Subj : BuzzWords/BOF/UG (was: How much should I charge for fixed-price...) To : comp.programming,comp.lang.java.programmer,comp.lang.lisp From : rem642b Date : Sat Aug 27 2005 12:22 am > From: Scott Ellsworth > there is a world of difference between "brag and brag and brag > incessantly" and making it clear to the world that you are looking, How do I let potential employers know I'm looking, and able to start work immediately, without letting them know I'm currently umemployed? I got castigated by some people in this thred just because the very first resume I wrote in 1991 happened to mention that I was currently unemployed (3 months at the time) and available to start work immediately. I'm not the kind of person to jump jobs, quit a job before the project is completed, and while they still need me, just because I found a better job at another company, and I don't want any potential employer to think I'm that kind of person. > and bringing certain skills to the party. I have no idea how to express my qualities of work in buzzwords that the junior staff member filtering resumes into trash can would recognize as a reason to select mine to stay out of the can. Do you have any ideas to help me, or do you just like kicking people while they are down and I shouldn't expect you to offer any useful ideas? When I used to have a car and be on the mailing list, I used to attend the BOF meetings at Shorline Park in Mountain View, but I haven't been able to find any announcements of them in recent years, so I haven't been able to attend any, and since late 2003 I haven't had a car to get to them anyway. But back when I did attend, there was no opportunity to talk with other attendees about anything that would help me get a job. Many years ago I went to Macintosh UG meetings, no chance to talk about anything there either. Last year my Java instructor told me about a Java puzzles meeting in the Oak room near Wolfe and Pruneridge, and I did good at solving the puzzles, but the only chance to talk with anyone was just one conversation that lingered afterward and then had to be moved outside so the building could be locked, and none of the conversation was of any use toward employment or inside contacts. I haven't heard of any other Java meeting in this area since then. Lisp UG meetings in this area seem to be secret, no way to find out about them until after the fact. .