silicon valley – Page 2

Having A Life Shouldn’t Be Optional

March 9, 2015 by Steven Savage

Ever get the impression part of the job search is proving you have no life beyond what you do?

I see it sometimes when I apply for jobs, or hear of it when friends talk about their adventures. Perhaps it comes as a requested link to a portfolio or an example of code or discussion of a project. Sometimes in the interview process – and the application process – you discuss the hobbies you do that are, well, the same as your job.

This isn’t a given everywhere or in every job, but it’s something that keeps coming up. Show people your GIT repository, show them a website that you wrote. Show something that says your life is the same in and out of work.

Hell, *I* emphasize this. It’s great when hobbies combine with your jobs, as it brings fulfillment, shows dedication, and lets you monetize goofing off. But I’m thinking it’s gone a bit too far.

Silicon Valley And Paradoxes

February 16, 2015 by Steven Savage

PuzzlePieces

I often find Michael O Church bracing reading. I don’t always agree with him (we differ both in levels of cynicism and other opinions) but he gets me thinking. Recently he’d posted about how places can’t and shouldn’t want to be the next Silicon Valley since it often didn’t have character, a real sense of place.

I don’t agree with him overall – but the difference is more the intensity of criticism. That got me thinking about Silicon Valley its traits, and living here. It’s a paradoxical place to live and one that can be confusing even when you live here awhile. Nearly a decade after my move I keep finding new facets to it.

Church’s article made me contemplate the way Silicon Valley doesn’t often make sense. What I came to realize is that’s the very nature of Silicon Valley – a mixed bag of paradoxes. Perhaps that’s what makes it what it is, it’s some kind of Schroedinger’s Region that’s one thing or another, letting it sometimes be two opposite things.

Link Roundup 11/19/2014

November 19, 2014 by Steven Savage

Media

A cool resource to find where to watch your favorite media – WhereToWatch.com – get trendy as cord-cutting is really accelerating.
Also – a free archive of 15,000 golden age comics!
The original publisher and author of the Choose Your Own Adventure series has passed away. CYOA novels were quite influential – I remember them, we’ve seen many follow in their footsteps, and they obviously influenced Visual Novel and game development.
Fangirls changed publishing – A look at fanfiction, Twilight fandom, and unique fandom-driven publishing evolutions.

Culture:

Let’s take a look at bias in silicon valley: What it’s Like To Be Black and Female In Silicon Valley and one woman’s story of her experiences.

Economics:

Millennials are unable to save in this economy, and that has repercussions for the future. I’m glad to help any of the Millennials here because, man, we’ve really made it touch on you.
The least affordable housing markets might not be what you think – this is useful for relocation planning.

Cool Tech

A wireless portable updated library? Meet Lantern and The Outernet. Perhaps some of the content could come from the Survivor Library (a doomsdayish-but-useful library on books key to building or re-building civilization)

Job Oppos:

Some Openings in gaming to check out! Also if you’re a cosplayer in Europe Riot games may need you.
Want to work at Google? Here’s a good guide to the tech skills you may need.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach. He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.