Comments on: Another Reason to Network

By: David Haimes

David Haimes — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:41:24 +0000

I was at a party at the weekend and when I said I worked for Oracle, people remarked that was a good company to be working for in these uncertain times. That was a flashback to the dot com crash in the space of a few months the talk went from “come join my start up” to are Oracle recruiting that's a good company to be at right now.

@Floyd, I know that book too – it really struck a chord with me. Despite staying at Oracle for 11 years I always ask myself if 1)I am learning new and useful skills and 2)Am I providing some value to my employer. If either of those isn't true you need to change something as soon as possible.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:06:37 +0000

I especially like the development of something new to sell. Being without a job, but in a position of weakness, e.g. when you have a family to support, requires the ability to adapt.

Case in point, I worked as a bartender during my unemployment spates to keep the money flowing. I didn't earn at the same level, but it helped keep the cash coming in and kept me grounded (vs. wallowing in self-pity).

Plus, alcohol is one recession-proof area, even if tips suffer.

By: Floyd

Floyd — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:09:30 +0000

Read a great book years ago called “Die Broke”. The author encourages all employees to “fire themselves”; forget about the employer-employee social contract (because it died decades ago) and consider yourself as a merchant, selling your services to a buyer (your company). I've found this perspective to be a great one, especially when the economy slows down.

Times like these reinforce this “mercantile perspective.” We're all merchants selling services (skills) or goods. When the demand for your service or product falls off, it's time to find new customers or develop something new to sell…or some combination of the two.

Contractors, consultants and the self-employed have have the mercantile perspective close to the forefront of their thoughts. Employees sometimes forget until times get tough…

By: Jake

Jake — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:22:51 +0000

Ah yes, good old TCB. I miss Seinfeld. I know it's syndicated, but it's not the same.

Your point about networking+ is true, and I didn't mean to neglect it. My assumption was that the networking was with people who would find you valuable.

ERP is a useful skill to have, no argument there.

By: badgerworks

badgerworks — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:15:50 +0000

Thanks for your advice and for sharing your valuable experiences. I'd only add substantive sharing/collaboration to your advice to network. I see more than a few folks in my world who get good jobs at places they have already helped solve a problem. So, I'd say after you get a foot in the door by networking, get another one in there by helping out for free. Who wouldn't want to hire who's already helping out? (Of course, you could end up like Kramer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKs6y9_d2ps).

Here is a pretty good article about tech jobs vs. tanking economy: http://snurl.com/4gp6x. It's a good time to be an ERP wonk. We are boring but employable, I guess.