Thursday, August 07, 2014

Timeless stuff

http://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/

Focus on the company's bottom line and customer satisfaction. That is your job, not making pretty code.
To get a [good] job, you have to literally put your foot in a door; you must be connected to some person who works at that company.
The amount of money you get is based on the size of the company and your perceived worth. Ask for more than you think you're worth.
Make yourself look good. Talk up your cool projects, wax philosophical about your ideal development methodology, then hammer home how you're focused on the customer, efficiency, and the business's bottom line.
Focus on the key elements in any situation, don't get distracted by minutia, be assertive. Your motto is "restrained, confident professionalism."
"people are hilariously easy to hack" in the way you present yourself, so use all the hacks available. Be the James Bond of CRUD apps.
things not mentioned in the post:
Startups will hire you for positions you might not be qualified for and pay you peanuts for it, but it'll create experience/value/resume filler.
Academic achievement is only significant to people who prize intelligence over productivity. Just know how to get the work they need done and show them that.
Networking in person isn't necessary. Just build relationships.
If you're new, add [real] stuff to your resume to make it seem like you have relevant business experience, and be able to back up whatever you put down.
Don't "work your way up" through some corporate ladder. Just apply for the job you want. At some point you'll get it.