Video resumes a medium of potential & pitfalls

Resumes are one of the most important components in an individual's professional career. In fact, it is probably one of the most underrated and under appreciated components by a professional.  We often perceive resumes as tools needed only when we are looking for new, or better, opportunities.  In reality, resumes should be viewed as living entities.  Its contents should be constantly monitored and updated.  In fact, an inert resume could be considered a direct link to career suicide. In addition to its contents constantly changing, the actual resume component itself is frequently receiving changes in presentation, style, format, and delivery mechanisms.  The latest and most notable change is in the methods of presentation and delivery.  Recently, the video resume has emerged as an industry buzz for resume presentation.  As a new and innovative way of submitting resumes, it is becoming more and more popular to many.  While this may be a creative way of presenting oneself to potential employers, one must inevitably ask is it in their best interest?

Know when to fold 'em

I'm back.In case you don't follow my personal travails, I've spent the last four months working for security software vendor StillSecure as their Cobia Product Evangelist.  It was a dream job, or so I thought.  The reality turned out to be that it's a dream job, just not my dream job.  Any one with a clear head would have realized that a job titled "Product Evangelist" would be a marketing job.  I obviously did not have a clear head when I took the job, because I would have realized at the time that I'm allergic to marketing and spin. 

Know when to fold 'em

I'm back.In case you don't follow my personal travails, I've spent the last four months working for security software vendor StillSecure as their Cobia Product Evangelist. It was a dream job, or so I thought. The reality turned out to be that it's a dream job, just not my dream job. Any one with a clear head would have realized that a job titled "Product Evangelist" would be a marketing job. I obviously did not have a clear head when I took the job, because I would have realized at the time that I'm allergic to marketing and spin.

Know when to fold 'em

I'm back.In case you don't follow my personal travails, I've spent the last four months working for security software vendor StillSecure as their Cobia Product Evangelist. It was a dream job, or so I thought. The reality turned out to be that it's a dream job, just not my dream job. Any one with a clear head would have realized that a job titled "Product Evangelist" would be a marketing job. I obviously did not have a clear head when I took the job, because I would have realized at the time that I'm allergic to marketing and spin.

IT generalist or specialist? Thrasher votes for specialist

We're taught in school to be well-rounded. HR wants us to have a wide variety of skills. But IT management consultant Harwell Thrasher says that, in the business world, being a generalist is the ticket to mediocrity. "You’re much more likely to achieve career success if you get really good in one area than if you achieve moderate mastery in a number of different areas," he says in the latest edition of his newsletter. This could be considered either common sense -- if you agree -- or contrarian, given the spate of articles about the need for a broad mix of business and IT and soft skills.

IT generalist or specialist? Thrasher votes for specialist

We're taught in school to be well-rounded. HR wants us to have a wide variety of skills. But IT management consultant Harwell Thrasher says that, in the business world, being a generalist is the ticket to mediocrity. "You’re much more likely to achieve career success if you get really good in one area than if you achieve moderate mastery in a number of different areas," he says in the latest edition of his newsletter. This could be considered either common sense -- if you agree -- or contrarian, given the spate of articles about the need for a broad mix of business and IT and soft skills.

IT generalist or specialist? Thrasher votes for specialist

We're taught in school to be well-rounded. HR wants us to have a wide variety of skills. But IT management consultant Harwell Thrasher says that, in the business world, being a generalist is the ticket to mediocrity. "You’re much more likely to achieve career success if you get really good in one area than if you achieve moderate mastery in a number of different areas," he says in the latest edition of his newsletter. This could be considered either common sense -- if you agree -- or contrarian, given the spate of articles about the need for a broad mix of business and IT and soft skills.

Shark Tank: He probably just scanned it

It's time to replace a wide-format scanner/printer that's been serving this city government office for many years, says a pilot fish in charge of the transition. "It has lived well past its useful life, and we're replacing it with a new, faster machine," fish says. And to make sure the transition goes smoothly, fish prepares an e-mail to send to the heads of all departments that used the old machine. The message tells them that the new equipment is coming in, the date it's arriving, the time installation will begin, the time training will begin and class size limits for training.

Shark Tank: He probably just scanned it

It's time to replace a wide-format scanner/printer that's been serving this city government office for many years, says a pilot fish in charge of the transition. "It has lived well past its useful life, and we're replacing it with a new, faster machine," fish says. And to make sure the transition goes smoothly, fish prepares an e-mail to send to the heads of all departments that used the old machine. The message tells them that the new equipment is coming in, the date it's arriving, the time installation will begin, the time training will begin and class size limits for training.

Shark Tank: He probably just scanned it

It's time to replace a wide-format scanner/printer that's been serving this city government office for many years, says a pilot fish in charge of the transition. "It has lived well past its useful life, and we're replacing it with a new, faster machine," fish says. And to make sure the transition goes smoothly, fish prepares an e-mail to send to the heads of all departments that used the old machine. The message tells them that the new equipment is coming in, the date it's arriving, the time installation will begin, the time training will begin and class size limits for training.

Demand for IT security professionals returning to post-9/11 levels

Demand for IT security professionals is approaching levels not seen in the last five years, according to research by Foote Partners. Some boutique consulting firms are already seeing shortages of security personnel, because of the high demand.Bucking a year-long trend in declining pay for IT certifications, security certifications compensation increased nearly 2% over the past six months ending April 1 according to survey research (33,800 US and Canadian participants) released by IT workforce research firm Foote Partners."This [demand] will continue to intensify into 2008. This is great news for IT security professionals and a strong incentive for IT workers who are pondering their careers long term," says CEO David Foote.

Demand for IT security professionals returning to post-9/11 levels

Demand for IT security professionals is approaching levels not seen in the last five years, according to research by Foote Partners. Some boutique consulting firms are already seeing shortages of security personnel, because of the high demand.Bucking a year-long trend in declining pay for IT certifications, security certifications compensation increased nearly 2% over the past six months ending April 1, according to survey research (33,800 U.S. and Canadian participants) released by IT workforce research firm Foote Partners."This [demand] will continue to intensify into 2008. This is great news for IT security professionals and a strong incentive for IT workers who are pondering their careers long term," says CEO David Foote.

Demand for IT security professionals returning to post-9/11 levels

Demand for IT security professionals is approaching levels not seen in the last five years, according to research by Foote Partners. Some boutique consulting firms are already seeing shortages of security personnel, because of the high demand.Bucking a year-long trend in declining pay for IT certifications, security certifications compensation increased nearly 2% over the past six months ending April 1, according to survey research (33,800 U.S. and Canadian participants) released by IT workforce research firm Foote Partners."This [demand] will continue to intensify into 2008. This is great news for IT security professionals and a strong incentive for IT workers who are pondering their careers long term," says CEO David Foote.

Google is evil, or just sick? (and stop getting shot)

Happy Monday's IT Blogwatch: in which Google foolishly makes a political point to sell advertising. Not to mention ha ha ha, you've been shot....Lauren Turner is an Account Planner for Google, responsible for selling advertising "inventory" to the healthcare market:Lights, camera, action: the healthcare industry is back in the spotlight ... Michael Moore’s documentary film, Sicko ... is generating significant buzz and is sure to spur a lively conversation about health coverage, care, and quality in America. While legislators, litigators, and patient groups are growing excited, others among us are growing anxious. And why wouldn’t they? Moore attacks health insurers, health providers, and pharmaceutical companies by connecting them to isolated and emotional stories of the system at its worst....Sound familiar? Of course. The healthcare industry is no stranger to negative press ... Many of our clients face these issues; companies come to us hoping we can help them better manage their reputations through “Get the Facts” or issue management campaigns ... We can place text ads, video ads, and rich media ads in paid search results or in relevant websites within our ever-expanding content network ... As for Sicko, all I can say is -- go easy on that buttered popcorn.

Google is evil, or just sick? (and stop getting shot)

Happy Monday's IT Blogwatch: in which Google foolishly makes a political point to sell advertising. Not to mention ha ha ha, you've been shot....Lauren Turner is an Account Planner for Google, responsible for selling advertising "inventory" to the healthcare market:Lights, camera, action: the healthcare industry is back in the spotlight ... Michael Moore’s documentary film, Sicko ... is generating significant buzz and is sure to spur a lively conversation about health coverage, care, and quality in America. While legislators, litigators, and patient groups are growing excited, others among us are growing anxious. And why wouldn’t they? Moore attacks health insurers, health providers, and pharmaceutical companies by connecting them to isolated and emotional stories of the system at its worst....Sound familiar? Of course. The healthcare industry is no stranger to negative press ... Many of our clients face these issues; companies come to us hoping we can help them better manage their reputations through “Get the Facts” or issue management campaigns ... We can place text ads, video ads, and rich media ads in paid search results or in relevant websites within our ever-expanding content network ... As for Sicko, all I can say is -- go easy on that buttered popcorn.

Google is evil, or just sick? (and stop getting shot)

Happy Monday's IT Blogwatch: in which Google foolishly makes a political point to sell advertising. Not to mention ha ha ha, you've been shot....Lauren Turner is an Account Planner for Google, responsible for selling advertising "inventory" to the healthcare market:Lights, camera, action: the healthcare industry is back in the spotlight ... Michael Moore’s documentary film, Sicko ... is generating significant buzz and is sure to spur a lively conversation about health coverage, care, and quality in America. While legislators, litigators, and patient groups are growing excited, others among us are growing anxious. And why wouldn’t they? Moore attacks health insurers, health providers, and pharmaceutical companies by connecting them to isolated and emotional stories of the system at its worst....Sound familiar? Of course. The healthcare industry is no stranger to negative press ... Many of our clients face these issues; companies come to us hoping we can help them better manage their reputations through “Get the Facts” or issue management campaigns ... We can place text ads, video ads, and rich media ads in paid search results or in relevant websites within our ever-expanding content network ... As for Sicko, all I can say is -- go easy on that buttered popcorn.

Is this the real life, at Google? (Is this just fantasy?)

Caught in a landslide on Thursday's IT Blogwatch: in which a Microsoft re-hire talks openly about life at Google. Not to mention the best way to fix traffic congestion (no escape from reality)...Our anonymous Redmond deep throat opens your eyes:Google provides nearly everything these people need from clothes (new T-shirts are placed in bins for people to grab twice a week!) to food – three, free, all-you-can-eat meals a day.  Plus on-site health care, dental care, laundry service, gym, etc.  Imagine going from college to this environment and you can see how much everyone works....Most people don’t actually have a 20% project.  Most managers won’t remind you to start one....Google believes that developers are, with few exceptions, interchangeable parts ... there are people who’s desks are literally in hallways because there’s no room anywhere else.

Is this the real life, at Google? (Is this just fantasy?)

Caught in a landslide on Thursday's IT Blogwatch: in which a Microsoft re-hire talks openly about life at Google. Not to mention the best way to fix traffic congestion (no escape from reality)...Our Redmond deep throat opens your eyes:Google provides nearly everything these people need from clothes (new T-shirts are placed in bins for people to grab twice a week!) to food – three, free, all-you-can-eat meals a day.  Plus on-site health care, dental care, laundry service, gym, etc.  Imagine going from college to this environment and you can see how much everyone works....Most people don’t actually have a 20% project.  Most managers won’t remind you to start one....Google believes that developers are, with few exceptions, interchangeable parts ... there are people who’s desks are literally in hallways because there’s no room anywhere else.

Is this the real life, at Google? (Is this just fantasy?)

Caught in a landslide on Thursday's IT Blogwatch: in which a Microsoft re-hire talks openly about life at Google. Not to mention the best way to fix traffic congestion (no escape from reality)...Our Redmond deep throat opens your eyes:Google provides nearly everything these people need from clothes (new T-shirts are placed in bins for people to grab twice a week!) to food – three, free, all-you-can-eat meals a day.  Plus on-site health care, dental care, laundry service, gym, etc.  Imagine going from college to this environment and you can see how much everyone works....Most people don’t actually have a 20% project.  Most managers won’t remind you to start one....Google believes that developers are, with few exceptions, interchangeable parts ... there are people who’s desks are literally in hallways because there’s no room anywhere else.

Age discrimination Suit Settled

Best Buy was battling this age discrimination suit since 2004.  While details of the settlement weren't made public, we do know that back in October 2003 and June 2004 Best Buy laid off pretty much all of its 820 IT workers.  Yes, approximately 40 of those stayed on with Best Buy and about 650 of them continued to work at Best Buy's offices, but as employees of another firm.  The rest of the IT force found their jobs eliminated. The problem was not one of those 130 workers was under the age of 40.  Hmm....coincidence?  Apparently not to those workers.  I find it hard to believe that it was by chance that only the older employees were ousted.