Job Hacking

Evidence of IP theft by China

I don't think most folks in the U.S. really understand the issue of Intellectual Property theft by China. At a very basic level, China simply does not have IP laws, and they flagrantly go after new ideas, new technologies for their own purposes - without giving the originator anything back.

How can I demonstrate this clearly in way that grips you?

How about their use of footage from the movie 'Top Gun' as a propaganda stunt? And I'm not talking about the Volleyball scene, girls.

 

Fruit

I'm a big proponent of adults doing fitness, learning fitness, getting to fitness. I'm kinda thinking that fitness will become a big deal for the U.S. because the Health Insurance Companies will start differentiating our Health Care Insurance rates based on our fitness levels. 

Can you imagine fitness as a broad-based hiring criteria? When businesses pay for health insurance as a benefit, it's a pretty short hop. It's a hiring criteria because it will significantly reduce the overall benefits cost for a business, assuming the Health Insurance Companies start down this path.

But more importantly, it improves your life. Check out this post about a self-started support group for a bunch of women (well, mostly) who are looking to get fitter. 

 

re: Until we meet again...

Networking. We talk a lot about it, how important it is, how it will help your career. Blah, blah, blah.

One thing that is not often stated is what happens on the back end. The chapter that starts, 'Years later...'. Tess put up a great post about this part of networking, and if it doesn't change your behaviors regarding thanking those who helped you up the stairs, you're close to hopeless.

Specialist vs Generalist

Had an interesting conversation with my COO Friday regarding a statement made in a recruiting book which argued that you should hire a specialist, not a generalist for a startup. He said the book had it backwards. At a startup, you should hire a generalist.

I think he's right.

It's like when you go backpacking, and you're selecting your gear. You want the lightest load possible, so if any given piece of gear can do more than one thing, there are obvious weight savings. Thus, you can go further with less fatigue, making the most of your available daylight. 

Under different circumstances, and where you aren't bearing the load, but a boat, 4-wheeler, or car is, this approach is far less necessary. In fact, it might even be detrimental if something which does multiple tasks is lost or destroyed while in the field. Which is why a larger business, which has more funding, more cash, can and maybe should hire specialists. 

But for startups, go for generalists. They'll get you farther, faster for the amount cash burned.

re: Shaping the DNA of a Young Company

Here's a thought provoking article in the NY Times, Shaping the DNA of a Young Company. Real, down to the basics thinking about how to build up the company culture.

An amazing coat

A couple weekends ago, I took a Boy Scout troop out on a weekend overnight up near Cle Elum Lake to make snow shelters. The snow level was at 8,000 feet, we were around 2,200 feet, so it was a bit warmer than expected. Still, we were on the snow, trudging up the trail on snowshoes.

Then, it started to rain. A lot. Over well over 4 inches in the 24 hour period we were there.

Fortunately, I had some good rain gear. Most important, my JakPak. No leaks, no sweating through.

The JakPak is a coat, and a bivy sack, too. 

I think I'll be bringing this piece of gear on more trips!

re: Trust

I'll be thinking about this post about Trust by Penelope Trunk for the coming week, maybe more. 

It reminds me a bit of my emotional reaction to reading the website Project for the New American Century website back in 1999 - 2000. My reaction at the time was that this will be big, even if I disagreed with some of the bases for their arguments. Too much demagoguery, not enough reality. This is what runs up national debts.

Back to Penelope, I agree with her - Trust is big thing. 

The decade ahead feels full of promise and opportunity to me. Too, we'll need to face the challenge of fear, individually, collectively. Trust trumps fear. 

Resume. Speed. Disaster.

I've been pouring through a bunch of resume submissions at work, and have discovered a category you do not want associated with your resume: The hurried submission.

The way this typically comes about is a buddy of yours contacts you and says, "Hey, you know how we've always wanted to work together again, and how you're all impressed with my company? Well, we have an opening that might fit for you. Get me your resume NOW." 

Sending a resume into a company is not the time to show your Quick Draw McGraw act. There are several steps, at minimum, which you should take to make a great first impression on paper:

1. Read the job description. Ask your buddy to send it to you.
2. Check out the company website and the other jobs that they have posted. Read what they say. Think closely about that language. Put a pin in it.
3. Review your current resume.
4. Update your resume, and specifically your current role.
5. Sleep on it.
6. Go back to your resume the next day and then revise it again, this time with an eye towards the language they used as a guide to revising the messaging in your resume.
7. Set the resume aside. Good idea to send it to another friend for an edit pass.
8. Come back to the resume several hours later, and if possible, another day later. Review your resume again.
9. Send the resume to your buddy. Ask him what he thinks about it. Does it mesh with the company? Does it answer the need in the ad? Make sure you tell him to not send it along to the hiring manager until you both agree it's ready.
10. When it's ready, send it.

You might look at these 10 steps and say, "No way, I gotta get this in, the job is going to go fast." Maybe and maybe not. Remember, unemployment is high right now. Employers do not NEED to rush, so they won't. They know that making a bad hiring decision now is much worse later. They are taking their time. And so should you.

re: Another ding against The Ladders

Cynical Girl posts up some good reasons to avoid The Ladders for both job hunters and folks looking to hire. 

I'll give you another possibility, call it a hypothesis: ROI of using a given job posting service. My guess is that for entry- to mid-level roles, Craigslist comes out on top. So, why use a high-price job board that doesn't give you value?

re: Strangers in our midst

Robert Cringely gives us a little insight into his earlier life today.

Sounds a bit far afield for a conversation about Management, but since Managers hire people, lead people, and fire people, this topic is smack-dab in the middle of what Managers are responsible for.

I don't know of a Manager who has been hiring people or leading people for long who doesn't have at least one story of a crazy staffer, or a colleague who has a medical condition that is undiagnosed, or just someone who had a run of bad luck and got pushed a little too far. Dealing with these situations is one of the great arts in leadership.

"That’s the way it is with people who are pains in the ass, and all the more reason to know them best of all."