How to get a job (or not)

[warpus]

You could always weave it into math classes. Anyone that can't understand Boolean logic is never going to be a programmer.
Math is still mandatory isn't it?

That does make a lot of sense.The school where I studied had the computer science dept in the faculty of mathematics. The math curriculum was very theoretical in nature, and the computer science stuff was basically just an extension of that. There's a lot of overlap of theories we studied in both disciplines and a lot of courses we took that made you question what "math" or "computer science" even mean.

Students are already being taught simple boolean logic, so take it a couple steps further. Some of the foundation should already be there.

 

[Birdjaguar]

How do you all prepare for performance reviews? As a giver or as a receiver. Stolen from rants thread.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I approach them very similarly to how I approach job interviews. I am enthusiastic, upbeat and on-message. My goal is to create a narrative about how awesome I am and why I should be given more money/responsibility. Some companies ask for a presentation, some don't.

I could say more but I'd just be rehashing what I said in the other thread.

 

[Birdjaguar]

As one being evaluated, you should have goals like that and even include a request to know from higher ups as to how you can be be even more awesome. The less time spent on your complaints the better unless those complaints are posed as suggestions on how the company could improve (rather than on how so and so is a big jerk).

When I was doing evals, I tried to set goals (short and long term) for my folks. Most focused on their job and what they were expected to do, but some were always personal and related to what they wanted to be able to do or how they wanted their career to progress. Personalizing them is easier in small companies than large. I've always been big on setting measurable goals so at eval time we could easily check things off.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Edit: there is no reason an employee couldn't bring measurable goals for an upcoming time period to the table and suggest being measured, in part, on those.

WTH! What happened to my other post?? It showed up on a refresh.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Yeah, sorry, I thought the goals setting/achieved were just assumed to be part of every review so I didn't touch on them.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I do bring up measurable metrics for the coming year but in my experience they don't count for a whole lot. This may be a product of only having worked at 3 different employers in my industry but in the past management has demanded metrics and then refuse to follow through on the rewards when they are achieved. They just kept moving the goal post after the fact and jumped through mental hoops to justify it. This cycle was the direct reason why I left those jobs.

I haven't had a review yet at my new company so we'll see how they handle it.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I think that many companies still use very soft evals without goals that can be measured. Delivering what was promised is always a great strategy.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Oh no that's not my experience at all. The evaluations were expected to be metric based and all rewards were focused on metrics.

 

[Birdjaguar]

If they don't use goals, you can always ask for them anyway. Just make them relevant and aligned with both your work ethic and the company's mission/processes. Tie them to profits or productivity.

Edit: xpost with above.

 

[rah]

I'm in the middle of writing quite a few. I'm a firm believer that if you have to sit down an employee once a year to tell them how they're doing, you're not doing your job the rest of the year. But it's a company requirement. (which in all fairness is officially a year round process, but no one does the official part of it.) but that doesn't mean your employee shouldn't be aware of how you consider their performance.
Yeah, it's nice when you have specific/measurable goals, but I just saw a list of the most monstrous OFFICIAL department goals and not one of them encompassed doing your job. Some things are harder to QUANTIFY. And you must be careful on how you word the goals. One place the presidents goal was to lower the membership/employee ratio. So he fired employees and hired consultants (that didn't go against the ratio) It ended up costing the company big bucks but he made his goal and got a good bonus.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Goal manipulation!!! Oh my goodness; tell me it ain't so.

Yes, the eval process should be pretty continuous, even if casual, all year long so that at the end of the year, there are no surprises on anyone's part.

 

[rah]

so that at the end of the year, there are no surprises on anyone's part.

Exactly. Nothing worse than a poor performer going in thinking they're God's gift to the company.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Yup. I've actually been meaning to have some sort of informal review with my bosses because we don't have 1-1's. The feedback I've gotten is all good but I want a hard steer because I don't want to be that guy.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Ask for them quarterly at least.

 

[rah]

It's funny. Getting close to retirement is so empowering. What are they going to do, FIRE ME. hahahah.
But it has influenced quite a few decisions. I've always been a risk taker but sometimes a tad conservative.
I'm really not afraid of failure anymore and attack a lot of those "pillars that should never be questioned".
Those above me consider it inspired management and are continually saying good things. Too bad, I don't care about power and money anymore at work. Just want to finish it out with dignity. But it is hilarious that I'm really almost giving them the finger and I'm getting praised for it.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Managers -

Is it possible to get into management without taking on longer work hours? If not, what's a typical manager's workload.

 

[Birdjaguar]

It's funny. Getting close to retirement is so empowering. What are they going to do, FIRE ME. hahahah.
But it has influenced quite a few decisions. I've always been a risk taker but sometimes a tad conservative.
I'm really not afraid of failure anymore and attack a lot of those "pillars that should never be questioned".
Those above me consider it inspired management and are continually saying good things. Too bad, I don't care about power and money anymore at work. Just want to finish it out with dignity. But it is hilarious that I'm really almost giving them the finger and I'm getting praised for it.

When you can see the door and are well positioned to push the envelope, it is pretty easy to do. It is even easier if you have someone inside who will carry your "radical" ideas forward after you have left. Just make sure you give them all the tools they will need.

But, don't get too comfortable. I retired in 2016. Spent six months getting used to it and then began mentoring business startups for free through our local 1 million cups events. One thing led to another and connections got me invited to join a Economic Development think tank. We sponsored (in part) a conference for Chinese companies to partner with NM companies and today we just set the dates for our first trip to China (March) where we will be leading an economic development symposium and expect to sell $1-3MM in consulting services to Chinese cities.

 

[rah]

I've already traveled to the great wall, the pyramids, the alps, and many other spots in Europe on Business so not as interesting to me. Travel with the wife to spots she wants to go to. (Hawaii and other tropical islands) And I already have clients if I want to freelance so if I do get bored (not anticipating) But you may be right and I'll get the itch again.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Managers -

Is it possible to get into management without taking on longer work hours? If not, what's a typical manager's workload.

That depends upon the company and its culture. But, don't go into management unless you really like that kind of work, know what you getting into and have some skills in it.