I am Sean Fields

Let me start by saying I really have no reason to write things like this other than to serve my own vanity.  I acknowledge that, and accept it about myself.  If anyone out there is actually reading this stuff, and finding it interesting or useful, then bless you!

As I mentioned in an earlier article, I’m on the job hunt, and have had numerous conversations with recruiters and such.  Interviews, whether phone or face to face, are essentially sales pitches for oneself.  So I’ve been thinking about ways that I can more effectively demonstrate or dictate just what it is that makes me special (with respect to finding a job… I won’t get philosophical here).

So I thought I’d jot down a note to diagram how my little brain works to solve problems.  I make no assumptions that my method is the correct one.  How you get through the world is your business.  This is just how I do it.

When faced with some challenge, whether it be some code project, high energy bill, or an overheating car, the steps break down as follows:

1. Identify the specific problem to be solved
2. Identify the possible causes of the problem (the points of failure)
3. Starting with the simplest, begin eliminating those points of failure until the problem is solved, or until an even more specific problem is identified.

Here’s an example:

A man sits down at his computer to check his email.  He clicks the “Get Mail” button, but gets an error message saying “Cannot connect to mail server”.

Problem: Cannot retrieve email.

The first, and most obvious point of failure is that the computer is not connected to the internet.

Point of Failure: No internet connection

Are other programs (like a web browser) able to retrieve content from the Internet?  If not, then the missing connection is the cause of the current problem.  So, by definition, that problem is solved, and the internet connection becomes the new problem.

Problem: No internet connection

Why is the computer not connected?  Let’s assume this is a desktop computer that’s connected via network cable to a cable modem or DSL router, and that there are other computers similarly connected.  With that in mind, the possible points of failure might be:

1. Is the network cable plugged into both the computer and the router?
2. Is the cable in good condition / not damaged in some way?
3. Are other computers in the house able to access the Internet?
4. Is the router turned on / receiving power?
5. Is the coax cable or phone line that connects the router to the Internet plugged in?
6. Is the subscriber account current in billing (has the bill been paid)?

Odds are, it’s one of those things.  So it’s simply a matter of checking each of those and eliminating them one by one as possibilites until the solution is found.  If all are eliminated, and there’s still no solution, then the problem is something to do with the ISP.  So it’s time to call the company and ask what’s up.

There’s clearly more to it than that, but that’s really the core of it.  Below is a flow diagram that gives more detail.

Critical thinking diagram

I’m a big fan of OmniGraffle, by the way.

admin Random Nonsense

As I noted in my post a few days ago, I’ve officially started my search for other job opportunities.  As some of you out there may have experienced, this has led to several conversations with recruiters.

Now, I’m not bashing on the recruiters, because I know they’re just doing their jobs to the best of their abilities, but I noticed something a long time ago, and the past few days have reminded me of it.

My particular field is riddled with acronyms, abbreviations, and other techno-babble buzz words.  A few years ago, AJAX was all the rage.  Now, people seem to all abuzz about Ruby, JQuery, and Web 2.0 (thankfully, Flex finally seems be finding its way into the lexicon).

As such, opportunites are often presented to me, with a particular focus on some buzz word.  What I’ve never been able to successfully get others out there to understand is that the words, acronyms, even the technologies themselves are just tools.  They are a means to an end.  Whether or not I’m familiar with YUI is ultimately irrelevant.  What is relevent is whether or not I can make a sub-nav doodad slide in from the left.

So I get frustrated because it feels like the criteria for evaluating a talented developer isn’t really structured efficiently.  To me, asking if I know JQuery or YUI is the same as asking a carpenter if he knows how to use a nail gun.  The real question might be, “Do you know how to hang crown molding”.  If he does, then what difference does it make whether or not he uses a nail gun or a hammer (though, as a carpenter myself, I’d strongly recommend using a nail gun)?

My point is, the requirements that are posted for these jobs and mostly likely done so from verbatim instructions by the recruiter’s client.  Things would be so much easier, I think, if people would just stop once in awhile and ask “Why?”.

I do it, and it seems to annoy people.

them:  “We need a guy that knows YUI.”
me: “Why?”
them: “We want to do sliding menus on our new site.”
me: “You don’t need YUI for that.  You need somebody that can code sliding menus.”

Please note:  If any recruiters or potential hirers out there read this article, I sincerely hope you don’t take offense.  My comments are not intended to reflect negative judgement on recruiters, or other hiring personnel.  Rather, it’s a shot against the nebulous nature of this particular industry.

admin Random Nonsense

I’ve been freelancing since December of last year, and I’ve had the fortune of being able to do some pretty interesting things in that time.

The bad news though (and I’m sure this is true for many in my position), is that the world of the independent contractor is very feast or famine.  It’s difficult to handle all the different business roles required to be successful in this arena.  I’m great when it comes to execution of project, but not so good and drumming up new business.

So, I’ve decided that I think I’m just going to find another job.  I’ll miss the freedom and liberty of being able to work in my pajamas, but welcome the idea of predictable income.

Given the past year that I’ve had, I’m also entertaining the notion of relocating to some other part of the country.  I feel like it’s time I shook things up a bit.  I moved to Dallas 11 years ago.  I never really thought that I’d be here for the rest of my life or anything, but I didn’t exactly have a long term plan in mind.

Meh, I’m just rambling.  Back to work….

admin Random Nonsense

Recently, I discovered the wonderful awesomeness that is Red Box.  I noticed the machines at the Wal-Mart in my neighborhood some time ago, but didn’t really pay them much attention until I found myself with nothing to watch one night.  Usually when that happens, I’ll tap into the Video on Demand stuff on Uverse.  They’re pretty good about having the latest DVD releases available, but they’re a bit expensive.  Then I remembered the Red Boxes.  By this time, there was one at the 7-11 6 blocks from my house.

If you haven’t heard of or embraced the concept yourself, I highly recommend it.  What I really like is that you can register on their website and then find and reserve a movie at any Red Box location.

It got me thinking though.  Their payment model is based on credit card transactions.  So, whether you’ve registered or not, you get a movie by swiping a credit card.  You get charged a buck per night that you have the movie.  If you keep the movie longer than 25 days, it stops charging you and you now own the movie. Pretty straight forward.

But there’s a flaw in their model.  They don’t verify maximum available funds prior to distributing the DVD.  In other words, they don’t make sure your credit card has at least 25 dollars on it.  They only authorize and capture the amount for the single transaction at a time.  So basically, an unscrupulous person could buy a $25 Visa gift card that can be registered online to associate it to a physical location (some address / zip code… real or fake), spend $24 on other stuff (leaving a buck on the card), then go rent a movie and never take it back.  That would basically let a person buy a DVD for the the price of one night’s rental, leaving Red Box no avenue for collecting on the rest of the balance.

I wonder if this ever happens to them.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s figured this out.  I dunno.  Maybe they have cameras built into the machines like ATMs or something.

admin Random Nonsense