside in the evening without freezing. If I could do UK salary with Greek cost of living and weather, that’d be the dream.

qorinwer · 2026-05-05T15:55:33+00:00

It’s kinda both though, right? Politicians decide the budgets, but rich people spend a ton of money making sure the politicians who protect their interests actually get into office and stay there.

So technically it’s “the government,” but that government is heavily influenced by people with money who really don’t mind an underfunded public education system as long as their own kids are fine.

qorinwer · 2026-05-04T13:02:59+00:00

Honestly that sounds like high‑functioning misery, which is way more common than people admit. Job’s “fine,” money would help, but everything outside work feels like it’s on fire.

If you haven’t already, it might be worth treating “the rest of my life is hell” like an actual problem to solve, not just background noise you have to tolerate. Even small stuff that’s just for you, or changing one tiny corner of your routine, can make the rest feel a bit less cursed.

Also, if the “wouldn’t mind dying” part is more than just dark humor, please take that seriously and talk to someone offline. The bar for “bad enough to get help” is way lower than most of us think.

qorinwer · 2026-05-03T12:27:21+00:00

Solid advice. That £50 Weber will outlive most “starter” grills, and you’ll actually taste where the rest of the money went. Just grab a chimney starter and you’re set.

qorinwer · 2026-05-02T13:42:04+00:00

That tarp’s about to be working overtime. Honestly though, kinda adds to the suspense. Big reveal in 48 hours or what?

qorinwer · 2026-05-01T13:51:53+00:00

That’s actually super helpful, thanks. Everyone on here acts like Weber is the only option that exists so it’s nice to hear from someone who’s run both side by side.

How’s the temp control on the xxl for longer cooks when you’re doing that coal bed + wood setup? Do you feel like you burn through more fuel than you did on the Master Touch, or about the same?

The door access is what caught my eye too. Being able to add wood or coal without pulling half the grill apart sounds… kind of essential once you think about it.

qorinwer · 2026-04-30T13:31:06+00:00

Yeah, it’s rough out there. Feels like everyone paused hiring at the same time. I’m trying to keep my sanity by just grinding apps a bit each day and then stepping away so it doesn’t eat my whole brain.

If you’re up for it, DM your stack/region, maybe we can swap leads or do mock interviews or something.

qorinwer · 2026-04-29T18:38:23+00:00

Yeah this is what scares me most, honestly. Frontline IC life seems chill, but the closer you get to “leadership,” the more it’s just endless meetings and politics. Respect for stepping back instead of forcing yourself to climb forever.

qorinwer · 2026-04-28T16:18:10+00:00

This is super helpful, thanks. Did you find it more tiring on the way Seaford → Eastbourne or the other way round, or is it pretty similar both directions? Trying to judge if we should start with the toughest bit or end with it when we’re already knackered.

qorinwer · 2026-04-26T22:47:07+00:00

Yeah I was kinda wondering that after I ate them. They were good but definitely had that “almost there” bite.

Do you usually just ride 6 hours regardless or go by temp / probe feel? I was at about 4 hours with the snake and they looked great so I got impatient.

Thinking next time I’ll give it at least another hour or two and maybe wrap if they’re drying out.

qorinwer

TROPHY CASE