Sunday, July 12, 2009
New Job
Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted in months. I intended to keep up and document my job search but life has a way of getting in the way. After about four months, I have landed a great new job. It is with a dynamic company that has been around a while that continues to grow. I am once again a QA manager with two reports. I had up to twelve reports in my last assignment with Fidelity Investments so I'm used to managing. Also, because I like to keep in the detail, working with a small company is great for me. I just need to fight the temptation to put in place processes where they are not welcome. In addition, I am happy to have crossed the divide between Corporate IT and a true software development shop. The company that I have joined is a .com all the way. Without their website there is no company - my main mission is to make sure that the new software introduced is of the highest possible quality. I will try to update this blog as much as possible over the course of this assignment.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Laid off - Day 3
I'm going to stop titling these posts by the number of days laid off. I'll just title them another way. There's something negative about my titling method and I'm learning that it is best to stay positive.
Today I went to lunch with my older daughter and spent most of the remaining time in the library taking the BBST Bug Advocacy final. I will post more on that tomorrow. Also, I sent a resume to a friend at the FusionAlliance. It sounds like a great place to work so I am going to hope for the best.
I started a few new projects today. I am working on a Powerpoint presentation on a model that I developed for Software Risk Analysis and a chart using Senges Limits to Growth pattern to diagram challenges of software testing.
That's it for now. I will post more tomorrow.
Today I went to lunch with my older daughter and spent most of the remaining time in the library taking the BBST Bug Advocacy final. I will post more on that tomorrow. Also, I sent a resume to a friend at the FusionAlliance. It sounds like a great place to work so I am going to hope for the best.
I started a few new projects today. I am working on a Powerpoint presentation on a model that I developed for Software Risk Analysis and a chart using Senges Limits to Growth pattern to diagram challenges of software testing.
That's it for now. I will post more tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Laid off - Day 2
My second day started with a phone call from one of my former engineers. He gave me a number to call in regards to a job opening with a large firm in town. He is dealing with about 7 recruiters and he was informed about the job opening by one of them. I happen to know someone at the company and tried in vain to call her.
Also, I worked on my resume and took my older daughter to school (8) and had lunch with my younger daughter (6). I had a lot of fun at the school and plan to return again. The ladies in the office at the school asked me if I was on vacation and I informed them of my situation. We had a brief conversation about jobs and the economy and then I went back home.
On the way, I called my old boss to see how his day 2 was going. He's working on projects around the house and doing the same old Mr. Mom routine that I am.
I swung by the library and picked up "Bait and Switch" by Barbara Ehrenreich the author of "Nickled and Dimed" fame. The book is about her experience as a "fake" job seeker and details her relationships with career coaches, job search focus groups, and recruiters. I haven't finished it but it is a lot of fun so far. For instance, one of the coaches had her take a personality test that concluded she needs help with writing and the remedy for that is extensive journaling, now that is funny.
While driving around I am coming up with ideas to improve my network and find a job the old fashioned way - by showing up. I'll blog more about that strategy in my next post.
Also, I worked on my resume and took my older daughter to school (8) and had lunch with my younger daughter (6). I had a lot of fun at the school and plan to return again. The ladies in the office at the school asked me if I was on vacation and I informed them of my situation. We had a brief conversation about jobs and the economy and then I went back home.
On the way, I called my old boss to see how his day 2 was going. He's working on projects around the house and doing the same old Mr. Mom routine that I am.
I swung by the library and picked up "Bait and Switch" by Barbara Ehrenreich the author of "Nickled and Dimed" fame. The book is about her experience as a "fake" job seeker and details her relationships with career coaches, job search focus groups, and recruiters. I haven't finished it but it is a lot of fun so far. For instance, one of the coaches had her take a personality test that concluded she needs help with writing and the remedy for that is extensive journaling, now that is funny.
While driving around I am coming up with ideas to improve my network and find a job the old fashioned way - by showing up. I'll blog more about that strategy in my next post.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Laid off - Day 1
I haven't updated this blog since the first post because I was busy trying to add value to my employer that the Technology Far Side is based. However, I just learned last week that the company has decided to consolidate it's IT operations and is closing the site that I have worked for the past 8 years.
So now I join the many, the proud - the newly laid off. I have many insights to share about my company and how it came to the decision to get rid of over 100 dedicated IT employees but they will have to wait. Instead, I'm going to use this space to detail some of my experiences as a newly laid off employee.
1. I don't have to get up early anymore. This means I get to see my two daughters before they go to school and help get them ready. This can be an enjoyable experience when you're not operating on a deadline.
2. It's easier to be nice. For some reason since I am feeling a little vulnerable, it is easier to nice to everyone I see.
3. I can have conversations with my daughters and teach them about life. Sad to say but when I was employed my relationship with my daughters revolved around being a task master and chauffeur. Now since I can get them places but not have to be anywhere myself, I am freely sharing experiences and teaching them concepts that I might have otherwise.
4. My previous job was a huge weight on my shoulders. I didn't realize it but my previous position invaded my private life to the extent that I was always thinking of how to be more creative, how to find more work, how to increase the efficiency of my process, how to increase the efficiency of the people who reported to me.
5. I have time to wash my car myself. I haven't done it yet but I will.
So that's day 1. I hope to post an update everyday so come back and learn more about being newly laid off.
So now I join the many, the proud - the newly laid off. I have many insights to share about my company and how it came to the decision to get rid of over 100 dedicated IT employees but they will have to wait. Instead, I'm going to use this space to detail some of my experiences as a newly laid off employee.
1. I don't have to get up early anymore. This means I get to see my two daughters before they go to school and help get them ready. This can be an enjoyable experience when you're not operating on a deadline.
2. It's easier to be nice. For some reason since I am feeling a little vulnerable, it is easier to nice to everyone I see.
3. I can have conversations with my daughters and teach them about life. Sad to say but when I was employed my relationship with my daughters revolved around being a task master and chauffeur. Now since I can get them places but not have to be anywhere myself, I am freely sharing experiences and teaching them concepts that I might have otherwise.
4. My previous job was a huge weight on my shoulders. I didn't realize it but my previous position invaded my private life to the extent that I was always thinking of how to be more creative, how to find more work, how to increase the efficiency of my process, how to increase the efficiency of the people who reported to me.
5. I have time to wash my car myself. I haven't done it yet but I will.
So that's day 1. I hope to post an update everyday so come back and learn more about being newly laid off.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
First post
The genesis of this blog came about while attending the Indianapolis Workshops on Software Testing where I met Dave Christiansen who has a theory about corporate IT. He postulates that the experience of working in corporate IT is distinct from that of a "real" software company because corporate IT is controlled by the dark side of technology.
The dark side of technology is a place that is removed from profitability and competitive advantage that is why he coined the term "dark side of technology". I believe I understand his point here but after turning this theory over in my head for the past month, I have come to a similar but different conclusion.
Corporate IT, in my experience, is not in the dark side of technology but the far side of technology. Now this is a working theory so please be patient. The term dark side has evil connotations but I don't believe corporate IT is inherently evil but the bureaucracy that amasses in a large company does make it difficult to operate on the bleeding edge of the technological spectrum.
To me the far side of technology better illustrates the point. The near side is where Dave wants to live and work and I believe it is possible to operate there in a large company but it is much easier in a smaller company or a company that is selling software products. On this blog I will endeavor to explain and document my theories on corporate IT and how we can move closer to the near side of technology.
The dark side of technology is a place that is removed from profitability and competitive advantage that is why he coined the term "dark side of technology". I believe I understand his point here but after turning this theory over in my head for the past month, I have come to a similar but different conclusion.
Corporate IT, in my experience, is not in the dark side of technology but the far side of technology. Now this is a working theory so please be patient. The term dark side has evil connotations but I don't believe corporate IT is inherently evil but the bureaucracy that amasses in a large company does make it difficult to operate on the bleeding edge of the technological spectrum.
To me the far side of technology better illustrates the point. The near side is where Dave wants to live and work and I believe it is possible to operate there in a large company but it is much easier in a smaller company or a company that is selling software products. On this blog I will endeavor to explain and document my theories on corporate IT and how we can move closer to the near side of technology.
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