Conference turris::womannotes-v3

Hi Bonnie,

Have you thought about getting into training? Sounds like a
perfect field for you.

Kathy

    You might also want to ask at:
    
    DEBIT::CAREER
    
    -Jody
    

    I should have known there was a careers notes file. . .
    
    --bonnie

    	Wow, Bonnie - that note sounds familiar, as I'm going through
    something very similar.  The main differences are that I'm
    currently a software engineer looking to move away from
    development, and I've only been doing it for three years.

    	I just took a course last week called "Career Design:  Design
    your Future" (or something like that), that I believe is offered
    in both Littleton and ZKO.  The course was pretty good - it looks
    at setting personal goals, and how you can get down to specific
    action steps to start reaching these goals.

    	For me, I think the biggest problem is knowing what other
    types of jobs would be available at DEC.  My technical background
    is strong, and I don't want to completely get away from that, but I
    want to use my "people" skills more.  Technical sales support was
    also suggested to me as an option.

    	The key thing that was emphasized was to start talking to as
    many people as you can who work in different areas.  They can tell
    you about what they do, and once they get an idea of what you're
    looking for (and it might not be a specific job, but what skills
    you want to use), they might be able to help point you in the
    right direction.

    	As for books that might be helpful, "What Color is Your
    Parachute" by Richard Bolles is usually considered a career
    changer's "bible".  There are a number of exercises in that book
    that some people consider tedious, but others find really helpful.
    I haven't had the time lately to really sit down and work through
    it .  Another book I just picked up but haven't read yet is called 
    "Wishcraft" by Barbara Sher.  Obviously, though, these books
    aren't going to tell you about specific jobs in DEC, if that's
    what you're looking for (like I am).  They still can be helpful in
    really defining skills and goals and things like that.

    	I don't know if this helps any, but you can feel free to
    contact me by mail as well, if you want to talk further.

    	Good luck!

    	amy

    re: .4
    
    Yes, the biggest problem is finding out what other types of jobs
    are available outside the software engineering world . . . 
    
    Does anybody in this file work for technical sales support?  Would
    you mind telling us a little about your job, what you do, what the
    advantages and drawbacks are, that sort of stuff?
    
    --bonnie

    There is a Job Information System in VTX that contains all the job
    descriptions for jobs within Digital.  Granted, a specific job doesn't
    always track 100% with its formal description, but the JIS system might
    be one source of information for Digital employees looking for other
    career opportunities.
    
    Karen

    Ah!  I didn't know about that one.  Thank you very much.
    
    I'd still like to hear about real-life experiences, though.
    
    --bonnie

    G'day,
     Unless you like standing in front of folk day after day, I'd give
    teaching a miss.... It is good to do and rewarding ( Iteach first aid,
    and scouting stuff regularly but I would hate to do it for a living)
    
    If you are good at problem solving, and have learnt from the manuals
    you wrote, then pre-sales support might be worth a go - generally its
    sort of turning customers problems into solutions from a jigsaw of
    software/hardware parts, though you would also need to do demos of s/w
    and hence know how to install stuff etc.
    
    Even sales can be interesting - like pre-sales support, but less
    technical, but you need a good knowledge of the bits...
    
    
    An Analyst position might hold interest. This is understanding the
    problem, and mapping out how it might be solved by s/w (and h/w) and
    translating that into a spec...(simply put)
    
    A lot depends on what you like _most_, meeting people, solving
    problems, worrying about detail of just broad brush...
    
    derek
    ps jobs above greatly simplified - and sales folk need a degree in
    DECology just to understand the price book 8-( so nothing meant by
    'less technical'.
    
    
    

>    solving person with good communication skills and a technical
>    background that's broad but not all that deep.  I know I wouldn't

The micro-world is rich with press and public relations people. In 
short, these people tend to work for PR firms.  They respond to
tech questions from the computer press, or find someone in the company 
who can answer the question. They also court press space. The job
is 70% people, 30% technical.  DEC must have slots like this, 
somewhere between corporate public relations and sales.

Bonnie, you have a very good ear. There are several corporate 
speech writers.  A big drawback, as I hear it, is that the work
day or days before a biggie can get very long and intense. In the long 
term, tho, speech writing may pay boodles if you build a good 
reputation and go "public." (DEC library has some good books on speech 
writing.)

Finally, does DEC have "arbiteurs"?  You regularly come in here, Ms. 
Randall, and commit public acts of sanity and logic. If this is a 
career path, you'd be great.    Meigs

    re: .9
    
    > commit public acts of sanity and logic.  If this is a career
    > path, you'd be great.
    
    Isn't this a drawback when it comes to writing speeches????
    
    --bonnie