I don’t just write about teleworking, I also live it. I’ve been a telecommuting engineer for Novell since 2001. I write mission critical code and design products that get sold for millions of dollars. It sounds impressive, but I can’t really show anyone my work.
Graphic designers have portfolios, authors have writing samples, and coders show their source code. But I can’t show mine. My code is part of large compliance management products and it’s intellectual property. Software companies are built around intellectual property. If I do good work then I’m adding to their holdings and they’re less likely to want me to show it to other people. It’s a catch-22.
In this economy we all worry about getting laid off and my resume only tells potential employers what I’ve done. I want to show them.
Don’t tell when you can show
Chip and Dan Heath put forth concreteness as the third principal of stickiness in their book Made To Stick. I’ve always heard this advice as don’t tell when you can show. It’s a classic.
But I can’t show my work. I can only tell people about it. Many corporate programmers find themselves in the same position. They did excellent work, but they can’t reveal it to anyone.
Telling someone what you did isn’t very concrete or sticky. Especially since 100 other applicants are going to say the same thing right after you. You have to show them.
My professional programmer blog
I show people what I can do with my professional programmer blog Hackito Ergo Sum. If you’ve never been to MIT the name is pseudo-Latin for I hack therefore I am.
Hackito Ergo Sum is my professional programmer blog. It doesn’t appeal to everyone, but for the programmer managers who might give me a job it speaks volumes. I show them a little bit of what I can do with simple examples, real code, and a cornucopia of nerdy details.
This blog demonstrates to serious programmers that I’m one of them. It speaks the argot of that tribe.
Speak the language of your tribe
Argot is a fancy word for the specialized vocabulary of a group of people. It’s knowing the right slang for a specific group, and it isn’t just for teenagers with made up chatspeak.
You know the language of your tribe. You’re steeped in it. When a communications guru speaks, other communications professionals can tell. You just get a feeling about the person. They show you they’re for real before you have a chance to wonder.
Your blog doesn’t have to speak to the whole world, a few people is enough. It shows your tribe that you can communicate well, excel at your job, and walk the walk instead of just talking the talk.
Your professional blog is must more like an extended resume than a traditional blog, and they really make a difference when you apply for a new job.
Do you have a professional blog? Share the link with here and let us know how great you are at what you do.
