Don't Be a Ghost

  • Comments posted to this topic are about the item Don't Be a Ghost

  • Of course, for some people their name will be a problem. Consider myself against a fictional peer who is a developer called Steve Jones but isn't the well respected editor of SQLServerCentral.com. You search for me with my less common combination of forename and surname and you will quickly find my easily identifiable postings here, my website (perhaps that's detrimental), my blog, my LinkedIn profile, my Facebook page, my posting on various other sites e.g. the glorious BBC (weep you Americans at the quality of our TV output!!! - only teasing, please don't flame me), however, our fictional Steve Jones will be hidden amongst all the contents on all the other Steve Jones' and especially behind other's successes.

    This is an issue for some people. Not for others (look at Steve's examples of Jon Skeet and Iris Classon). Suddenly naming your child after a fruit or a piece of furniture might pay off :crazy:

    Gaz

    -- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

  • Do you really want your boss finding your recently updated resume online?

    ...

    -- FORTRAN manual for Xerox Computers --

  • Why bother having resumes when one can use LinkedIn, twitter, and be active on the web at sites like this? Does activity on social media translate to honesty? Paper resumes always had a reputation for fluff and inexact descriptions of experience. Is it the same on social media?

    Tom

  • jay-h (4/16/2013)


    Do you really want your boss finding your recently updated resume online?

    Sure, why not? Employers have to be aware that employees are always looking. It's not a secret that people in I.T. tend to move around.

  • I've received attention, both good and bad from my Internet activities. One problem in the SQL Server community is that certain people expect you to be 110% SQL Server and pro-Microsoft, 24/7. I use a large number of OSS tools in my career and I'm flexible enough to find different solutions to different data/programming/admin problems. Apparently this threatens or confuses certain people.

    :ermm:

  • jay-h (4/16/2013)


    Do you really want your boss finding your recently updated resume online?

    Don't care. My resume should be always updated. That's prudent. It doesn't imply or mean I'm looking for a job or leaving.

  • OCTom (4/16/2013)


    Why bother having resumes when one can use LinkedIn, twitter, and be active on the web at sites like this? Does activity on social media translate to honesty? Paper resumes always had a reputation for fluff and inexact descriptions of experience. Is it the same on social media?

    Tom

    A resume doesn't have to be a paper resume these days. LinkedIn is fine. Just make sure you have it updated.

  • chrisn-585491 (4/16/2013)


    I've received attention, both good and bad from my Internet activities. One problem in the SQL Server community is that certain people expect you to be 110% SQL Server and pro-Microsoft, 24/7. I use a large number of OSS tools in my career and I'm flexible enough to find different solutions to different data/programming/admin problems. Apparently this threatens or confuses certain people.

    :ermm:

    Probably true for some people, but not most. I know lots of bloggers/writers that are well known in this community that manage/use Oracle, Java, etc. along with SQL Server.

  • Steve Jones - SSC Editor (4/16/2013)


    OCTom (4/16/2013)


    Why bother having resumes when one can use LinkedIn, twitter, and be active on the web at sites like this? Does activity on social media translate to honesty? Paper resumes always had a reputation for fluff and inexact descriptions of experience. Is it the same on social media?

    Tom

    A resume doesn't have to be a paper resume these days. LinkedIn is fine. Just make sure you have it updated.

    I agree with that but can potential employers trust what is on LinkedIn any more than they could trust a paper resume in the olden days.

  • I'd reply to this but then I'd stop being a ghost. I wonder if the person hiring you feels the same way about themselves...

  • Am I the only one who finds this idea of 'me as a brand' demeaning and de-humanizing? It seems to me to represent all the worst aspects of crass commercialism, where even people are 'commodit-ized'. In this case we are doing to ourselves! I'm not opposed to working, to working hard, taking pride in fine craftmanship, and when necessary selling my services to a new buyer. But I really do resist treating myself like a new salsa trying get space on a supermarket shelf.

  • LinkedIn says it all.

  • DavidL (4/16/2013)


    Am I the only one who finds this idea of 'me as a brand' demeaning and de-humanizing? It seems to me to represent all the worst aspects of crass commercialism, where even people are 'commodit-ized'. In this case we are doing to ourselves! I'm not opposed to working, to working hard, taking pride in fine craftmanship, and when necessary selling my services to a new buyer. But I really do resist treating myself like a new salsa trying get space on a supermarket shelf.

    I think you're confused about what branding means. It's about making statements about who you are, which aren't necessarily a point in time effort with a resume or an interview. Branding displays what your skills are, how you think, how you solve problems and what you've accomplished. It's not so much about advertising as a push mechanism, but making information available when it's needed. I don't necessarily expect most people's blogs/LinkedIn/etc is viewed except when someone is looking to give you a job, or maybe trying to decide if you get a raise/bonus.

    I'm not sure why you think this is de-humanizing. I would say that it's the opposite. It provides a richness that shows individual people are different, with different skills and fits with different jobs. I think the lack of showing who you are ends up de-humanizing and commoditizing each person.

  • Steve Jones - SSC Editor (4/16/2013)


    jay-h (4/16/2013)


    Do you really want your boss finding your recently updated resume online?

    Don't care. My resume should be always updated. That's prudent. It doesn't imply or mean I'm looking for a job or leaving.

    Exactly, the many huge positives of doing this far outweighs the one possible negative of doing this and someone finfing out. The odds are still definitely in my favor in doing this, irregardless what my boss may think of it, even if he/she did get lucky and find it..The older I get the less concerned I am of what other people may think of what I am doing anyway, including my boss. You are the primary caretaker of you own career, never forget that. There is nothing wrong with being prepared. Why do people execute fire drills when there is no fire? So that when that moment does come, if it ever does, then they are prepared to deal with it. Your preparedness for a career move should be no different:-D

    "Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"

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