Make It So: More Specific Career Panels

Awhile ago I spoke at Con-Volution, a new convention in the Bay Area (we are blessed with cons out here) that was very practically focused. It had a lot of panels examining things in depth, talking specific skills, and getting pretty deep into doing things. I of course took my usual career roadshow there becaus I’m me. You know me.

It also got me thinking. In depth panels? Skill-building workshops? People with career interests. Career Panels?  Hmmm . . .

Right now there’s a lot of separate skillsets you need to do your job search and career building properly. There’s also specific things you have to do to get your career going that are also separate skillsets – making a good resume, for instance. Conventions, which often have “effectively doing stuff” events could have workshops and panels that address these various elements and skillsets. Not just a resume panel here or a website workshop there – instead have as many as possible that cover all aspects of careers.

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Why You’re Stuck With Your Resume

I’m a fan of Laurie Ruettimann over at The Cynical Girl. She’s an HR Pro who seriously knows her stuff, and is willing to discuss said stuff in all of it’s important, cynical, and at times soul-crippling glory. Most of her bag is obviously HR, recruiting, and hiring.

Awhile ago she discussed the fact that, yes you still need a resume. I wanted to add my own thoughts because I’ve been hearing for years that the resume is going to vanish.

It’s not going to vanish.  Trust me.  I think that’s something to talk about in depth.

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Geek As Citizen: To Teach

Last week I discussed how we Geeks should work to archive, organize, republish, and propagate our works – and really to encourage people to do something with what they write (or at least the good stuff). Now back to my speculations on the Geek role as a Citizen (and eventually back to this more specific speculation).

And related to publishing? I think a major role of Citizen Geeks is to teach.

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