Layoffs suck

[Michael]

I just tend to say I can do all that Microsoft-centric stuff but am more
experienced in whatever the opensource alternative is.

> The part that gets me is the grocery list of TLA's (three letter acronymns)
> and other stuff that the HR departments want applicants to have . . .
> typically all Microsoft-centric.
>
> "How much VB experience?" -- enough to know that I can write something
> cross-platform compatible without giving Bill Gates  a blo . . .

(random invented amount).. sure I do VB. I also do C, C++, Python, Perl,
PHP, Postscript, Pascal, Lisp, Prolog, etc. This is sort of a dumb
question any way IMO. Any programmer worth beans can move between
languages with a minimal of retraining. Buy a $15 book and spend a couple
days reading it and trying to port some of your programs to the language.

> "How much ASP experience?" -- why would I want to have IIS/ASP in my shop?
> PHP blows it away

Again if you know one you know the other. Doesn't hurt to throw in
ColdFusion either or JSP if you know Java.

> "What about SQL experience?" -- this one is typically a "I'm going to
> scream" because they are looking for MS SQL . . . and ignore the fact that
> SQL (structured query language) is available anywhere and it's just a
> matter of looking at the book to see what differences there are.  I run
> MySQL because $$$ and pepole just go "oh ok . . ." and roll their eyes
> thinking I must be ignorant.

Again just confirm familiarity with all the popular products. Usually
ORacle, M$ SQL, MySQL, and Postgres are probably enough. Just be familiar
with a few of the more specialized features of each in case they ask. The
rest you can pick up as you go along.

> Anyone else have any job rants?  I'm sure several 1000+ people will in the
> next few weeks.  *Sigh*

I've been under-employed for over a year now so I feel your pain. Unless
your trapped here like I am I suggest finding a decent job somewhere with
a better tech economy and moving. Or get together with a couple friends
from your ex-job and start your own consulting business.

I still think there is a killing to be made in putting small and
home-based businesses online and that is sort of what I am trying to do.
I'd like to expand from providing custom software to also providing
hardware and e-commerce consulting but am not sure how best to advertise
such services. I guess the basic idea though is to take what you know and
create your own job. It's tough but is really more fun than most real
jobs.