Today I had my new job's first day.
I got out of the house 45 minutes before entry time. I thought that was enough to cover less than 4km (2.3mi). I was wrong: the traffic was so jammed that the bus was crawling between cars.
I managed to get just few minutes late. Not bad as a first day!
Someone was so kind to take me to my office and then my new manager introduced me to at least half of the stuff. I could be damn if I remember a name!
I watched a DVD about security. Really interesting... ok really boring! And after that I started to setup my new box with all the stuff I need to do my job. The most interesting part is that they gave me a brand new 24inch LED display. It's amazing to finally work with a screen that can hold all the windows you need at the same time! I never understood why companies in Italy keep on supplying 17inch screens to their developers: it's so stupid!
I had launch with my new Italian colleague: I was so hungry! I ate a lot so during the afternoon, considering also that the setup of all the stuff was taking a lifetime, I risked to fall asleep. Luckily the exit time came to rescue me! For me was really strange to get home at 6 o'clock. I was used to get back far later. And I was hungry again!
With so spare time in the evening I definitely need to find something like a gym. But let's wait for the first earnings to come in before spending more money: it's so weird and painful to pay pounds with euros! For example yesterday I bought some shirts for a total of 100£ that are 125€! To discover that now I will need to buy also the cuff links!
Showing posts with label developer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label developer. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Friday, May 04, 2012
Looking for a Job in London
This week I started my search for a job.
On Monday I had my first interview. It was a really really long interview lasting 3 hours! I had 2 programming tests and after that a chat with 2 guys, an Italian and an English guy.
I was worried about my English because it's not perfect. But I managed to speak and understand almost everything they asked me. I was quite successful on the interview because the day after the agent called me back because they wanted to see me again for a second interview. So we scheduled a meeting for Thursday.
Meanwhile I kept receiving this calls from other agents. I also had to cancel an application because of the distance.
So yesterday I had this second interview: so another test! Really! I don't like tests! Luckily this was a shorter one even if a question or two put me on a little trouble. Anyway I answered all of them. The manager read the test and without asking me anything he started to call all the other developers. So I met almost the entire development team. They asked few questions about my skills and experience.
Then they started talking to me about the company rules. Here in UK you work 7.5 hours per day and 7 on Friday. They have a dress code from Monday to Thursday but Fridays are casual. Work starts at 9am and ends at 5.30pm. One hour launch break: there are a few places where you can eat hamburgers or some indian or japanese food if you feel brave. I like the company: it's not far from home, there is also an italian guy to have launch together and they have a pool on the rest room: amazing!
I think I made a good impression and they will likely.... no, they will! made me an offer. Let's see what will happen.
This week I also met few people. Actually friends of friends. It feels wierd to have a contact list on your phone of people you do not really know. Anyway you start talking to people and speak about everything and it feels like you have been friends since ages. So I discovered that monday here will be off cause of the bank holiday. And that there will be other two bank holidays at the end of may and in june. I need to start planning holidays!
On Monday I had my first interview. It was a really really long interview lasting 3 hours! I had 2 programming tests and after that a chat with 2 guys, an Italian and an English guy.
I was worried about my English because it's not perfect. But I managed to speak and understand almost everything they asked me. I was quite successful on the interview because the day after the agent called me back because they wanted to see me again for a second interview. So we scheduled a meeting for Thursday.
Meanwhile I kept receiving this calls from other agents. I also had to cancel an application because of the distance.
So yesterday I had this second interview: so another test! Really! I don't like tests! Luckily this was a shorter one even if a question or two put me on a little trouble. Anyway I answered all of them. The manager read the test and without asking me anything he started to call all the other developers. So I met almost the entire development team. They asked few questions about my skills and experience.
Then they started talking to me about the company rules. Here in UK you work 7.5 hours per day and 7 on Friday. They have a dress code from Monday to Thursday but Fridays are casual. Work starts at 9am and ends at 5.30pm. One hour launch break: there are a few places where you can eat hamburgers or some indian or japanese food if you feel brave. I like the company: it's not far from home, there is also an italian guy to have launch together and they have a pool on the rest room: amazing!
I think I made a good impression and they will likely.... no, they will! made me an offer. Let's see what will happen.
This week I also met few people. Actually friends of friends. It feels wierd to have a contact list on your phone of people you do not really know. Anyway you start talking to people and speak about everything and it feels like you have been friends since ages. So I discovered that monday here will be off cause of the bank holiday. And that there will be other two bank holidays at the end of may and in june. I need to start planning holidays!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Baby on board
You see a lot of funny strange things on the tube. For example someone like me sitting alone and laughing. I was looking at my name on the receipt and thinking: this guy has really strange way to write the "i". It's more like an "e". Than suddenly I understood: I spelled my name in Italian!!!! But only the vocals! Stupid boy! It was so funny and I was so tired so I laugh to cry.
Anyway the best for today was this woman sitting in front of me. She had a pin with the underground logo and a notice you usually find beside cars: "Baby on board". I staid a little bit astonished in the first place. Than I understood: she was pregnant! Oh she was so amazing :-)
My research for a room is hopefully coming to an end. I won't say anything until I have the house keys but I hope for best, always expecting the worst of course. Tonight I will sleep in this 12 beds shared room. I already met some interesting people but it won't be a pleasant and quiet night...
Anyway the best for today was this woman sitting in front of me. She had a pin with the underground logo and a notice you usually find beside cars: "Baby on board". I staid a little bit astonished in the first place. Than I understood: she was pregnant! Oh she was so amazing :-)
My research for a room is hopefully coming to an end. I won't say anything until I have the house keys but I hope for best, always expecting the worst of course. Tonight I will sleep in this 12 beds shared room. I already met some interesting people but it won't be a pleasant and quiet night...
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Finding a room in London
Yeah, finding a room in London is A PAIN!!!
First you need to find a website to look for the room. In the Internet era there's no better way and probably the only one.
So I subscribed to uk.easyroommate.com. I also paid to be a premier member and see people's phone number. Wasted money! I never had a reply from anyone on the website and really I spent quite a few hours writing messages email sms and whatever. No way.
So I went to gumtree.com as more than one person suggested to me. This is really the way go. You get the latest advertisements inserted directly from the people renting the rooms. Of course you need to read carefully and pay attention because lot of the ads are from agents. I have no idea what can happen to you with an agent but really, I don't want to pay someone to find a room I can find myself. Of course if you are busy and have a job, than it can be helpful.
Anyway I started calling them by phone. No answers! Argh! What the hell they want me to do? I felt kind of disappointed. Then after some try and fail I finally understood: you need to send them an sms! Probably they have really a lot of people calling them and they can't answer all. Probably they are working and can't answer. With text I started getting replies and now I'm starting to see (or viewing as they say) some rooms. Yesterday I went to see a room near Elephant and Castle. Ok not so near depending if you consider 20 minutes walk "near". The house outside and also the area itself wasn't something you call nice. Anyway the flat and the room inside where really nice and also the landlord was really a kind person.
Today I'm going to see some others rooms and then I will decide. Booking an hostel here during the weekends seems something like a mission impossible. If I won't find a room before Thursday, I will sleep in a 15 beds shared room in some touristic area near some crowded touristic place. I really hope to not need to do this!
First you need to find a website to look for the room. In the Internet era there's no better way and probably the only one.
So I subscribed to uk.easyroommate.com. I also paid to be a premier member and see people's phone number. Wasted money! I never had a reply from anyone on the website and really I spent quite a few hours writing messages email sms and whatever. No way.
So I went to gumtree.com as more than one person suggested to me. This is really the way go. You get the latest advertisements inserted directly from the people renting the rooms. Of course you need to read carefully and pay attention because lot of the ads are from agents. I have no idea what can happen to you with an agent but really, I don't want to pay someone to find a room I can find myself. Of course if you are busy and have a job, than it can be helpful.
Anyway I started calling them by phone. No answers! Argh! What the hell they want me to do? I felt kind of disappointed. Then after some try and fail I finally understood: you need to send them an sms! Probably they have really a lot of people calling them and they can't answer all. Probably they are working and can't answer. With text I started getting replies and now I'm starting to see (or viewing as they say) some rooms. Yesterday I went to see a room near Elephant and Castle. Ok not so near depending if you consider 20 minutes walk "near". The house outside and also the area itself wasn't something you call nice. Anyway the flat and the room inside where really nice and also the landlord was really a kind person.
Today I'm going to see some others rooms and then I will decide. Booking an hostel here during the weekends seems something like a mission impossible. If I won't find a room before Thursday, I will sleep in a 15 beds shared room in some touristic area near some crowded touristic place. I really hope to not need to do this!
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