In my case, the only reason I started out "talking" online was to build a brand. That realization came from how effortless it was for me to find my current job, almost six years ago.
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| How are your droid-finding skills? |
I should say "was easy" - REALLY easy. I say that it was easy - but it's probably more accurate to say I was lucky. Insanely lucky. I'm sure you'll think so too.
I'd had a bad week at my old job, filled with challenges that I just didn't sign up for. I realized it wasn't likely to get better, so I finally decided I was going to seriously look for options. Not just looking at job postings. Not just uploading a resume on Monster, or Dice. We all do that from time to time. "Seriously" meant I started contacting people in (at that time) my mostly off-line network, and letting them know I was looking.
It's Not What You Know, But Who You Know
I called a buddy from my time in university who is now running a very successful company that provides managed internet access. It was my second phone call in my "help me find a job" contact list. I gave him a fifteen-second redux on what I'd done the past ten years, and the very first thing he said was: "You won't believe this - but a good friend called me an hour ago looking for someone that sounds just like you. Where can he get your resume?" Guess where I'm working now? True story.
Always Be Prepared
After having my eyes opened with that experience, I started to wonder how lucky I was going to be next time. Because there will - more likely than not - be a "next time." Working for someone isn't like marriage - both parties have the option of moving on, just about any time they want to, and for just about any reason. The last time, it was I that decided it was time to change after a ten year ride. The next time, it may be me again - which would give me as much time as I needed to prepare for the change... But it could just as likely be my employer deciding to outsource, reorganize, or change focus.
Think Different
With that in mind, I reviewed my resume, and decided that I didn't like it at all. Why? It looked (to me) like everyone else's. I had education that everyone else had, qualifications (I think) that are easy to get, and experience that didn't sound that special. On top of all that - it was just one piece of paper that was filled only with claims from an obviously biased source - and no evidence. Any time I had reviewed job applicants, the purpose the resume served was to disqualify people - not to qualify them. I always attempted to research their work, test their capabilities, and interview them - both to weed out "exaggerations" on the resume, and to try to discover intangibles that just don't show on paper.
Touching Intangibles
Those claims and intangibles were probably the thing that bothered me most. How could a prospective employer possibly believe it when I say I'm "focused" or "produce quality product"... if they had no evidence of that? How could they even truly believe my own hand-picked references? Wouldn't I pick the best ones, and leave out any possible bad apples? Everyone does. I wanted something that was less prone to hyperbole, and more verifiable.
Bread Crumbs - But More Permanent
For all those reasons, I decided that I needed to leave a more permanent and evidentiary record of my work, so I started to blog. I put more effort into forum posts. I started to publish projects on CodePlex. I started to present to the local user group. Those three things started to lay down an independently verifiable resume for me. If or when the time comes that I (or my employer) decide I should move on, prospective future employers will have more to work with.
15 Minutes Of Fame?
For me, this isn't about being a known "hub of expertise" on the internet, or to develop a cult of personality. Don't get me wrong - I love it whenever someone steps up and says hello at a user group or conference. And a big part of developing my brand is showing that it's not all spin. Being able to point to forum threads, comments on my blog, and discussions on my open-source projects - from you - give me credibility. (Thank you.)
It's not even about "standing out from the pack." I think it would be great if everyone published some sort of professional record that was easy to find. I don't think it would crowd me out - just like I don't think standing in the long shadows of SQL MCM Brent Ozar or SSIS guru Jamie Thomson does. Neither of them want, can apply to (or accept) all the jobs I'd (hopefully) be considered for.
My branding is about giving any possible future employer the ability to easily see historical evidence of technical capability, professional growth, and an insight into how I solve problems - and that I do, in fact, solve some. When or if the time comes, I'll try to do the same kind of checking on their organization, resulting in both of us being comfortable entering into a working relationship.
In SQL Terms: Disaster Recovery
Although this is an UnSQL Friday post, I'll put this in terms most of you will relate to. Building my brand is my DR plan. Ten years ago, my DR plan was like everyone else's - written on paper, with no evidence it would work. By pure luck, it exceeded its design. Now I'm much closer to having a robust DR plan that includes evidence about the work I do. But like all DR plans, this kind of branding needs constant testing and feedback to make sure it's ready. The best part is that all of you are a part of it - and that lets me sleep soundly at night.
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