One by One

Over the years I am sure you have experienced the “never-ending project”—a project, program, or issue that never seems to get finished or resolved. These problems linger from year to year and no one ever seems to find a solution. Worse still, the longer they linger the worse they get. People get angrier, recriminations become nastier and the problem becomes even more intractable. If you want to keep your high-tech career on track, you need to face these never-ending issues head on. It won’t be easy, but it can prevent these issues from haunting you and your career from year to year.

Get with the program

Programming has never been an easy high-tech career path. Whether you are working in a corporate cube farm or on your own, the technical issues of programming languages, data architecture and accessibility issues are trouble enough, but the people issues can be even more challenging. If you are planning on striking off into the programming field, you would do well to consider the following issues.

A Moral Dilemma

This year is sure to bring some interesting moral dilemmas to high-tech workers. The call for increased security, both of the nation and computer systems, is sure to put you in the unenviable position of monitoring the actions of those around you in ways never imagined in America before. As the point person on computer security, many of you will find yourselves having to decide between your career and your own ethics.

Training

There is a myth in the high-tech industry about training. Everyone promises it but very few actually deliver. This points up the fact that while training is seen as an important aspect of any job, most companies simply do not have the time, energy or wherewithal to actually follow through. This is especially true of the small, startup companies where many high-tech workers begin their career. The bottom line for anyone looking for a job in today's market is, don't let yourself be swayed by big promises of extensive training and mentoring. In most cases, it simply doesn't materialize.

W2K: Here we go again

Here we go again. Another Windows upgrade. I know I am not alone among the computer professionals who dread each coming update of Windows, both major and minor. Simply said, we all like new features better performance and bug fixes, but the onerous task of bringing an entire company or a diverse set of clients to the current version of Windows is a Herculean task, if not more of a job for Sisyphus. We are forever rolling the upgrade rock up the mountain only to have it roll to the bottom of the hill where we start all over again.

Resumes

It has often been said that first impressions are the most important and this is certainly true when it comes to applying for a job. We all need to put our best foot (or experience) forward when we make that first knock upon a company's door.
Over the years, certain conventions have arisen about resumes, how they are designed, how they are used and their overall usefulness as an interview tool. Unfortunately, these conventions haven't kept pace with the fast changing job market. I find that most resumes are ill prepared for the rough and tumble job market that faces us as we approach the new century.

Over the course of this month I will offer a new view of the resume and how you can make it work best for you.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead (Parts 1-4)

Over the last 6 months, this column has discussed the various trials and tribulations of starting and maintaining a high-tech career. While it isn?t always the easiest career road to travel, it can be one of the most rewarding. We only need to look around us to see there are far more troublesome jobs out there.
The New Year is always a time of reflection and planning for the future. We reflect on what we have and have not accomplished and attempt to make new plans. You can call them resolutions, but I like to think of them as goals. They are not rules you are trying to follow but important milestones for which to strive. You may not fully reach them but the target they provide helps steer both our personal and professional lives.