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Frequently asked tech career questions

Chris Dodds on June 11, 2020

I’ve reached the point in my career and have enough gray hair that people sometimes ask me for career advice. Usually they are in tech, trying to m...
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Dennis Ploeger

I'd like to add, that for people seeking DevOps Engineers/SRE:

Don't make a list of technologies! You won't find one who knows all off that plus you're scaring probable applicants on the more female side of the spectrum away (because women statistically usually don't apply for a job if they don't tick all the boxes whereas men apply if they can tick at least one. Art least, that's what Monica Sarbu told me).

And you're basically not searching for Mrs or Mr Right anyway, because the DevOps/SRE scene is dynamic as hell. You're searching for someone who integrates well with your team and has some knowledge in either ops or dev and is keen to learn more. That's the one you need.

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Chris Dodds

+1000
I want applicants to have random-ass experience. I want them to have perspectives and experiences that are different from others on the team. If you hire based on a checklist, you're just going to build the same shit the same way you always have and make the same mistakes over and over.

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Andrew Harpin

Exactly, diversity is critical to innovation!

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Dennis Ploeger

Exactly. Only this will build diverse teams, which we all should try to accomplish

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joskim

Totally loved it..nice info

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This Dot Media

Great to-the-point and honest advice. Thanks for covering + sharing this chris 🙌

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Muhimen

OFF TOPIC: Why is there a monkey picture at the top? 😅

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Chris Dodds

I would counter: Why isn't there a monkey picture at the top of every post?

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Muhimen

😑 Why should anyone use a monkey in the first place?

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Jason C. McDonald

Why not? They might use it for the same reason anyone might use a cat, a cup of coffee, or an ocean view.

(For the record, I love the monkey's self-meditative expression.)

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Muhimen

There is nothing wrong with using (totally) random pictures in the post. But don't you think it will be nice to use more relevant pictures?

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Jason C. McDonald

I don't feel it was irrelevant; it's creative.

I think it would be nice to focus on more important things, really.

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Claudio Araujo Junior

Very simple and coherent. I'm so gratefull to read this. Thanks.

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Jason C. McDonald • Edited

Very, very well written, and entirely true!

Also, ha, I remember Hank the Cowdog! Great books.

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M__

This is very insightful and helpful.

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Andrew Pyle

Really enjoyed reading this, and kudos for getting a George Carlin joke in there 😁

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Danwand

It's cool