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Oct. 16th, 2015 10:33 pmSo... one of the jobs I do best is SQL Server support. It plays to all of my strengths. I'm smart, and able to learn a lot of interesting specifics, gaining a deep and broad knowledge of a subject. I get to tell people to check X, Y, and Z reports every day, or change their development procedures in A, B, or C ways - I don't have to follow through on the grind.
Oh, I can do the day to day grind, if I have to - if, in return, I get to stretch my mental muscles once in a while. And if I'm getting paid really well.
Well, I've been contracting at the job for two and a half years. The contract is up at the end of the year.
Now, sometimes this doesn't bother me. I'm damn good at SQL Server. No, really. Better than that. Yeah. *That* good.
There's always a position for me (no, not *that* kind). I'll get by; I'll make some money.
But one thing that's been really nice. I got fired from this job in 2010 - I just wasn't good enough, according to my manager. That manager... he's the one who taught me to believe in myself even when other important people didn't believe in me.
Think about that for a moment - it's *not* a compliment to his managerial skills!
I came back two years later, and I kicked ass and I took names, and have continued to do so for another two and a half years. I've proven I can do the job someone told me I couldn't. I think I've gotten to the point that there are people who will are someday going to say to said manager "and can you believe some *moron* fired this guy? Clearly, that guy didn't know how to develop talent!"
Still, I was nervous about how things were going to end.
I'm feeling a bit better today. Microsoft has a need for support engineers (that's my job) and Premier Field Engineers. Those are the people who go onsite to fix things. They're the people who often need to call people like me for help - except, they'll be getting one of the best of people like me baked right in.
I'm not sure if either is going to pan out, of course. But just knowing that the possibility exists is awfully relieving and more than a bit exciting.
The PFE job actually has a bit of dashing romance in it. They sometimes have to travel. And if travel expenses include enough for a cat sitter, that would really be kind of cool, if air travel wasn't too frequent (unless it was, you know, business class or better)>
Anyway - tonight I have a chance to dream that I might continue to do the kind of work I do best. Wish me luck.
Oh, I can do the day to day grind, if I have to - if, in return, I get to stretch my mental muscles once in a while. And if I'm getting paid really well.
Well, I've been contracting at the job for two and a half years. The contract is up at the end of the year.
Now, sometimes this doesn't bother me. I'm damn good at SQL Server. No, really. Better than that. Yeah. *That* good.
There's always a position for me (no, not *that* kind). I'll get by; I'll make some money.
But one thing that's been really nice. I got fired from this job in 2010 - I just wasn't good enough, according to my manager. That manager... he's the one who taught me to believe in myself even when other important people didn't believe in me.
Think about that for a moment - it's *not* a compliment to his managerial skills!
I came back two years later, and I kicked ass and I took names, and have continued to do so for another two and a half years. I've proven I can do the job someone told me I couldn't. I think I've gotten to the point that there are people who will are someday going to say to said manager "and can you believe some *moron* fired this guy? Clearly, that guy didn't know how to develop talent!"
Still, I was nervous about how things were going to end.
I'm feeling a bit better today. Microsoft has a need for support engineers (that's my job) and Premier Field Engineers. Those are the people who go onsite to fix things. They're the people who often need to call people like me for help - except, they'll be getting one of the best of people like me baked right in.
I'm not sure if either is going to pan out, of course. But just knowing that the possibility exists is awfully relieving and more than a bit exciting.
The PFE job actually has a bit of dashing romance in it. They sometimes have to travel. And if travel expenses include enough for a cat sitter, that would really be kind of cool, if air travel wasn't too frequent (unless it was, you know, business class or better)>
Anyway - tonight I have a chance to dream that I might continue to do the kind of work I do best. Wish me luck.
