June 15, 2016 at 11:11 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item What's Your Area of Expertise?
June 16, 2016 at 3:48 am
Interesting article. It leads me to a phenomen I've often seen in the IT industry; people selling in skills they don't posess, calling themselves "experts" in areas they have mediocre skills at best.
If you pretend to know more than you do, it will always lead you into trouble some way or another in the end. You will probably end up overwhelmed with work, something will fail or someone will get upset with you becuase you didn't deliver what they expected. It's best to be absolutely honest about your skills and what you are capable of achieving in a good way.
June 16, 2016 at 4:41 am
Expertise has an expiration date.
I used to know transactional replication like the back of my hand. I'm rustier than a very rusty thing now.
June 16, 2016 at 6:27 am
Agreed! Ha! At 66 I have been an 'expert' on several given areas... However, having had not performed in many of those 'problem domains' for years, no way could I coherently offer to others (let alone myself) some 'solution' to a 'problem domain' I have not performed in for many many years...
So, I do agree, expertise does have an expiration date...
June 16, 2016 at 8:13 am
And that's a scary thing. On a day to day basis you are exposed to the skills relevant to your current job. If you stay too long in the same position any prior skills your current company doesn't use will atrophy.
This means that when considering a new position a wide skills requirement is of value
June 16, 2016 at 8:56 am
Interesting article. At the risk of creating a rabbit trail, my concern is that people will get pigeon holed into being one technology. "Rod has written SSRS reports in the past, let him do any and all other SSRS reports." It's the thing that actors fear, getting type cast.
Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.
June 16, 2016 at 11:10 am
If a business specialist questions how software works, it sometimes indicates the needs have changed and it's time to review the requirements! Nothing is static.
I would say "some" skills expire. My Fortran and RPG skills for instance, are long outdated. However the ability (skill) of acquiring a new programing language or learning new skillsets is alive and well. I think that's more important than a specific language, because it means I could pick those "old" skill back up quickly given a small amount of time.
I work with websites quite a bit these days, and am still amazed at how often I'm asked to give advice on legal verbiage (disclaimers), GUI interfaces (web design) and other things I'm not well versed in. I'm happy to give an OPINION, but I always caveat it with "I'm no expert; you should talk to one!" 😛
Steph Brown
June 16, 2016 at 11:25 am
Agreed!!
June 17, 2016 at 6:40 am
Good article. One thing that often crops up in job advertisements is "must have experience of the finance industry" and a premium is usually paid for candidates who have that experience. It works for me because I was lucky enough to work in that industry, but I often wonder whether it is worth the hirer paying the premium. My more successful solutions normally start with me saying to the user something along the lines of "Suppose I know nothing about what you're trying to achieve...". How many technically good people get turned down for positions on the basis of a lack of business knowledge they wouldn't have needed anyway?
June 17, 2016 at 7:15 am
Good, very good article! Yes, I also want to agree to the expiry date on expertise. When a person is not so in touch with a certain subject then it seems to fall a bit by the wayside. Do not however underestimate that speciality because although you might have to do some reading you will catch up soon.
Steve, regarding the contract I agree, get the right person to do it for you. I lived in a house that had a one bedroom flat (cottage) in the back yard. I wanted to rent it out but went about it the wrong way. Someone would come with a very honest face and long sob story and I believed them. Had all my life's trouble to get them out. Learnt the hard way but got me a contract and learnt to check for credit references, work reference etc.
Manie Verster
Developer
Johannesburg
South Africa
I am happy because I choose to be happy.
I just love my job!!!
December 8, 2016 at 9:16 am
David and Stephanie have nailed it for me. There are many things that were once immediately known to me but have since been mentally filed away. Yet my ability to pick up those skills would likely be greater than most people having to learn it from scratch. Filed or buried. Not lost.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
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