Hello Dear JobsBlog Readers,
 
We are rounding out an amazing year of growth, loss, and change in the world of technology. As a part of the people that make up this workforce, I wanted to reflect on 2011 and starting 2012 - another year full of possibilities and products. 

As citizens of the high technology world, this is a chance to think about what you will do in the New Year and what part you will play:

1. Recommit yourself to your job. Maybe you have been thinking the grass is greener but are generally happy with your job. Either recommit yourself to your job – doing the best work possible with a positive attitude -  or recommit yourself to finding a job that will get you to do your best work with the best possible attitude. Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener and I think as a whole we need to be thankful for what we have been blessed with. This is a trait often forgotten in this world of tumultuous talent change. If you’re not there personally, you can take steps to get there.

2. Keep yourself marketable. Complacency is another thing that is so easy to fall into. As we all know the economy is something that is uncertain. Equip yourself with what you need to be marketable – a class, a programming language, a mentor. You know you’re marketable when you meet the requirements for jobs you are interested in and get job interviews and offers if you choose to take it that far. Don’t let comfort and loads of work block you from taking care of yourself and your future.

3. Choose your attitude – I hinted about this earlier. Your attitude towards life and work – you control it and it controls the outcome of your work, job, and sometimes life. I’m not saying to view the world with rose colored glasses but be aware that you control your happiness. Sometimes keeping up with Joneses and getting to the next level are not what you are really looking for. Reexamine what your top priorities are and reinvest your time, energy, and attitude to those things.

Here’s to a happy and successful New Year and may 2012 bring you and your families’ great joy, hope, and true happiness.

-Eugenia

Dear JobsBlog:
How much work detail should I include on my resume? I’m a little late coming to the technology industry though it is my first love and my dream career. Most of my work experience prior to getting my degree and most recent work experience is outside the tech industry. Should I include that on my resume? I don’t want to appear like I am lying, but it may be a bit of a shock for me to walk into someone’s office for the first time. Especially if they are expecting a relatively young person!

-Lots of Experience

Dear Lots of Experience:

I think it’s great that you realize what your true passion is! It will come across in any interviews you go on and I appreciate that you care enough to tailor your resume for your audience. From your question, it sounds as though you recently completed a degree in Computer Science or a related field. A lot of recruiters and hiring managers would like to see your experience if you feel it is relevant to the job you’re applying to. So even if it is outside of the technology world, the fact that you were a program or project manager, a manager of people or teams, or have experience in long range planning or managing huge budgets, those are all traits or skills we love to see in combination with your new degree/skills. 

Tailoring your resume to put those skills front and center and tying that together with personal projects (a technical blog, site, app) you have worked on in the tech world will get you where you want to go. Remember it’s not about who you worked for or what you worked on – the type or scope of work and the quality of work are what you will bring to your next job. If you can find a job where you can carry over your domain expertise – even better.

In the end, we are hiring people. People are not just skills and experience on a piece of paper; we are complete packages with a story. It will be your job to tie those parts of your story and make them relevant to the new job you’re trying to land.

Best of luck to you!
Eugenia

As we enter into the holiday season our lives tend to slow down as family obligations pick up, kids have time off school and we take our own time off to recharge. It only seems fitting that we may also take some time off from a job search. But that's not what Eugenia would say and neither would I. Relaxing over the holidays is one thing, but becoming completely dormant is another. Eugenia offers some excellent advice in this edition of our JobsBlog Rewind for keeping yourself in the game over the holidays.

Happy reading,
Zoe

Dear JobsBlog:
It's almost the new year, and I think I'm ready to change jobs. The problem is I don't know where to start. Any tips to get a software developer like me headed in the right direction?

- New Year, New Job

Dear New Year, New Job:
As you have spare time between parties and seeing family, think about what you are going to do for yourself in the New Year and how you are going to get that job, expand your skill set, or grow technically. Here are some suggestions for taking that first step towards your goal:

1. Pick up a new technology – With some of the down time you have now during the holidays, pick up a book or read up on a technology you have been meaning to learn more about. You can incorporate your new knowledge in a side/pet project or even apply it to your day job if you feel comfortable enough. If you’re in it for the long haul, a class or certification is also a great way to go. Getting deep in a technology if you have the time is very beneficial. Now is your time to keep your skills sharp and at the same time ensuring that you are keeping yourself marketable.

2. Write/Present a white paper or attend a conference – If you are an expert or have something to share with the rest of the people working in your field, write a paper, present it in one of the many conferences going on this year and make a name for yourself or for your work. No one will know how brilliant you are unless you put yourself out there. Experts in your field will take and adopt your work or make your information that much stronger but adding value and input that you may not have previously thought of.

3. Network – Whether it’s joining a fan page, expanding your connections, or making friends, networking is invaluable. You learn things, get a lead on a job, and make friends in the process. If it’s easier start with networking online, you can hit Facebok, LinkedIn, Twitter or even foursquare for that matter. You can see where old friends are, what your colleagues are working on, and get ideas on what your next step might be.

Becoming stagnant in your job and skill set is easy and dangerous. Do yourself a favor and take initiative for yourself in the New Year. You’ll thank yourself down the road and grow from the experience.

- Eugenia

By Eugenia Sawa

Watching the nightly news recently got me thinking about the economy, the NBA lockout, and what the players were doing with all of the extra time on their hands. Then I read a story about Tony Parker and how he is playing basketball in Europe for a sum of money much more modest than his regular NBA salary. As part owner of the club he’s playing for he will also get to learn a few things in the management office. I’m not saying he is a hero nor do I know his true motives for playing in Europe, but – I like his attitude.

When the economy of NBA basketball gave him lemons Tony went to Europe to turn his situation into lemonade. He made the decision to keep his skills sharp, play in a different league, and really think outside of the box in an unexpected move.

How does this translate to the regular world? A lot of this holds true in any job search:

1. Look at your skills set and identify your options – Then see if skills translate into a different field. Some of the machine learning and AI software engineers I have worked with have experience in the biomedical field using their same skills but focusing on genetics or biomedical imaging. Just because you aren’t working in the field of your choice doesn’t mean there isn’t another field or area you can utilize your skills. This requires research, curiosity, and the ability to think outside of the box.
2. Don’t limit yourself to jobs in the big leagues – While most people focus on getting jobs with big name companies or startups, keep an open mind to lesser known and perhaps smaller companies where you have more opportunity to be in the game, keeping and possibly even growing your existing skills. You can expand upon your skill set because you will likely get to wear more hats than you’re used to in this type of environment. A developer job in this type of setting may also require you to do testing, budgeting, or release management work. It’s easier to stretch yourself in this type of situation and the opportunity to do so is greater.
3. Don’t let pay deter you from taking a job even if it is short term – I know this might be tough one. You know what you’re worth in the market and until you find that job that will pay you what you consider market value, it doesn’t hurt to work in a job that pays less than you are accustomed. You are using your skills keeping yourself sharp until you find your ideal job. Recruiters often ask about gaps in employment and while it’s not a deal breaker; it speaks volumes when someone keeps themselves busy and keeps their skills marketable. Tony knows this is a short term move in his long career and knows what he might be worth long term, but despite that, he’s working and learning.

So what does all this mean? Make a list of your skills and see if it translates into a different role. It could be one that you have never thought of and may be something you enjoy. Think differently even if it is out of your comfort zone and don’t limit your options. And the best part? You can do all of this while running a continuous job search for “the” job you’re hoping to land either now or in the near future. So go now – play ball!

-Eugenia

Dear JobsBlog:
I'm only 13, but eventually I want to do something with  technology, probably with Microsoft or Apple. How can I prepare myself? For example, pro athletes at an early age train to prepare themselves, so what can I do?

 - Techie in Training

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Dear JobsBlog:
It's the almost the new year, and I think I'm ready to change jobs. The problem is I don't know where to start. Any tips to get a software developer like me headed in the right direction?

- New Year, New Job

Dear New Year, New Job:
As you have spare time between parties and seeing family, think about what you are going to do for yourself in the New Year and how you are going to get that job, expand your skill set, or grow technically. Here are some suggestions for taking that first step towards your goal:

1. Pick up a new technology – With some of the down time you have now during the holidays, pick up a book or read up on a technology you have been meaning to learn more about. You can incorporate your new knowledge in a side/pet project or even apply it to your day job if you feel comfortable enough. If you’re in it for the long haul, a class or certification is also a great way to go. Getting deep in a technology if you have the time is very beneficial. Now is your time to keep your skills sharp and at the same time ensuring that you are keeping yourself marketable.  

More...

Dear JobsBlog:
I'm looking for a new job, but finding that the longer I look, the rustier I feel.

Any suggestions for good job search techniques that help you to stay sharp and gain visibility even if you don't land your dream job?

-Trying to Keep Job-Ready 

Dear Trying to Keep Job-Ready:
Conferences are a great chance to network, showcase your expertise and learn from domain experts.

Almost every conference has a Career Fair where companies in that domain area attend and look for great new talent. It’s an excellent way to get one-on-one time with a corporate recruiter and see first-hand what type of people work at those companies. 

You can bet that any good corporate recruiter will look at speakers and those who have submitted/are presenting papers to see who’s who amongst the crowd. It’s also a very rewarding way to show off your work to your peers and share knowledge with those passionate in your area of expertise. 

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If you want to work at Microsoft, an important question to consider is: What constitutes quality code?

"Quality code" means so much more than just meeting customer requirements, high code coverage and shipping on time.

 The Cloud, mobile and the online space present new challenges that did not exist in standard packaged software. Our online presence “is” our presence and, as an engineer, you need to ensure a few things to deliver quality.

Read my list of four essentials to writing quality code in this new era:

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