A bit of good news here: I landed a PT contract gig for the next 3 months. It pays well enough to not stress out about bills for a bit, plus it's good to have something current on my resume while I look for something more permanent. I'll be writing course content in practices I've been doing on the job for the last 5 years, which will be a good refresher for concepts I haven't thought about in a bit. I'm finding that I enjoy teaching these skills maybe more than I like doing them day in-day out which is interesting. The client is *mazon which.. I know, but not the worse thing to have on a resume either.

The only solid FT lead on my plate right now is a state gov't job in Madison, which would require 2-3 onsite days a week. I wish they could be a bit more flexible about that: there is a downtown Milwaukee agency office too which I'd gladly go in for. But we'll see.. I'll go check out their pitch presentation this afternoon.

penningtron wrote: Tue Apr 16, 2024 12:29 pm A bit of good news here: I landed a PT contract gig for the next 3 months. It pays well enough to not stress out about bills for a bit, plus it's good to have something current on my resume while I look for something more permanent. I'll be writing course content in practices I've been doing on the job for the last 5 years, which will be a good refresher for concepts I haven't thought about in a bit. I'm finding that I enjoy teaching these skills maybe more than I like doing them day in-day out which is interesting. The client is *mazon which.. I know, but not the worse thing to have on a resume either.

The only solid FT lead on my plate right now is a state gov't job in Madison, which would require 2-3 onsite days a week. I wish they could be a bit more flexible about that: there is a downtown Milwaukee agency office too which I'd gladly go in for. But we'll see.. I'll go check out their pitch presentation this afternoon.

Right on! Good luck!

3 weeks after the event, I am finally given 3 reasons why. 2 were lies. The other one is not even worth defending, but here I am explaining my “behavior” so I can get unemployment.
I get it. Everyone could use a little kick in the butt to submit more resumes.
The big thing in the university is everyone (even the carpet cleaner) needs a cover letter to explain their commitment to diversity & equity because of course. If you share yours I’ll share mine… (for editing purposes of course)

I had a 2 hour, back-to-back live code challenge yesterday. I feel good about it, but can't say I knocked it out of the park. I was able to get through the first one, which was purely debugging code. The second was a leetcode challenge that I would say I did OK with, but certainly didn't fail. B+ at best. I was able to state my thoughts clearly, show what I understood, and identify where I was struggling. Despite being a pretty daunting interview process (one initial, 3 technicals, one behavioral, and a final with a director of engineering), it's pretty fair and they take into consideration the outcomes of all the interviews. The technicals, while challenging, are very thoughtful and practical in their app.

Just waiting to see if I get to move on past the hard stuff.

Well, a little good news and a first for me. Apparently, I passed the first technical and the interviewer gave an enthusiastic yes, while the other technical I didn't do as well, and I got a "no, but you should give him another shot." The first interviewer carries more weight, because he's the team lead, whereas the second interviewer is on another team and just doing a dry as hell technical. So, the technical recruiter calls me and basically says that everyone really likes me, but I they just need a little more clarity on my technicals so they can advocate for me. I don't think any of the feedback is wrong, it was dead on and even I recognized it. This is a job that is way higher quality than I've had in recent years, and that is the whole reason why I am interested in it.

This is stressful. It's all a combination of interviews having changed quite a bit in the last 5 years or so, that I'm at such a level that I can't just skirt by and every ounce of me matters, and it's pretty clear to me what my gaps are (especially being self taught) and I have a lot of things to learn, despite having a shitload of experience. I've been essentially practicing for a month and a half to get a job like this, and it's already hard to find something of this caliber in the current market.

Anyway, I have a ton of studying to do and as I suspected, it's mine to lose at this point.

Had what turned out to be a phone interview for a government position in the patents office the other day - it was described as a "screening call" to follow up the application but there I was being asked standard interview questions. I had previously applied with these folks and got a technical foul for not meeting one of the stipulations of the process so I am not very optimistic.
Also had the weird experience of being invited to describe what job I could do for a company that doesn't think they really need me - a difficult sell.

I'm befuddled by recruiters who make contact on Linked In to arrange phone calls about jobs but don't actually call. I know it's an employers' market at the moment (in some fields), but it's weird. Are they actually just scamming their own employers by assembling X number of candidates to meet a quota but doing nothing else? Are they fatally scatterbrained? It doesn't seem like a good long term approach.

LuciousSandwich wrote: Tue Apr 23, 2024 9:33 pm I'm befuddled by recruiters who make contact on Linked In to arrange phone calls about jobs but don't actually call. I know it's an employers' market at the moment (in some fields), but it's weird. Are they actually just scamming their own employers by assembling X number of candidates to meet a quota but doing nothing else? Are they fatally scatterbrained? It doesn't seem like a good long term approach.

I'm guessing that must be the case. I haven't gotten ghosted before a call, but plenty of times after. What's worse to me is getting ghosted after doing a round or two of interviews with a company, having actually invested time into it.

I'm connected to a bunch of recruiters on Linkedin and there are a lot of self-pity stories about being stretched thin and I get that, but if it's too much to send someone a 30 second rejection email then fucking spare me. The tables will eventually turn and people don't forget.

penningtron wrote: Wed Apr 24, 2024 5:29 am I'm connected to a bunch of recruiters on Linkedin and there are a lot of self-pity stories about being stretched thin and I get that, but if it's too much to send someone a 30 second rejection email then fucking spare me. The tables will eventually turn and people don't forget.

Seems like there's two types of recruiters out there. The veteran company internal recruiters that are generally good at their job, and the fresh out of business school independent agency influencer-types that post about the boondoggle conferences they're constantly attending and how they're getting bottle service in the club. I'm not sure what those people actually do. Every one of them I've talked to has seemed more like they're just mining me for data and the roles they're sending me aren't anywhere close to my wheelhouse or experience level.

Long shot for y'all who don't live anywhere near Athens, GA, but there's a dev position open in my org:

Location
This position's primary work location is our Atlanta office located at 270 Washington Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30334.
Please visit this link for information on the official USG Teleworking Policy. https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_m ... ment_.pdf
Job Summary
We are looking for a dynamic and forward-thinking Solution Architect / Software Engineer to join our team and lead the transformation of our in-house built web applications into a more sustainable framework, as well as help guide the team in choosing a new content management system (CMS) for our websites. In this senior-level role, you will have the opportunity to drive the development of cutting-edge web applications for our internal clients, while also contributing to the modernization of our development pipeline.
As a key member of our team, you will play a vital role in shaping the future of our web support operations. You'll work alongside a group of talented developers who share your passion for innovation and collaboration. Together, you will develop new custom web applications for our customers and assist with the development of University System of Georgia (USG) websites.
Working for higher education means being part of a dynamic and diverse community that strives to make a positive impact on the state, and in turn, the world. You will also enjoy outstanding benefits, including the Teacher's Retirement System, where you can be vested in a pension plan after just 10 years, and our Tuition Assistance Program, which waives tuition and certain fees. We are committed to fostering a positive work-life balance and creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture.
If you are a driven and talented Solution Architect / Software Engineer with a passion for innovation, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Join our team and help us build a lasting legacy in the world of web development!
Responsibilities
• Architects, evaluates, tests, implements, and supports operation of custom web applications and websites for the University System of Georgia.
• Assists with administration of supported tools.
• Coordinates with customers to develop project designs, plans, resources, and timeframes; researches potential solutions.
• Monitors projects from design to completion; ensures projects meet customer specifications and needs.
• Understands and applies browser specific compatibility issues, facilitates usability testing; ensures implementation of user interface design best practices.
• Responds to service requests; investigates, designs, codes, tests, and develops solutions for web application issues; documents cases.
• Ensures compliance with accessibility standards and style guidelines.
• Monitors changes in technology and related regulations or laws and serves as an expert resource to IT staff and its customers on topics and issues related to technological innovations and developments.
• Administers web applications and websites; manages users, groups, and deploys upgrades and changes.
• Plans and prepares technical reports, memoranda, and instructional manuals as documentation of program development.
• Trains end users.
• Assists in developing long-term web infrastructure plans.
• Researches and identifies new technologies.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge and skill in the use of PHP, HTML5 and CSS3 web standards or comparable programming language(s) and the characteristics of the platforms on which the language is being used.
• Intermediate knowledge and skill in the use of client-server operating systems, including directory structures, file management procedures, and utilities.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of relational databases and of relational database management systems (MySQL and Oracle).
• Code repository & management processes with tools like Gitlab
• Knowledge of IT security and privacy standards.
• Knowledge of web application and web site design and development.
• Skill in oral and written communication with technical and non-technical audiences.
Educational Requirements
• Bachelor's degree and four years of related experience; or a combination of education and related experience.
Preferred Qualifications
• Knowledge of modern software development practices and tools, such as test-driven development principles, continuous integration, version control (GitLab) and virtual environments (Docker, Vagrant).
• Knowledge of front-end frameworks and coding practices to develop device agnostic web applications.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure.
• Knowledge of state and federal web compliance standards and regulations.
• Knowledge of Government, Higher Education and/or Board of Regents and department policies and procedures.
• Commitment to professional engagement and continued development.
• An understanding of accessibility in the development of software and websites.
Proposed Salary
• The salary for this position is $80,000.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University System Office is an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity, and affirmative action institution. It is the policy of the University System Office to recruit, hire, train, promote and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws (including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Sections 503, and 504, ADEA, ADA, E.O. 11246, and Rev. Proc. 75-50).
For questions or more detailed information regarding this policy please contact the University System Office Human Resources at 404.962.3242. Individuals requiring disability related accommodations for participation in any event or to obtain print materials in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources.
Background Check
A pre-employment background check will be required after a contingent offer is accepted. It will include a criminal history, driving record, and education.
Special Applicant Instructions
• Please include a link to an online portfolio or links to examples of your work in your resume or cover letter.