Square pegs

So I know that linkedin was supposed to be my topic, but it will have to wait. And trust me, it will be better because of it. Lots has changed since I last played with it, so I need to learn some more before I pretend to be some sort of expert.


So there is a saying, "You're so dumb that I bet you try to shove a square peg into a round hole" Well what if all you have is the square peg? Or worse yet, you are given a square peg and told to just make it work? Do you laugh and tell the person to get you a different peg? Do you try and force the peg into a hole that clearly it doesn't belong? Or do you then take the peg and start shaving the corners to make it work for your needs?

This is a problem that I recently ran into. I was building a square peg. In my head I knew the client needed a square peg, so I built the peg to specifications that were given to me. When I handed them the peg, they looked at me dumbfounded. But I have a round hole they point out. Well then why didn't you tell me months ago?

This is a common problem when trying to build an application that is supposed to be multi-tennant. You end up trying to build a one size fits all peg. It will never work. So instead you make sacrifices to each person's needs and hope that what you give them will fit.

So in my case I was building a SSRS report. I was working on getting it to render a PDF correctly. Spent a few days getting the SQL to work correctly, then a few days getting the PDF to look right. Hand it off, and then was asked how do I get a CSV of this data... If you wanted a CSV, why didn't you tell me when I first asked what you needed?

 This leads us to the next topic, assumptions. They assumed that I would give them a CSV. I assumed that this report was for some one to see and not need to manipulate. Had we talked about all of the things they needed, then I would have gotten them something much sooner that was what they needed. But now, we both are stuck with this odd peg that just doesn't fit in the hole.

So the lesson to take away from this, talk things out before hand. If you take an extra hour or two in the beginning  you can save days or even weeks in the end.

Google + and you!

So Google+: wasteland or next big thing?

Well neither of those really matters. Here is why you need a Google+.

When you apply for a job here is the chain of events.

You submit an application.
It is read over.
If it is liked, then an interview is scheduled.
Before you get in, those doing the interview will ask if anybody knows you.
This leads to people looking on the internet.
They go to Google.(If they do a Bing search, do you really want to work there?)
Do a quick Google search, and your Google+ profile is at the top.

Oh wait you don't have one? Then what gets found? Something good? Something Bad? Maybe pictures of you in Mexico? Maybe you rescuing children from a burning building?

Without a Google+ there is no guaranteeing what they will find.

Refer back to the Facebook post on what to actually put on your profile page.

That is it, like most things Google it is stupid easy.

This might be a circle jerk...

Oh let's get back to the social media posts for a moment. Next up in line...Reddit. Did I really write that down all those weeks ago? I guess so, so time to write up how you can use Reddit to find yourself a job. Also just some finer points of reddit and good reddiquette.

How Reddit works is that users subscribe to sub-reddits. A sub-reddit is an online community that share a topic of discussion. Everything from gaming to slow cookers, pictures of grilled cheeses, and even my little pony. You think of it, it is out there. So take some time and lurk around, then follow the steps below.

Step one. Create an account. You don't need an account but you do get some great features by doing so. Namely save. You can save posts and come back at a later time to read them. This is helpful so you aren't digging through countless pages trying to find that cute cat photo. Also you can argue with some one when they are wrong on the internet.

Step two. Create a second account. You might be thinking that this is a dumb idea, but it isn't here is why. Most Redditors surf Reddit while at work. Now I know that my personal reddit account has questionable links for the workplace. So I created a second account that is only used for work. That way it has much smaller chance of there being something bad. My work account subscribes to things like programming, powershell, technology, computers, etc. Things that I can almost say I use for work. It is either this, or my boss catches me looking at my little pony porn...agian.

Step three. When you submit a link, do us all a great big favor. Please place the link into the search bar on reddit. Yes search sucks, but it can find links very well. If some one else has posted it, it will be there.

So now you are up and running, but where are the jobs. Well there are a few places to look. Start with your city's sub-reddit. Sometimes people are looking for work there. Or just do a quick google search of reddit for jobs. You will find countless sub reddits in different areas looking for work or workers. Now this is where that having two user accounts comes in handy. 

If you are in charge of hiring. You get a resume from reddit. Things look fine, but you now have the person's user account, you check their profile. Holy shit, they are a mod on /r/spacedicks. Let's not hire this guy. Vs. your second work friendly account that just has you commenting on some posts. You see how that second account can be helpful.

Other than that, reddit is a giant time suck and you will find countless hours flying by while looking at the same gifs over and over and over and over and over and over again.

Oh and there is gonewild.....you should check that out.