OV9

My mate works for a large company here which is in the shit now. They outsourced to a company in Africa but continued to tell customers they never shared data outside of the EU. So for many years they shared data outside the EU with no consent, safeguarding or correct paperwork.
The ICO found out recently and my mate hasn’t gone to sleep since Sunday…

Outsourced to Bangladesh, which will probably be very similar to India.

Ok we have a team who can do the work, excellent.

Team are barely qualified, person in charge wore the nicest suit.
First meeting full of promise and buzzwords.
Then questions about basic job things which make people worried.
People inspect work, not good enough.
Convince everyone it's ok.
Convince everyone it's ok.
1 day before the job should be done, someone asks where the office is as everyone was too scared to ask after the first meeting

Dave!

It has been quite a long and tough slog so far, and it has had an impact on my mental health which I've not experienced before.

But, today I've accepted an offer for a role that I'm very excited about. Initially it is a one year contract, however there has been several mentions of them wanting to make it permanent. Not counting my chickens yet, but it is a start.

Like all but one job I've had it came about through interacting with actual humans, not through the 50+ applications, endlessly fighting the automated processes and canned responses, but a chance encounter at an industry networking event.

Eight interviews from fairly junior to two C-levels convinced them I was right for the role.

Bring on the first day!

Great news, good luck with everything.

Well done DJ!

Excellent news Alex

Great news! Congratulations DJ!

Nice one

Awesome! Well done. But eight interviews?!?

Great news! Good luck with the new role and hope it turns out to be everything you want it to be

On the work/redundancy front, my biggest contract which had been ticking over for more than two years wrapped up a few weeks ago. It had been a rolling monthly arrangement for a few days a month, on a decent rate, and was the most stable income I've had over the last couple of years. Basically enough to cover mortgage, bills, food etc, which was like having a basic salary, and took the pressure off my social media income. I had realised that the contract was on borrowed time, and was planning to suggest handing over at Christmas then walking away. They pulled it a few weeks ago, and just as a kicker, October was also my worst month for years on social media income too

However, this is self-employed life, it's always peaks and troughs, and it had been a really strong year until now. The biggest challenge right now is drumming up motivation, because I have to keep churning out the content and smiling on camera, even when it's not paying

Gavster wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2025 4:10 pm October was also my worst month for years on social media income too

Have you considered telling people that drinking tap water gives you MegaAIDS and they should be doing enemas with Fairy Liquid to purge moon bacteria?

Because that's what's seemingly getting clicks. I had a "Dr" on Insta claiming everyone should be drinking a big glass of salt water when they wake up, as overnight when you sleep you lose all your salt, and that's why you struggle with tiredness. Madness.

The temptation to talk shit about food is so real all I need to do is walk around a supermarket telling people how sliced bread is killing you (it's really not) and I'd probably double my audience overnight

Anything we can do to help Gav, (like leaving your videos on repeat)?

Matty wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2025 4:07 pm Awesome! Well done. But eight interviews?!?

I asked. That's their process, they like to get a wide palette of feedback on candidates, and to give candidates a not in-depth view of the business. As a bonus I think they use it to expose the up and coming talent to aspects of more senior roles.

i don't know how well it scales, but the interviews all felt more like a pleasant conversation than a grilling, and they did go to a lot of trouble to schedule them back-to-back to avoid dragging me into London more than twice.

Thank you all! I'm definitely feeling relieved.

Congrats!

IanF wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2025 4:32 pm Anything we can do to help Gav, (like leaving your videos on repeat)?

Thanks Ian, if you do come across any videos then hitting like and sharing to whatsapp (to your own number is fine, basically sharing it off-platform) does help as shares are like crack to the algorithm.

Gavster wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2025 5:35 pm

IanF wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2025 4:32 pm Anything we can do to help Gav, (like leaving your videos on repeat)?

Thanks Ian, if you do come across any videos then hitting like and sharing to whatsapp (to your own number is fine, basically sharing it off-platform) does help as shares are like crack to the algorithm.

From which platform Gav?

DeskJockey wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2025 4:44 pm

Matty wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2025 4:07 pm Awesome! Well done. But eight interviews?!?

I asked. That's their process, they like to get a wide palette of feedback on candidates, and to give candidates a not in-depth view of the business. As a bonus I think they use it to expose the up and coming talent to aspects of more senior roles.

i don't know how well it scales, but the interviews all felt more like a pleasant conversation than a grilling, and they did go to a lot of trouble to schedule them back-to-back to avoid dragging me into London more than twice.

Thank you all! I'm definitely feeling relieved.

Fantastic news, Alex! I flinched at the 8 interviews but if it was more two long interviews with multiple people, that's not too bad, I suppose.

My current contract is ending on 12th December. The market has been flat as a pancake for months so I'm going to need to step up the search and seeing if there are any sidelines to explore.

Excellent news, pleased for you

Dave!

Excellent news, Alex! Pleased for you.


I had my individual consultation meeting this morning and I'll be made redundant at the end of April. I'll take May off and then decide what I'm going to do - probably apply at Monzo, but my redundancy will tide me over for the rest of the year so I can take my time and make sure I get the right role.