I’m still recovering from my third year at Black Hat and DefCon. The physical and emotional exhaustion, social overload, and post-event sniffles are all signs of a great conference. This year, I added an extra day for the first-ever Black Hat AI Summit. I was drawn to the topic, the networking opportunities, and my usual… Read More »
I returned from my second Hacker Summer Camp a few weeks back, Black Hat and DEF CON, and I’m excited to share my observations and notes. What is Hacker Summer Camp? DEF CON was started by Jeff Moss (known as Dark Tangent) at the age of 18 in 1993, with around 100 attendees, and it… Read More »
There are many opportunities in our professional lives to provide feedback on peers, managers, company direction, instructors, vendors, etc. You may be tempted to use these opportunities to focus on the negative by providing constructive criticism and negatively weighted responses. I suggest that you consider focusing on the positive. Consider that these feedback requests are… Read More »
At some point in your technical career, someone is going to ask you to research a new technology and to educate others on what you learned. Maybe you are a SME, consultant, salesperson, instructor, or you simply drew the short straw. I have been fortunate to experience this process many times in my professional career.… Read More »
Forged in Fire is a great analogy for a job interview. Forged in Fire is a one-hour blacksmithing competition show where four contestants compete in three rounds to identify the Forged in Fire Champion. Each round involves sword and knife forging competitions. Professional and amateur blacksmiths compete in timed rounds to forge weapons within specific… Read More »
Here are some useful links for job seekers. I will update the list periodically.
Microsoft Specific, Resume Services, Soft Skills, Cyber Learning, Tech Training, Vet Resources, Tech Projects
Here is a list of over 1,000 hours of book recommendations (70 titles) from an audiobook and podcast addict. Walking, driving, shopping, cleaning, or just relaxing. Hopefully I can share my addition with others. May you also get strange looks from onlookers as you laugh unexpectedly or carry a silly grin or intense scowl. Enjoy!… Read More »
The two most important interview questions in my opinion are around your passion for technology and the company. Interviewers want to know that you are technology focused and that you are particularly interested in serving their organization. How do you stay up on technology? The core of this question is an attempt to assess your… Read More »
Here is a screen shot of me preparing for my 2017 interview with Microsoft. Here are a few remote interview tips. Look closely… I have a high-end web camera mounted on a tripod at a flattering angel. Many laptops place the camera at an unusual angle. The larger camera provides a better focal point for… Read More »
There is an amazing niche group of the US IT industry jobs that require a government security clearance. Recruiting cleared employees is difficult and expensive. Having a security clearance job generally means significantly more pay and job security. Most of these positions involve working for a government entity, government contracting, or working for a partner… Read More »
I recently passed AZ-500! I found the exam to be rather challenging; partially due to a lack of training resources. Here is a brief summary and some general prep-tips in case you are heading down the same path. Exam AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies This a broad exam covering many topics. I recommend passing at… Read More »
I mentioned in my pervious article that traveling will test your patience and tolerance for stress on a regular basis. Here is my running list of tips to make business travel more enjoyable: Get a passport with Global Entry (better to be ready) Get qualified for TSA Precheck (skip the lines, keep your shoes, avoid… Read More »
After nearly three years at Microsoft as a field engineer, I have traveled over 160,000 miles which is around 250 hours in the air. That doesn’t include the time spent in airports, trains, cars, and taxis. I also spend around 125 night per year in hotels. These past few years are an extreme example but… Read More »
I am part of a student mentoring program that involves a significant amount of interview prep discussions. Those entering the class have varying levels of experience and education. One common question is how to compete for positions upon graduation with candidates who have more education or experience? This is a tough situation. For those with… Read More »