Tech Job Hunt Handbook: Career Management for Technical Professionals
Copyright 2012 by Kevin W. Grossman
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ISBN-13 (pbk): 978-1-4302-4548-3
ISBN-13 (electronic): 978-1-4302-4549-0
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This book is dedicated to my father and mother,
my wife, and my daughters. Its a testament
to their work ethic, love, and support, and
a tribute to how my girlsthe B-hive as theyre
affectionately knownkeep my heart abuzz with
hope for the future of work.
Contents
About the Author
Kevin W. Grossman is a human resources and recruiting B2B software-and-services marketing strategist, business development and sales professional, evangelist, entrepreneur, analyst, advisor, manager, and writer. His passion for writing extends over 25 years in the world of work including marketing, HR and recruiting, technology, and higher education. Hes been a prolific business blogger since 2004, and his current website, Reach-West.com, encompasses all things HR, recruiting, and career management. It sometimes even includes a little bit of wit and wisdom. Kevin also speaks at HR and recruiting industry events and moderates HR/recruiting/marketingrelated webinars and roundtables. Hes currently the Director of Marketing at BraveNewTalent, the leading social platform where organizations build talent communities around relevant topics that attract, engage and develop their next-generation workforce. Most importantly, hes a proud father of two beautiful girls and a loving husband to his beautiful wife. He also enjoys reading and running, and he writes regularly about fatherhood, responsible parenting, and domestic violence awareness and prevention.
Acknowledgments
This book would never have been possible if it werent for my amazing wife. Her help with research and reading, her tireless motivation and encouragement, and the way she constantly told me, lovingly, to shut up and drive made this all happen. I could never have completed the book without her. Thank you, Amy. I also want to thank my artist and illustrator friend, Doug Ross, whose fabulous technology-inspired artwork can be found throughout this book. A special thank you to all my brilliant HR, recruiting, career management, and technology industry friends for your insight over the years, especially my Twitter #TChat and world of work co-conspirator, Meghan M. Biro. And lastly, I want to especially thank my editor, Jeff Olson, whos initial e-mail pitching me this book I had considered spam. Thank goodness I called you back. The editorial process youve taken me through has been a journey unforgettable. Thank you.
Behind every decent writer is a damn good editor, a patient but motivating significant other, very smart friends, and the inspirational stories that make up the final one. To all of you IT professionals out there working hard to stay relevant and gainfully employed, I thank you. Keep reaching West, my friends.
Of Daddies, Downturns, and World of Work Dogma
Its a far cry from the world wed thought wed inherit; its a far cry from the way wed thought we share it.
Neil Peart, Writer, and Rock Musician
Where your talent meets the needs of the world, there lies your calling.
Aristotle
Four downturns in, this daddy takes a look back.
I was a teenager during the early 1980s recession, in my twenties during the early 1990s recession, in my thirties during the dot.com bust, and then, in my forties, when the global pool of investment money and financial algorithmic models melted down the worlds economic engine, I became a father to two beautiful little girls.
During the first two recessions I lived in and through, I had steady jobsworking in the produce department at a grocery store in my hometown (and of course living at home since I was in high school), and then working in alumni relations and fundraising at San Jose State University, SJSU, my college alma mater. The third was a promising recruiting software company that became a dot.com demise. This latest downturn involved taking a shot at my own risky business endeavor that then led to various experiments, consulting and writing after leaving a long-time leadership position in a marketing software and services firm. Today I have a new career with an exciting (and always risky) funded software startup out of the UK and Silicon Valley. And Im a writer. Always a writer.