Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Making a list, checking it Twice

Almost everyone makes a list of things to accomplish at some point in time. Whether it’s a grocery list posted on the refrigerator door, a daily list of things to do at work, or a list that Santa Clause has to check twice, most of us use a list to remind us of what needs to be finished. So why not make a list every day? How often do you make a list about what you plan to study, when you plan to earn your next promotion, or the list of things that you want to do in your life? Yes, it could be a bucket list, but why not a daily life adventure list?

All too often we forget that when we make a list and check things off as we complete each item on the list, we are essentially setting goals and accomplishing those goals. So why not expand our daily list to more than just things around the house or office? After you finish reading this short reminder about the value of making a list, take a minute to reflect on the list you made today. Did your list include something fun for yourself, something romantic for the one you love, or some random (planned) act of kindness?

Author: Dr. Eduardo Diaz, helping you exceed expectations.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

There's only 16 hours in a day

Many of us put in 8 hours of work each day. Some of us put in 10 hours and others 16 hours. When the work hours are done what do you do with the rest of your day? Napoleon Hill said that everyday we have 8 hours to work, 8 hours to sleep, and 8 hours to do what ever we want. Jim Rohn said that we can either go to work and work hard at our job or go to work and work hard at improving ourselves. Are you using the hours you have each day to improve your life? What about the lives of others?

Everyday I meet amazing people who are up making a difference. Whether it's an hour here or two hours there, they are online in places like Github, LinkedIn or Meetups sharing their knowledge. They make those 16 hours count. With the knowledge that you have and the ability to make things happen what positive contribution will you make when you only have 16 hours to get it done?

Author: Dr. Eduardo Diaz, helping you exceed expectations.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Tech Evolution

As many of us know technology is constantly evolving. What we use today will change in a matter of months. Even Apple with its upgrades to the iPhone is making changes several times a year as the company continues to evolve. However, once in a while we get an opportunity to witness real game changers. For example, when the flip phone was replaced by touchscreen or when head phones became wireless. Many of the changes that we see happen as a slow progress, but sometimes we are fortunate enough to witness changes that goes beyond the small steps we call upgrades.

For example, yesterday I was invited to a meeting to see first-hand the newest type of data storage system that is about to take the industry of data storage to the next level. Imagine doing away with a bunch of servers that fill up an entire building in order to store data and having the ability to house that same data in one small box. That’s what the newest data storage systems will be. It’s an evolution that could mean great news for Facebook, Google, Yahoo and other tech giants. Instead of these companies having to purchase large buildings to build in their data storage networks they could put one of these small boxes in their office closet and call it a day. Okay, maybe not in a closet because the room would need to be temperature controlled, dust free, etc…you get the idea. Anyway, since I’m not at liberty to go into details about the new data storage system at the very least I will refer you to check out www.apeirondata.com

By the way, if you’re a Golang Developer please send me your resume. My email address is Eduardo.Diaz@acesred.com

Author: Dr. Eduardo Diaz, helping you exceed expectations.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Technology Leaders

In Sacramento, California we are building a team of Technology Leaders. As the group continues to grow it is becoming apparent that there is a significant amount of skills and talent available and eager to get involved. Today was another great meeting. Join our next Technology Leaders Meetup: www.meetup.com/technology-leaders/

Author: Dr. Eduardo Diaz, helping you exceed expectations.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Go the extra mile - Get hired!

As a technology recruiter it’s incredible how often I am asked to click on a link to download someone’s resume or I receive an email referring me to their LinkedIn profile. When you’re contacted by a recruiter, chances are you already caught their attention. Don’t lose their attention by referring them somewhere else. Tools like LinkedIn, GitHub, Blogs, and other resources are ways to direct traffic to you. So when you’re asked to send a resume I recommend that you spend the extra minute to send your latest and greatest updated resume. However, the most surprising response that I still shake my head over is when a candidate is asked to provide a brief paragraph explaining their experience in one specific area. Let me elaborate.

When a recruiter is sending your resume to the hiring manager for consideration it’s because they strongly believe that you have the skills necessary to get the job done. Sure, in some cases it’s possible that you might have one or two other interviews before you get to the final interview stage with the hiring manager, but regardless of where you are in the process, if a recruiter is willing to vouch for you then you should do everything you can to make that process easy for the recruiter.

For example, last week I sent a candidate’s resume to one of the hiring managers for consideration. The hiring manager had a question about a specific skill set that needed clarification and instead of getting on a call and interviewing the candidate the hiring manager wanted it in email format. The candidate was contacted and asked to elaborate on the area in question, but the candidate refused. The candidate explained, “if they don’t understand the acronyms in a resume, then they shouldn’t be the decision maker”.

Let’s understand a few things about hiring managers. They manage resources, projects, timelines, and budgets (to name a few things). If they request clarification on something, I recommend that you provide clarification. When they are asking questions it means that they recognize your skill sets and talent and they just need to understand some additional facts in order to make an informed decision. Just like a LinkedIn profile, your resume is a brief explanation of your skill sets and not the entire presentation. It’s not uncommon to receive additional requests which require you to spend a few extra minutes explaining something in more detail.

If you go the extra mile to respond to questions you could be the one who gets the offer.

Join us Tuesday, March 8 2016 at our Technology Leaders Luncheon. One of our topics include the formula for professional success. www.meetup.com/technology-leaders/

Author: Dr. Eduardo Diaz, helping you exceed expectations.