Careers: Opinions

Opinions

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Where has IT's passion gone? 09 February, 2010 02:36
A dark aura of angst seems to have settled on portions of the IT community

When was the last time you woke up and wanted to go to work? If you could do anything you wanted, would you be doing what you're doing today? The future of IT depends on how you -- and the people who work for you -- answer these questions.
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Employment referrals the right way 30 June, 2009 13:12
A few simple guidelines can make for a more effective, less stressful referral process.

When competition for IT opportunities is intense, the value of every possible edge is magnified. A recommendation from someone within a potential employer can make the difference between landing an interview and continuing frustration. In many cases, job seekers are calling on the outermost reaches of their networks -- and sometimes beyond -- to find a way in.
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Linux certifications: Hot or not? 15 May, 2009 06:06
Employers want Linux skills, but they don't care much about certifications -- and for some, it is a red flag

With Linux having gained traction in business, certifications of Linux expertise are becoming more popular, similar to how Novell or Microsoft systems certifications became important for those platforms. But some in the Linux community say the emergence of certifications is by no means a golden ticket for admins, and perhaps just a waste of time and money.
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Quick Tips for Negotiating a Severance Agreement 01 April, 2009 08:54
You don't have to be an executive to negotiate the terms of your severance when you get laid off. When HR presents you with a severance agreement and a pen to sign on the dotted line, ask for some time to review it: It's well within your rights, and could make all the difference to you financially. Here's how to play the severance game to your best advantage.

You don't have to be an executive to negotiate the terms of your severance when you get laid off. When HR presents you with a severance agreement and a pen to sign on the dotted line, ask for some time to review it: It's well within your rights, and could make all the difference to you financially. Here's how to play the severance game to your best advantage.
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Keeping Your Job When Others Are Losing Theirs 25 March, 2009 09:46
The co-founder and principal of IT staffing and consulting firm Bluewolf Inc. talks about keeping a job and finding another in the current economic climate.

The co-founder and principal of IT staffing and consulting firm Bluewolf Inc. talks about keeping a job and finding another in the current economic climate.
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Most CIOs 'dinosaurs,' heading for career Ice Age 13 January, 2009 10:32
CIOs are 'out of place and headed for mass extinction'

Most CIOs are dinosaurs: out of place in the world that is taking shape, and headed for mass extinction.
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COBOL and governmental efficiencies 12 January, 2009 08:10
Ditch your COBOL contractors at your own risk, as the Governor of California found out.

Welcome to a New Year. For the US, 2008 saw our 401ks become 201ks, our worries about the price of gas come and go, our house values plummet, our economy implode and our IT budgets shrink. It was not a good year.
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Who will be king of the Geeks? 12 November, 2008 10:09
Very soon the US will have its first chief technology officer. Whom should Obama appoint? Cringely shares some ideas.

Now that the election is finally over, all that's left are about a zillion new government appointments. But I know the denizens of Cringeville are particularly interested in one post above all: who the new administration will call to serve as the nation's first CTO.
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A 100-day plan for your new job 28 October, 2008 07:59
C-level execs aren't the only ones who should plan their first months in a new position

Rebecca Paddock needed a way to prepare for her move from a test engineer job to a systems engineer position. So, inspired by the 100-day plans US presidents historically use when they first take office, she developed a list of tasks to tackle.
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Employee ghosts haunt your systems 24 October, 2008 13:03
What do you do with an employee's leavings? You attempt to exorcise the spirits.

People come and go in your organization all the time. A select few stay for years while others pass through in just months or even weeks. But whether they are lifers or transients, they all leave a digital ghost behind when they exit -- a trail of their interactions with your network and systems.
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Should computer programming be mandatory for students? 03 October, 2008 08:59
Core computer literacy will be essential in the global job market, so maybe it's time to start looking at programming as a baseline skill and not as a differentiator

If Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the State Board of Education have their way, soon every California student will have to pass an algebra test to graduate from the eighth grade.