I.T. Salary meter

The french website www.Cadremploi.fr, dedicated to managers job ads and news, offers a “salary-meter” based on data provided by companies and applicants.

For information technology positions in Midi-Pyrénées (Region of south-west France), salary-meter results are quite surprising.

According to applicants who have uploaded their CV on this website, their gross annual salary is under 35000€ for more than 50% of them (and close to 60%), and under 30000€ for almost 40% of them (*).

According to companies who have posted job ads, only 25% of salaries are under 35000€, and only 8% are under 30000€.

So, who tells the truth ? I have my own theory about that.


This salary-meter is here (in french) : http://www.cadremploi.fr/emploi/resultat_comparer_salaire?fonction=20500&secteur=70000&region=16&experience=5&niveau_formation=13


(*) For foreign readers who would think these are extremely high salaries, keep in mind that life-cost in France is quite high, that you have to cut them by 23-24% because of different taxes (and even more later with annual income tax “impôt sur le revenu”), and that these jobs require master's degrees and years of relevant work experience.

Happy new year

Bonne année !

Manigong bagong taon !

Feliz año nuevo !

Happy new year !

新年快乐 !

The Finance and the Bank

After speculating for years
The Finance was disappointed
When the recession occurred :
No more wealthy company
To ruin until bankruptcy

So the Finance asked for money
To the Bank, like everyday
Demanding some big amounts
To hide on special accounts
So speculation could dash
While preparing the next crash

"I'll refund you, said the Finance,
In good faith, for instance :
Before the next recession
Capital plus commission"

But The Bank has no more to lend,
For the Finance : this is the end
The Bank asked the Finance
"What the hell were you doing ? "
"For many years speculating,
And also money laundering"
"Speculating ? I have bad news :
It's time for you to sing the blues"

European headhunter

A few days ago, I had a message on my cell phone.

Nothing special about that, until I listened to it : all in English (1), very good accent, the person seemed to be a native English speaker.

But there was a problem : even if I scored high on the TOEIC test, it was almost impossible for me to understand what he meant : it sounded like he was calling from a noisy train in a collapsing tunnel while eating marshmallows.

But I finally got his phone number and the reason for his call : it was about a job in Belgium, for a client whose nationality will forever remain incomprehensible.

I have quite a good CV, but not enough to think that a headhunter from England would call me in France for a job in Belgium.

And I don't intend spending the little money I still have just to call an Englishman who does not know he could have sent me a email, for free, and being sure I would get it.

(1) Keep in mind that I'm in France, and not used to such calls