RE: iSeries / AS400 Resources National Search and Discussion

Hello again Midrange forum.  It's been just over a week since I sent out my 
original email to discuss career challenges many iSeries professionals have 
experienced and are living through, as well as a search for professionals that 
would like to try to get their careers back on the right path.

For those of you who participated in the discussion I thank you for taking the 
time to respond to my inquiry and providing well valued input.  I hope my 
answers were helpful to those primarily seeking advice on issues ranging from 
the iSeries resource needs to resume content and presentation.

I did however want to comment on a few things I noticed that are things I 
believe all of us should be aware of for the future.

What I noticed most was a significant lack of attention to detail.  More than 
50% of those who responded by "sending" a copy of their resume, DIDN'T follow 
basic instructions.  To me it is a sad day in the IT community when a person 
can honestly say, "How many IT professionals does it take to properly respond 
to a basic email request?" and the real answer is.....at least 2 with a strong 
possibility you'll need a 3rd!

Some people even responded by sending a resume to the "wrong" email address and 
didn't bother to include a message with instructions on how I could be of 
assistance to them.  Sending a resume to the wrong email address didn't help me 
any so obviously they must have wanted some type of assistance from me (i.e. 
job seeker searching for employment in the Atlanta, Georgia or RTP areas).

Everyone needs to realize that in a competitive, often fast-paced and quickly 
changing career field, something as simple as following basic instructions will 
more than likely shut a door before the door is opened!  The number of jobs 
that have been sent offshore alone, has left an abundance of talent in the 
field to compete for the remaining opportunities and attention to detail is a 
professional attribute none of us can afford not to have.

Nevertheless I'd like to once again thank those who participated hopefully iTc 
will be able to assist all of you in the future.  For those of you who were 
selected to participate in the iTc pilot project, you should have received an 
overview from my personal email account.  I hope all is going well with 
reviewing the suggested IBM reading material and I eagerly look forward to 
working with you all in weeks to come.


Warmest Regards,

Jonathan R. Burrs
Executive Consultant
iTech Consulting, LLC
www.itechconsultingllc.com

----- Originial Message Sent:  01/17/2007 03:40 PM ----->
Hello Midrange forum.  


Are you a victim of corporate downsizing?  Did your former employer outsource 
your job offshore to a country in Asia?  Has the depressed economy or some 
other adverse circumstance left your career in shambles?

Time sure have changed significantly over the past few years.  I recently 
received an email from a highly skilled midrange professional, with more than 
27 years of successful IT experience (a real technical Guru).  He was looking 
for job and explained to me that he hadn't worked in IT since 2001.  The 
bigger surprise was that he did not leave the industry, the industry left him, 
not behind, but left him out.  This was no ordinary IT person, this was a man 
who personally provided me with technical mentoring that helped shape my 
career as an IT professional.

My friends experience reiterates that often, being good at what you do just 
isn't enough and the industry we work in is very competitive and often 
unforgiving!  Today my friend is back in the industry performing high level 
analysis for a company internal software application project and with just a 
little bit of effort he will have his career back on the right path in the 
coming months.

iTech Consulting, LLC wants to hear about your story.  We are currently 
conducting a national search for mid-level (4-10) and senior level (10+) 
displaced iSeries/AS400 software application developers who would be 
interested in getting their careers back on the right path.  Please send me a 
copy of your resume and a brief summary of your personal story.  Let's discuss 
the situation and work together to try to get your career back on the right 
path!



Warmest Regards,

-- 
Jonathan R. Burrs
Executive Consultant
www.itechconsultingllc.com


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