Interview expectations

One never knows what to expect in an interview.  I had two interviews today.  One went as expected and since I was prepared I handled it pretty well.  The other, seemed as if the interviewer was not prepared for the interview.  I had the uncomfortable feeling that the person did not know what to ask me and that he was not prepared.  What can you do in this type of situation.  You make the best of it.  You have to lead the person to the right questions without asking them yourself.  You tell about yourself and your accomplishments in the hope of bringing out more questions.

You never know what causes an interviewer to be unprepared.  It could be their first interview.  It could be a last minute substitution for the person who was to do the interview.  One never knows.

Your goal is not to show how awesome you are.  It is to show how well you can do the job they want you to do.  Some people go into an interview and brag about their accomplishments, both in business and personal.  "Yes, you have done much but can you do what we need you to do" is often privately asked by the interviewer.  The interviewer is looking for someone that can do the job and will be a good fit to the organization.

Preparing for the Interview

The most stressful part of the job search process is the interview process.  It's like going on a blind date.  You are wondering if they will like you and worrying whether you will like them.  Are there ways of minimizing this stress?

The most important aspects in the interview process are being prepared and showing confidence.  You have to show them that you can do the job they are interviewing you for.  Being prepared for the interview will add to your confidence.  Show them you are excited about the opportunity.  Maintain eye contact, provide a firm (dry) handshake and smile appropriately (don't maintain a silly side grin throughout the interview).  Realize that the interviewer will not hire the most qualified candidate.  They will hire the candidate they like the best.  The person they feel they can communicate with and will work best on their team.

Career paths

Seven years ago, I left an excellent IT management position to start my own company.  Was this a mistake?  It's easy to look back on it and say yes.  But, is that the right way to look at it?  If my company had succeeded, would I have the same answer?  Of course not.  You can not define the circumstances from which you currently dwell on the decisions of the past.  It's easy to say "if only".  It's much better to say "what's next".

Yes, my IT career, to put it in computer vernacular terms, has to be rebooted.  Few companies will look at an IT manager who has been out of the enterprise environment for 7 years (in IT dog years that is 49 years).  I should only look at what I can control.  What I can control is the direction taken and the skills attained.  Lets move forward.

Finding a path

My route in IT has for the most part been in operations.  That is not to say that I did not spend time programming or performing non-operations related procedures.  It does mean that my career path has been in IT operations.  I started as a Systems Engineer, proceeded to Systems Manager, tacked on Communications and later managed IT operations.  When I started my company it was to help with operational problems.

The problem as one of the recruiters I spoke with mentioned is that there are not many operational positions available right now.  You have a glut of System Administrators and Technicians in the Central Florida region.  IT Operations Manager positions are even rarer.

Should I continue down the route I know and wait for the positions to open or should I consider other options.  I do have some time on my hands now that I am unemployed.  This gives me time to reflect and take a closer look at my skills and things I enjoy doing.  It's hard thinking about redirecting a career but sometimes you have to look at the environment and how it has changed.  I don't want to be the best buggy whip in an age of automobiles.  A little extreme I know.  But in essence, a good time for introspection.

Internet Presence

It is very important it is to have a good Internet presence these days.  Not only do you need to worry about the negative elements but also about the positive elements.  After all, being in the IT field, shouldn't you have a strong Internet presence?  What can you due to increase your Internet exposure?

1. Join a professional online community that best reflects your experience.  For most working professionals LinkedIn is the best choice.  This is a great way to link up with other people you have worked with over the years and provide referrals and recommendations.  Many companies check LinkedIn when researching candidates.
2. Create an online resume.  This is a great way of showcasing work you have done.  Are you a technical writer, programmer, etc. what better way of showing some elements of your work than to associate it with your online resume.  I found a site called http://www.VisualCV.com that lets you create an online resume with a work portfolio for free.  
3. Create a blog.  A blog showcases your writing style and expertise.  You do need to insure that the blog you create remains professional.  There are a number of blogs that are essentially online diaries.
4. Create a webpage.  If you create an online resume you probably don't need your own webpage.  However, if you really wish to showcase your technical competence, creating a webpage will show that you have an excellent knowledge of computer fundamentals.  Your own webpage also allows you to control the design and feel of your online resume.

Be careful what you write in any of these web areas.  Avoid lies and always watch your language.  You are being watched.  The Internet is essentially an open window.  I would rather step in front of it fully clothed.  How about you?

Technical Competency

How do I show technical competency? A programmer can show programs he has written. A web designer can show websites he has designed. Someone in IT operations ...

There are a battery of tests to show a good level of competency. For basic IT proficiency you can take the A+ and Network+ exams. For Microsoft servers you have the MCP, MCSA (old), MCSE (old), MCTS, MCITP. For Cisco you have the CCNA. I could go on and on. Every manufacturer and software vendor seems to have their own set of tests. Are any of these tests worth it?

As a former IT Manager I was well aware of the fact that there were a large number of people taking and passing these tests who had no real experience in the field. Many of them seem to retain their knowledge only long enough to pass the tests. Many hiring managers run through either a serious of leading questions or provide the candidate with their own test. I personally used a technical set of questions when interviewing potential candidates.

So, are any of these certifications worth the time and effort? Yes, a few are worth the effort. While none of the certifications will adequately show your level of competence, in this job market, if you do not have a certification it is unlikely that you will be considered for an interview. From what I can tell, the most highly regarded certifications are PMP, CCNA and either the MCSE or it's new updated version the MCITP.

Head games

I believe the most difficult part of the job search process are the head games we play with ourselves. Whether you are let go layoff or fired due to job related problems, you feel a sense of failure. It is up to you to get past these feelings of inadequacy and move on.

When my business started failing I let worry and a sense of failure overwhelm me. I gained 40 pounds and escaped from reality through TV shows and the computer games. It's easy to try to escape from the situation. The secret to overcoming this situation is to realize that there is no escape. It also reflects in how you interact with people. You have to overcome the obstacles or they will overcome and overwhelm you.

I feel much better prepared mentally to handle the strain of this latest transition. Since the loss of the business I have lost 50 pounds, worked to improve my knowledge base and skill set. I start the day with spiritual, mental and physical exercises. I have my spiritual devotions followed by a run while listening to self help guides. I feel much better about myself and I'm ready to meet these challenges.

Who would you rather hire, the depressed, overweight 43 year old or the trim, energetic and smiling 43 year old. I know who I would rather hire and I know who I would rather be.

Internet name search

Have you ever searched for your name on the Internet? It is highly recommended considering the plethora of information out there. I also saw in a number of job search informational sources that potential employers are now scouring the Internet looking for information about and by potential employees as well as existing employees. We really have to watch what we say. Do you have compromising pictures or messages bad mouthing current or former employers? I believe employers use these searches to determine the technical competency and writing acumen and aptitude of potential hires. Having no information to be found on the Internet would be almost as bad as having too much personal information available.

For me it was more of a curiosity. I did run my own business for 6 years. As hard as you try to please all your customers, there will always be some that will not be happy with your service. Thankfully, I found nothing negative. The most common result was a former jazz musician in San Francisco. I did find my LinkedIn and Facebook entries. It's also interesting what places such as radaris.com will display.

Be careful what you say in either written or verbal forms. It is far better to bite your tongue and keep silent then having to correct what your words have wrought. Especially now in the age of the Internet, what you have written into the public record is next to impossible to eradicate.

In the job market again

What is a former IT manager to do in this labor market. When I had to close my business 9 months ago I had to take a low end technician position to make ends meet. Now due to the continued economic downturn, I was laid off on Friday.

One of the recruiters I spoke with was brutally honest about my prospects. He said "Phil, you have been out of an enterprise level environment for the last 7 years. I know you have excellent experience running a company and have continued to follow technical trends but in this market, there are too many choices for companies to choose from. If a company wants an IT Manager who also has 10 years experience programming and spends his spare time shearing sheep, that's what we find them." I kind of paraphrased his comments a little there.

Where does that leave me. I have three choices. Wait for the occasional position to become available and realize that I will be competing against many others with higher level skills. Take a job at a lower skill level (this is what I had to do to make ends meet these last few months). Retrain in another field. I tried 1 & 2 over the last 9 months while adding additional technical competencies. Not enough to really stand out from the crowd. That leaves retraining.

What can I do that would that would complement the skills and training I have gained over the last 20 years. A friend of mine who is a VP at a large consulting firm mentioned that the biggest area lacking on my resume was programming experience. Another friend at a different consulting firm mentioned a move into project management.

The biggest problem with programming is that I haven't programmed in the last 10 years. Any of the languages that I had any competency with have been overshadowed with stronger languages. It would take me months to reach any sort of competency and experience with any of them. I do agree that I should learn a new language but let's wait till after I have a different position.

Project management is an area to strongly consider. The problem with it is a catch-22 type problem. The positions request certification but in order to get certification you have to have worked in project management. There is a lower level CAPM certification to consider and this is one area under consideration.

I'm considering a third option that would utilize many of my existing skills. The area of technical writing. Yes, it's outside of IT management but it does help to have an excellent level of technical competency to write many of these documents and manuals. My main concern is the fact that I have never written for anyone before and have never worked under a deadline.

We will see how this all plays out. In the meantime, I just need a job to pay the bills.