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Are there relevant trade shows and conferences in your area? Are there professional organizations? Yes, it’s true that sometimes it’s not what you know but who you know. For those without a social or professional network, they have to build one. Most people are not hired through job advertisements. Hiring people by doing interviews is very scary to the interviewer. They are much more comfortable interviewing someone they know or someone who has been referred by a friend or acquaintance. You won’t get a reputation that interests others by just sitting at your desk doing a good job in a misogynistic organization.
Weese, thanks for the encouragement. The photos are all still in the camera, sorry for not posting any yet! As for remaining in a technical role, the money just doesn’t seem to be there. Not unless you can get promoted in the company you’re at. I guess that’s the trick… finding such a company where that can happen.
Robert, you’re absolutely right. It’s always about who you know. And I don’t know anyone. I hate networking. Let’s say I go to a trade show… then what? I’m not going to make friends there, so what will that achieve? I’m just not that outgoing. I’d just get bored of all the seminars and leave. What is the secret to networking when you hate talking to strangers?
Battling shyness is a struggle I know well. It is literally something you have to force yourself to do. Go to a seminar, someone might ask an interesting question and you might be able to strike up a conversation about the topic with that person. Join a local professional organization, not an online group, one with face time. One organization that deals with shyness is Toastmasters. The aim of Toastmasters is to get people comfortable with speaking in public. Don’t worry about being in over your head. Everybody is there for the same reason you are. It is also a valuable place to network because you all share common interests. You won’t get noticed if you just sit in your cubicle doing a good job, especially not in your work environment.
couple things here… first - where are the condo pics. i do so love pics.
ok so about your job.
you know there is nothing wrong with taking a ‘technical’ path. you don’t have to be a manager to move up in a company. if you are not at a company that supports such things, you may consider moving on.
i have actually moved back into a hands on position - and its not so bad. and i have been at this for a long long time
weese | 12.01.2009 | 7:03 AM