Re: Perl Job Marketability Question - very important for me!

I would say 'yes, you are marketable'. There is no real secret to marketability:

Show what you have done, and that you learned along the way
Show that you are willing to learn more
Be able to articulate your success and what it was that made your efforts successful

Will you be able to find a job doing what you were doing before? Maybe. It depends on a lot of other things(willingness to re-locate, wage etc...), to many to list that are entirely up to you.

It sounds to me like you think your skills are limited, and maybe they are; but I wouldn't draw that conclusion until you listed out every module you have used, every db you have interfaced with, every file format you have parsed or written, formats you have output to(web, other db's, whatever) etc ... . Make that list and don't be frugal(if you have not already of course).

With 'Big Data' such a hot topic these days, it seems to me like you should have some luck. However, don't limit yourself to what you love! Be willing to love more (sort of the 'Love the One Your With' scenario). Perl is cool all around and for so many things(as I am sure you know). Don't over limit yourself, stay general to get as much interest as possible, then pick what sounds good.

I hope this does not sound patronizing. I have been in your situation a couple of times over the last 30+ years of my career and I always forget this stuff because I am worried about getting the next gig. It is a slow process sometimes, so it is worth it to slow down and do right by yourself.

I hope that is somewhat helpful, and good luck! Update Just saw Your Mother's post, don't know about the first half, but that second part is dead-nuts-on.

PS I worked with CA Harvest for a while, but had not heard of eHealth.. interesting...

...the majority is always wrong, and always the last to know about it...

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results...

A solution is nothing more than a clearly stated problem...otherwise, the problem is not a problem, it is a facct

wjw

Comment on Re: Perl Job Marketability Question - very important for me!

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Re^2: Perl Job Marketability Question - very important for me! by locked_user sundialsvc4 (Abbot) on Jun 19, 2014 at 20:09 UTC
I would suggest, instead, that you probably should mention nothing about “what Perl modules you have used” and so-on. If you have been programming for 15+ years, then it should go without saying that you know, not only how to use a tool, but how to learn one. To frame your presentation strictly in terms of Perl and of Perl library modules, though, not only interferes with the marketing-pitch but implies that you’re not accustomed to seeing the forest for the trees. New programming-languages materialize with every dissertation that’s written by yet-another perpetual student. `:-)` Even though “the technically-correct technical-description of ‘our job’ ” is that we use these tools every day (and maybe, being Enlightened Souls, we earnestly desire to use none other ...), the “business description” of our jobs is these three: We enable our employers to Do Things™ with this obstreperous thing called a Digital Computer. Thanks (in part) to us, they Earn Money.™ We keep Bad Things™ from happening, most of the time. When Bad Things™ do happen, we fix them ... graciously. Kindly notice that not a single one of these things is in any way specific to the Perl programming language. Therefore, neither are you. “Oh, may the gods smile upon thee, that thou shalt not find thyself in Dot-Net Purgatory,” but even if they did not smile you could very-swiftly find yourself in a nearby lifeboat (or sipping cappucinos on a nearby deck). And, this is the attitude that you need to take when (re)selling yourself in the software business. Don’t talk about Perl modules to anyone that isn’t hip-deep in Perl ... and ... don’t restrict your job-search by language. Of all the possible ways that today exist in this world by which one can manage to make a (good) living, computer-programming is the least-restricted. Therefore, do not restrict yourself. (“It’s still just ones and zeros...”)
Re^3: Perl Job Marketability Question - very important for me! by wjw (Priest) on Jun 19, 2014 at 23:53 UTC
I understand where your coming from sudialsvc4. From a general job search perspective, I think you are right in many ways. However, I am going to stick with what I said. The last thing that o2bwise asks about is: My question is, is just the above thing I love to do marketable? I honestly do not know, but I sure hope so. This is clearly important to him. And I think with his length of experience, he has a shot at something close. My experience in job searching has been a bit different than yours I think, thus the different approach. Could be location, job types we have pursued... any number of things I guess. Doesn't much matter. In actuality, the contrast between our views might be a good thing for o2bwise to consider. The broader the spread in the points of view, the better to consider. There is no real formula for getting a particular job in my experience. One a) has to want it b) has to be able to do at least some of it c) demonstrate they are capable and willing to learn to do the the rest of it ... regardless of the job description. One other point: several of the jobs I have had in the last 15 years have come to me because some recruiter skimmed my resume and found specific words which triggered them to contact me and submit my information. What you are saying is really good at the interview level, but getting to that stage can be a bit of a curvy path. Ain't saying your wrong, just sticking with what I know.... Glad you tossed that out there! ...the majority is always wrong, and always the last to know about it... Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results... A solution is nothing more than a clearly stated problem...otherwise, the problem is not a problem, it is a facct wjw	[reply]
Re^4: Perl Job Marketability Question - very important for me! by locked_user sundialsvc4 (Abbot) on Jun 20, 2014 at 02:22 UTC
/friendly, agreeable nod ... Clearly understood. Before you have a ghost of a chance to sell a Brush, you must first position yourself in front of someone with the capacity to Buy. The approach that I am suggesting generally consists of bypassing those recruiters, but marketing reality says that you cannot always do that.