life of an engineer

An engineer’s career notebook

David ChandlerBSEE 92

why engineering?

fun to create things

pays better than a truck driver

bad engr job > accounting or HR

lim engr major = ?GPA->0

highly improbable path2 yrs GPS engineer

RUnning a Perfect Web Site, quit job

1 yr consulting (aka losing money)

10 yrs contract (sysadmin, Web dev)

5 yrs Intuit, took 6 mos. off

Google

the rules have changed

29 yrs at one company is gone

Google didn’t exist when I graduated

or the WWW

engr degree gives you the tools to adapt

contracting has its advantages

find a job right for youresearch is awesome (get a PhD)

so is teaching (prepare to travel)

and even tech sales (if you like people)

software companies may treat you better than IT

CA companies are great to work for (2870b)

how to find a jobask people you know

the best jobs find you

post your resume on dice et al

go to user groups (Java, Ruby, etc.)

talk to recruiters (staffing firms)

Finding a Job You Can Love (Mattson)

career fairs

bring me a LONG resume!

that shows you love to code

how to keep your job

you can haz(badSkills || badAttitude)

but not(badSkills && badAttitude)

what will set you apart?learn to dig (on the space shuttle)

never mind the docs, read the src

if you want to be the answer guy,BE THE ANSWER GUY

write a blog, speak at a conf

hardest part is overcoming pride

professional maturityleading edge:

search, find solution posted 3 days ago

bleeding edge:

search, no solution, ask, answered in 3

real programmer:

search, no solution, solve it yourself

professional maturityexpert:

search, no solution, you solve and post

consultant:

other people ask, you solve and post

aging consultant:

search, find solution ... that you wrote

personal maturitya soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger -- Pr 15:1ESV

the one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him -- Pr 18:17ESV

do you see a man skillful in his work? he will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men -- Pr 22:29ESV

keys for success

LISTEN -- experience trumps theory

DIG -- ‘nuff said

LABORatory, not labORATORY