Friday, July 20, 2012

Moving to Tumblr

I've decided to move from Google Blogger to Tumblr.  The Tumblr mobile client is much easier to use.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

How to find an IT or CS job in OC or LA



These are suggestions that have worked for me and/or worth trying.  YMMV.
  • Order business cards.  I recommend using a template which is designed to include a photo, as it makes it easier for employers to remember you.
  • Update your LinkedIn profile.  Detail is good as long as it is specific and relevant.  Make your profile public and searchable.  For example, here's my profile.
  • Recommendations:
    • Get relevant connections to write you LinkedIn recommendations:
      • Faculty advisors
      • Teachers
      • Co-workers (current and former)
      • Clients
      • Vendors
    • Once you have a few good recommendations, copy and paste them into a word document and print that to a PDF.   You should email this document every time you email someone your resume.  You should bring this with you to interviews in addition to your resume.
  • Post your resume on Monster, Dice, and Indeed.  Be ready for a flood of spam, so maybe use a different email address other than your usual email address.
  • Link up with contacts on Facebook BranchOut
  • Search job boards and apply for postings:
  • Paper resume:
    • Make two versions:
      • See if you can get it on one page without making it look crammed, while giving some relevant details.
      • Then make a different version which is two to three pages long with all of the detail from your LinkedIn profile.  
    • Print both versions on high-quality paper using a laser printer.
    • Put your LinkedIn profile URL at the bottom, and when your LinkedIn profile starts accumulating good references, note that with the URL.
    • Have several people review it who are experienced resume reviewers.
  • Recruiters:
    • Contact these people:
      • expanxion
        • 805-496-3500
        • Say 'hi' to Drew Greeley for me -- he got me my current job
      • JobSpring Partners OC
        • (949)553-4200
        • Say 'hi' to David Belsky for me
      • JobSpring Partners LA
        • (310)996-0200
        • Say 'hi' to Rameet Singh and Erin Wilson for me
      • Workbridge Partners OC
        • (949)833-1300
        • Say 'hi' to Cory Eustice and Brett Sterling for me
      • Workbridge Partners LA
        • (310)445-3300
        • Say 'hi' to James Valone for me
    • Ask them at the end of each phone call when you can next follow up -- and if they don't have an answer, ask them if you can call them in a week or two.  Your goal is to be fresh in their minds without being a nudge.  Make sure you follow up.
  • Read up more about resume writing, interviewing, etc. on the Internet.
  • Go to relevant events:
    • Job fairs
    • Alumni meetups
    • User / developer groups:
  • Get your name out there
    • Start a blog with a relevant IT or CS focus (Tumblr and Blogger are great for this)
    • Every time you post on that blog, post a link to Twitter and Facebook
    • Join relevant groups on LinkedIn and get involved
    • Consider contributing to an open-source project on GitHub or SourceForge

FYI #1: a single parent company owns both Workbridge and JobSpring.


FYI #2: I don't receive anything back from these references -- except (hopefully) gratitude from the recruiters if and when I ever re-enter the job market.