There's so much to talk to about I'm going to break it up into a series of blogs and have some fun with it; if I ever stop laughing at myself and the world around me, I'll know it's time to hang up my gloves...
Now I've been honored by any number of calls from firms that would like to discuss my qualifications and I'm not going to reward their interest by besmirching their Good Names. If you read something and say "My God!!! She's writing about US!!!", kindly remember I've talked to a lot of people. It's unlikely I've picked you, personally, out of the pack. But if you recognize some of these issues, well, maybe it's a sign you might want to work on your courtship methods. And for those looking for better opportunities, maybe it will help you decide what questions you'd like to have answered before you say "I do.".
I think it would be best to set a little context before I start; what I'm looking for and what Floats My Boat might be different from yours. There are some general considerations when looking for work; money, title, people/environment, and extras. Everyone puts those in a different order.
For me, the job comes first. I have to be attracted to and excited by the opportunity itself. Why is that? Because I have a lot of experience and have been in jobs that paid Very Well Indeed that I didn't like much. The money wasn't worth it. I've had a few jobs where no amount of money would have been worth it. Money is not my primary motivator. I like what I do for a living, and I expect to look forward to getting up and going into work every morning. Since I have a lot of experience, what interests me most are positions that let me me use that experience. I like complex environments with a lot of interfaces, a lot of people, and a lot of problems. I'm used to being in charge and I'm easily bored, so when I say I need challenge, it's not a bunch of hokey applicant BS. Problems are ennervating; that's why I'm in this field.
People and environment come next. When you're interviewing, you need to connect with your interviewer. Sometimes, what they forget is that have to impress you as well. If I don't like the hiring manager or my peers, I'm not going to deliberately put myself into a position where I'd have to work with or for them every day. The environment has to resonate with me. Many of you have "been there, done that", so you know what I'm talking about. Nothing is worse than working for/with people who get on your last nerve. Again, there is no level of compensation that will ever make that kind of opportunity anything but Heinous.
Money is third on my list. It's not my primary motivator, but it IS a motivator. Look, I've got more than 25 years of experience. I'm just not going to be cheap. That's reality. A company doesn't really want or need to hire me if someone with 5 years of experience can do the job. Believe me, I'm not going to be resentful if I don't fit into someone's budget. So it's useless to try to talk me into a ginormous pay cut just for the privilege of getting my foot in the door at (some) company. I'm not 25 years old. I don't want to spend the next 15 years moving up a largely mythical corporate ladder. I've already Done My Time. If I really want the job you have to offer, I might negotiate a little, but generally, if my financial situation reaches critical mass, I'll just sign on with some local consulting firm and consult for a while. I've taken jobs in the past that cut my salary - it has never, not once, been worth it. And promises that salaries will miraculously go up at some unspecified time in the future are pretty much worth the paper they're written on. I know there are a lot of you out there that, if they're temporarily out of work, would and have taken the first thing that popped up. But were you happy about it? Or did you resent it? Did you just stay there, or did you continue looking for something better? There's a lesson there, by the way, for hiring firms. Don't lowball talented candidates. Even if they accept, they won't stay.
Next on my list is title. Titles generally only mean something in relation to other positions at a given company. The primary players in the QA arena should be in keeping with similar positions in the DEV arena. I know the difference between a lead, a manager, a director, and a VP. So the likelihood of me being impressed by a sexy title that any competent senior analyst could handle is slim and none. But I think companies that offer such titles are smart, smart, smart. There are many talented leads out there that would really like the word "manager" or "director" in their title. For me, the job title has to match the job responsibilities. That said, my ego is just as healthy as everyone else's - if the job is great and the money is good, having a sexy title like "Supreme Ruler of the Quality Universe" is a nice, albeit unnecessary, perk.
Last on my list is extras. You can never count on an extra; it's usually the first thing taken away if the company has a bad financial year. I expect "normal" benefits and will actually give up some salary for vacation, but generally anything else is just a "nice to have". I've never had a stock option I could actually exercise and show a profit. Bonuses aren't guaranteed. So I'll be interested in any extras, but they're unlikely to sway me much. There are, of course, some extras that fall into a different category altogether. Hiring bonuses or stock grants are more like money in the bank.
So that's my personal list; how does it stack up to yours? Many people I know put money and title first; some choose people/environment.
Regardless, I hope you'll join me on my safari through the jungle that is the Job Market; coming this next week is:
Quality is Free. Or Not.
No Problems Here, Officer...
A Rose By Any Other Name
Blue Light Special in Aisle 9...
I Smell Brimstone
Save the Baby!
Stenography for Fun and Profit
Job Opportunities in Asswipe, North Dakota
Hope you enjoy it; feel free to add your own experiences!!
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