What on earth do I call my job?
Ok, I've been doing what I do self-employed for over a decade. Identifying myself as "owner" or "management" is easy, but, what should I be calling myself? As in, how should I refer to my actual technical expertise? Mainly - "Computer Scientist" is the only "technical" term I could really identify ... but it sounds, I don't know. Funny and not right.
Let me run through who I am, what I do, and what I've done -
- Started out as a hobbyist when I was a kid ( more precisely ... the disgraced-by-media noble arts of hacking/phreaking. )
- Learned to program on my own ( Fairly decent around age 15ish )
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- Went to college for Computer Science, formalized my skills
- Know a bunch of languages: C, C++, C#, Java, Perl, JavaScript, PHP, ASM
- Played with even more: Ruby, ADA, VB, ActionScript, who knows what else.
- Have done security standards compliance & auditing ( PCI-DSS/PA-DSS )
- Know a large variety of technologies (SQL, HTTP, SMTP, SSL, etc... ) multiple operating systems ( Windows, Linux, Solaris, Minix )
- Know computers from the circuit level, up to the OS. Inside & out. Never met a problem I couldn't fix.
- Can build a pc, repair physical damage (as in remove, replace actual electronics & fix damaged circuitry with a soldering iron, etc )
- If I were to go into what technologies I know and have used, I might be listing for a page or two.
I've seen people running about using package names & library names to describe their skills, say someone throwing around "LAMP" or "AJAX" as a plus. That, in my opinion, doesn't apply to a person with my working skillset, I feel it's below what I know. I know those technologies - but - being familiar with, say STDLIB in C++ isn't really an asset in my eyes, nor would I consider listing some library as one of my proficiencies. To me, a library is a library is a library. Ways of representing data, aren't really anything important in my eyes either.
So, how would I title myself and what I do? Anyone with a similar skillset have any suggestions? I'd love a name to slap on myself. Thanks!
Let me run through who I am, what I do, and what I've done -
- Started out as a hobbyist when I was a kid ( more precisely ... the disgraced-by-media noble arts of hacking/phreaking. )
- Learned to program on my own ( Fairly decent around age 15ish )
--------------------------
- Went to college for Computer Science, formalized my skills
- Know a bunch of languages: C, C++, C#, Java, Perl, JavaScript, PHP, ASM
- Played with even more: Ruby, ADA, VB, ActionScript, who knows what else.
- Have done security standards compliance & auditing ( PCI-DSS/PA-DSS )
- Know a large variety of technologies (SQL, HTTP, SMTP, SSL, etc... ) multiple operating systems ( Windows, Linux, Solaris, Minix )
- Know computers from the circuit level, up to the OS. Inside & out. Never met a problem I couldn't fix.
- Can build a pc, repair physical damage (as in remove, replace actual electronics & fix damaged circuitry with a soldering iron, etc )
- If I were to go into what technologies I know and have used, I might be listing for a page or two.
I've seen people running about using package names & library names to describe their skills, say someone throwing around "LAMP" or "AJAX" as a plus. That, in my opinion, doesn't apply to a person with my working skillset, I feel it's below what I know. I know those technologies - but - being familiar with, say STDLIB in C++ isn't really an asset in my eyes, nor would I consider listing some library as one of my proficiencies. To me, a library is a library is a library. Ways of representing data, aren't really anything important in my eyes either.
So, how would I title myself and what I do? Anyone with a similar skillset have any suggestions? I'd love a name to slap on myself. Thanks!
Dave Baldwin
It can be hard. For all the things I've learned how to do, I have 4 different business cards... What means something to one person doesn't to another.
I don't believe you can pick one single title unless you go with some poorly defined term like "Computer Guru".
The hardware and software parts are certainly separate. The hardware stuff gets names like "Computer Technician" or "Computer Repair Specialist" but knowing several languages would just be "Computer Programmer." Of course, if you are also good at design as well as implementation then "Programming Consultant" or "Computer Consultant" would be good terms to throw around.
Of course, if you write a résumé, then all those words in your first post should be tagged at the end somewhere (read the job posting and put the ones that match what they are looking for first).
The hardware and software parts are certainly separate. The hardware stuff gets names like "Computer Technician" or "Computer Repair Specialist" but knowing several languages would just be "Computer Programmer." Of course, if you are also good at design as well as implementation then "Programming Consultant" or "Computer Consultant" would be good terms to throw around.
Of course, if you write a résumé, then all those words in your first post should be tagged at the end somewhere (read the job posting and put the ones that match what they are looking for first).
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I see others having the same pigeonholing problem as me.
For myself, I'm not trying to stay focused on my hardware knowledge ... I'm more geared towards my logical skills & security skills. Programming, eCommerce Security Analysis - and possibly combination of the two.
My hardware knowledge is something I picked up out of formal training, just tinkering with things - then keeping current with changing tech.
For myself, I'm not trying to stay focused on my hardware knowledge ... I'm more geared towards my logical skills & security skills. Programming, eCommerce Security Analysis - and possibly combination of the two.
My hardware knowledge is something I picked up out of formal training, just tinkering with things - then keeping current with changing tech.
So then, I would keep "consultant" in your title. With respect, I would never use "Guru" in my title.
I like "Business Consultant" and "Computer Consultant". I do not like "Technology Consultant".
This is where a Business Card can really help. Financial Consulting, Technology Consulting, Business Consulting, Accounting Consulting all fit well on a Business Card. ... Thinkpads_User
I like "Business Consultant" and "Computer Consultant". I do not like "Technology Consultant".
This is where a Business Card can really help. Financial Consulting, Technology Consulting, Business Consulting, Accounting Consulting all fit well on a Business Card. ... Thinkpads_User
Yes, the "Guru" word was not intended to be a suggestion for a professional title. I agree that consultant should be in there. "Computer Security Consultant" would be a good title to use sometimes. Several large organizations have had their security violated recently (Playstation, Google) so that's in the front of a lot of CEOs minds. If you say "Business Consultant," you may be expected to have a Business degree or to be able to come up with new names and rebranding but a lot of people will expect to pay you very well.
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Thanks for the input. I'll be splitting my professional personality a couple ways, and focus on what I like doing best.
Thank you. I was pleased to assist and good luck selecting names. .... Thinkpads_User