On Mon, August 6, 2007 16:23, Hill, Greg wrote: >> - How to be irreplaceable (protect yourself against layoffs). > Switch jobs frequently so you aren't around for the layoffs :D
If I saw on your resume you've never been at one place for more than 2 years, for the last 10 years, I'd have to stop and think. For many complex technical systems it might take you 6-8 months to become proficient in that system. That means I'm going to only get 18 months out of you before you run me through the hiring process again. No thanks. Seems like an easy way to get stuck in a bad situation. >> - What aggravates you about job-searching and/or recruiters in > do development. My thoughts on recruiters are above. Another thing > recruiters can do is quit the "I can't tell you what company this job is > for" crap. I've had recruiters contact me about a job that I had > already applied for. Luckily, it sounded familiar enough that I asked > and found out before they resubmitted my resume. If they'd just been > upfront about it, it would've saved us both a lot of wasted effort. I agree. I understand they are trying to protect their rice bowl. If you are upfront and honest with me you are going to get more milage compared to being secretive. Also, this is a small world. Word gets around about bad employeers fast. I'm going to figure it out sooner or later, so why not just get it out in the open? >> - What do you wish hiring managers and recruiters would "get" that >> they just don't get. > Telecommuting, I disagree with this one. Telecommuting doesn't work for a lot of companies for various reasons. Most managers don't have time to babysit people. There is a mental transformation most of us go through when we walk through the doors at work. There are good psychological reasons to work at a desk surrounded by others who are working. It can also be a big part of the culture. Going to lunch with your co-workers on a last second invite can be very rewarding technically. Remember that a lot of great engineering designs happen on napkins in restaurants. Several people have invented great ideas collaborating with co-workers in impromptu meetings around a whiteboard. There is synergy in talking face-to-face with other geeks. It is where creativity and technology meet. Not that you can't have that in e-mail, but even entirely Internet driven open source projects see huge benefit by core developers meeting face-to-face from time to time. Here is one of my favorite sketches: http://www.digibarn.com/collections/diagrams/ethernet-original/composit-ethernet-sketch.jpg /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
