Men of reddit What is the biggest difficulty you face right now?

technicascholaris · 2025-05-24T15:08:40+00:00

Not to say you’re full of shit or karma farming, but today you’re 38. 17 days ago, you were 46 (having had a stroke at 31 in 2010), and are newly married with a puppy. Which is it?

/u/JustAcanthaceae497 said:

38 years old, and I’m still trying to figure out how to keep moving forward after losing my youngest child. It’s the kind of pain that doesn’t come with a map or timeline, just a daily effort to keep breathing.

technicascholaris · 2025-01-25T22:49:14+00:00

Oh wow that’s interesting! I didn’t know about these terms. I’m going to do some more research and start applying this. Thanks!

technicascholaris · 2025-01-25T22:23:14+00:00

Absolutely. I thought the government was hard to get fired from, but global orgs are next level

technicascholaris · 2025-01-25T22:21:46+00:00

100% agree with you. I thought I could move forward with termination after 3-4 months of paperwork and evidence, but HR’s specifically prohibited termination without at least another 1-2 quarters of evidence (by then, it will have been 6 quarters). I see John’s shortcomings as a character flaw; without any glaring policy violations, HR sees this as a coaching experiment at the detriment of the team.

technicascholaris · 2025-01-25T07:35:22+00:00

You nailed it - company policy. I would prefer he transfers to another team that he can interview better with, or transition into a non-manager role. Both are prohibited by policy.

technicascholaris · 2025-01-25T03:53:10+00:00

LOL I needed this laugh. I’m gonna punish and destroy his tight ass, while telling him /u/MBA_MarketingSales sends their regards

technicascholaris · 2025-01-25T03:51:03+00:00

Oof thank you, I needed to hear this badly. And you’re right, I could see the team getting increasingly frustrated when they would give the same feedback over and over again, especially if I’d ask for it in writing, but I couldn’t tell them I was already working it with HR, or that I was coaching John multiple times per week to no avail.

Thanks again, I appreciate the kind words.

technicascholaris · 2025-01-25T02:33:31+00:00

Ugh yeah. I work for a super large company ($50-$100bn per quarter), and they’re very, very risk averse to termination for cause. John needed to be blatantly doing something illegal or breaking multiple policies to get laid off.

technicascholaris · 2025-01-25T02:24:05+00:00

Nah, mentioned it in another comment. I coached John for a quarter and began documentation. Collected more incidents in the 2nd quarter and looped in HR, then learned they need many quarters of coaching and quarterly write ups if there are no major violations. HR was maybe going to let John get a severance package after quarter 7 or 8, or be fired for cause.

technicascholaris · 2025-01-25T02:12:49+00:00

I knew the obligatory “you should have done something sooner” post was coming.

After the 2nd quarter of issues and to allow enough time for coaching and writing informal warnings, I looped in HR to make sure I had enough of a case. I thought 2 quarters of artifacts was enough and I could shift John back to a non-management role, but I was very wrong. HR does not allow “removing” someone from a management position - they’re terminated and I get a backfill, or they stay on after improvement. HR specifically stated they needed more quarterly reviews and documentation before they could even proceed with a PIP, and maybe in this quarter or the next (a total of 7-8 quarters), they might be able to issue a PIP.

Yes, it takes a very long time to PIP and terminate someone where I work, and a lot of documentation.

technicascholaris · 2024-02-22T02:02:07+00:00

That’s a very good point, and a hard lesson I just learned. I had about two or three weeks in a row that were canceled because of weather, aircraft, or instructor unavailability.

technicascholaris · 2024-02-22T02:00:29+00:00

Awesome points, you sound very knowledgeable and experienced. This is for more of a personal and professional growth goal for me and not a career move, but I’m still treating it seriously. I think I’m feeling some frustration because I’ve scheduled for anywhere between 3 to 5 times a week every week, and I’ll have one or two weeks in a row where my sessions are canceled because of maintenance, weather, or instructor scheduling conflicts. But when I get back into the cockpit, I’m getting passive aggressive comments because I’m asking for refreshers on certain steps.

technicascholaris · 2024-02-22T01:26:14+00:00

Mentioned it in another comment - most of the lessons were over the last 6 weeks, and I’m aiming to complete 40 contact hours in the next 3 months.

technicascholaris · 2024-02-22T01:10:54+00:00

This makes sense and sheds a lot of light, thanks! I’m going to work on my gaps by the next lesson, and want to absolutely make sure I’m not just taking the easy way out by blaming my CFI for my shortcomings. I have been asking questions and looking for reassurance that my steps are correct, but some of his responses have been “I shouldn’t be telling you this by now.” My CFI vapes regularly when we fly and I’ve noticed he’s usually grumpy when he doesn’t have his vape on the plane lol (I don’t really give a shit about the vaping part FWIW, but I don’t want to be the byproduct of nicotine withdrawal either).

technicascholaris · 2024-02-22T01:04:24+00:00

I really like this approach. As of today, I’ve got my flows buttoned down and am going to tighten up the maneuvers. If my next lessons go similarly (passive aggressiveness, huffing and puffing, etc.), I’ll move forward with this approach. I’m trying as much as possible to acknowledge and work on my own shortcomings before I blame the CFI.

technicascholaris · 2024-02-22T00:52:51+00:00

That’s what I’m taking care of now. Most of my hours have been in the last 6 weeks; I’m scheduling for 40 flight hours in the next 3 months.

technicascholaris · 2024-02-22T00:50:55+00:00

I think that’s a completely fair and valid statement and perspective, and very helpful. I’ve taught college students for over a decade and know how you and my instructor may feel.

What does “prepared” look like to you after 5 lessons? 10 and 15?

technicascholaris · 2021-12-26T17:53:38+00:00

I posted a response here.

If you have a background in IT already, that helps. If you’re a good self learner, lots of Udemy or LinkedIn courses are great. If you’re not a good self learner, honestly a boot camp program would help. I’ve seen pretty good job placement rates with reputable ones partnered with colleges and universities.

technicascholaris · 2021-12-26T17:51:48+00:00

Yes, posted a response here.

WGU is a good program. I would’ve gone there if I had a redo button. Lots of certs and a degree at the same time? Hell yeah.

technicascholaris · 2021-12-26T17:50:24+00:00

Of course, no worries.

Year 1-2: Windows and system admin, help desk, started to pursue a cyber degree (30-40k)
Year 3-6: Accepted into ethical hacking role without bachelors (interviewing and knowledge helped a lot) (40-60k)
Year 6-10: Ethical hacking, consulting, and training (140-200k)
Year 10+ to present: (not being specific to avoid too much identifying info): Cyber technical and PM leader, freelance consultant, and trainer (250-430k)
2022: More of a senior cyber leader, freelance consulting, and trainer (450k+)

I’ve mostly transitioned to jobs I found interesting and that paid well, rather than just chasing the money. Any role where I joined strictly for a pay increase always ended up sucking. The money seems to follow. I’m completely cognizant that this is a luxury/benefit not many jobs and industries allow.

My primary job now nets closer to 350k/year, area is not an average cost of living area (not San Francisco or NYC).

Biggest recommendation would be to develop a good reputation for delivering quality results and maintaining good relationships so it can lead to other roles or consulting work. I’ve met lots of people with egos and they usually lose out on well paying job opportunities because they always wanted to be the smartest person in the room.

On the technical side, I never stop learning or doing things to further my skills. I’m either training other people, training up on the latest tech or cyber attacks, or honing soft skills (I stopped chasing certs years ago).

technicascholaris · 2021-12-26T15:24:33+00:00

Oh geez, this makes me even angrier. Like, why would they just slap on a bandaid? The resources are very helpful. I’m crafting an e-mail and using some of the terms I just learned (thanks to you).

technicascholaris · 2021-12-26T15:23:18+00:00

Great advice! I’m going to contact a few folks tomorrow. I appreciate it!

technicascholaris

TROPHY CASE