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Microsoft Wants Autistic Coders. Can It Find Them And Keep Them? | Fast Company | Business + Innovation

Posted on by TechCommGeekMom

Job interviews can be especially hard if you’re autistic. A Microsoft effort aimed at a wider spectrum of the workforce wants to solve that.

Source: Microsoft Wants Autistic Coders. Can It Find Them And Keep Them? | Fast Company | Business + Innovation

This article, posted originally by Microsoft Careers on Twitter, excited me. I could related to this article on so many levels, especially with the non-disclosure part, and the tracing my route before I got there. I did that yesterday with my son for school. We were allowed to come in a day early, see his schedule, and do a dry run of his day, meeting the teachers one-on-one rather than a busy, hectic, first day with all the kids. Thank goodness we did that–his bus never showed up, so I had to drive him to his school, and he was a half an hour late. At least he knew where to go. Even on the way home, I knew that a place where I may be interviewing was nearby, so I passed by on our way home, just so I knew where to go when the time comes.

Microsoft really did an excellent job with this article, and appropriately told the good and the bad of being an autistic employee. Autistic people usually are very good with technical things, so naturally a fit with Microsoft makes sense. The method they use of letting the candidates hang out and help for a few weeks before the real interview is something I wish all employers did with employees. I know I’d benefit from it, for sure! I hope that other companies adopt similar plans for autistic workers, whether they are coders or tech writers or anything else. It gives me hope that my son has a chance to get into a job that can be fulfilling to him, if he chooses (he’s more of a computer hardware guy, but still–there’s a need for guys like him, too, at a place like Microsoft!).

Read this, and let me know what you think in the comments below.

–TechCommGeekMom

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Taking On the Ph.D. Later in Life – NYTimes.com

Posted on by TechCommGeekMom

As doctoral programs become more flexible and students seek to enhance or change their careers, enrollment of older adults grows.

Source: Taking On the Ph.D. Later in Life – NYTimes.com

Thanks to Craig Cardimon for posting this on LinkedIn.

I hope this trend of flexible PhDs continues. Just a couple days ago, both my husband and I were commenting that if money were no object, and we were retired or hit the lottery, we’d both want to go back to school, and I would love to get my PhD. Right now, it wouldn’t be for professional reasons, as a Masters degree seems to be fine for now.  But to get a PhD in Technical Communications would be cool. I also wouldn’t mind getting an advanced degree in linguistics or history either.

I’m willing to bet that as more PhD programs take on an online presence (there’s only one PhD in tech comm online, namely at Texas Tech, as far as I know), and hopefully become more affordable, more folks will not only sign up for the programs, but also people over 40 (like me and many others I know) might be more willing to go for it.  There are several great online degrees on a Master’s level or graduate certificate level in tech comm and instructional design.  Check out my Educational Resources pages for some leads if you are interested, or let me know if I’m missing a program that I can add to the list (or update)!

Would you consider going back for a PhD in a discipline? If so, what would it be? Let us know in the comments below.

–TechCommGeekMom

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Unspoken English rules

Posted on by TechCommGeekMom

Now here’s something that’s been making the rounds among some of my friends on Facebook regarding an unspoken rule when speaking about adjectives: 


I really had never thought about it, but this is right. It makes me wonder if there are similar “unspoken” rules in English, but if there are also similar rules to this in other languages. This might be why other languages can be a little confusing to native English speakers.

Those of you who are bilingual or multilingual, what patterns have you noticed like this one–unspoken rules, but it’s correct grammar–in other languages?  Post your comments below. 

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Off the wall presentations featuring Ben Woelk – Content Content podcast episode 11 – ed marsh dot comed marsh dot com

Posted on by TechCommGeekMom

Ben Woelk, technical communicator and Information Security Office Program Manager at the Rochester Institute of Technology, talks about being an introverted leader and how it’s changed his career and his passion. Mentioned during this episode Ben Woelk on Twitter STC … Continue reading →

Source: Off the wall presentations featuring Ben Woelk – Content Content podcast episode 11 – ed marsh dot comed marsh dot com

That’s right! Ed’s got another webisode of ContentContent up, and this time, it’s with Ben Woelk! Ben was one of the first people I met when I first got involved with the STC, and he’s been one of the great mentors I’ve had within STC ever since then.  I remember him putting me at ease at my first STC Summit because I was rather shy and hardly knew anyone, and he was awesome in assuring me that all would be well–and he was right.  His take on introverted leadership has been catching like wildfire in the last year, as I think he’s tapped into something that many technical communicators grapple with–how to be a leader when you are an introverted person.

Take a listen, and let Ed know what you think about the webisode!

–TechCommGeekMom

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Ten Ways It Hurts You To Stay In One Job Too Long

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Years ago it was a point of pride to have been employed in one job or one company for decades, but what about now? Here are 10 ways it hurts you to stay in the same job for too long!

Source: Ten Ways It Hurts You To Stay In One Job Too Long

I enjoy reading Liz Ryan’s bits of job wisdom on LinkedIn, and I think she has an excellent article here that can help those in the tech comm field who feel squeamish about the fact that many of us end up doing contract work feel a little bit better about jumping around so much.

It’s odd, because I’ve seen this shift that she’s mentioned that’s been happening over the last twenty years. It used to be that I was asked why I jumped around so much because it didn’t seem like I had permenancy anywhere. Now, when I am asked the same question, it’s almost as if it’s a lifestyle question, as if to ask if I choose to be a contractor because I like to jump around. (The answer in both cases is the same–I’ve taken contract work because that’s what’s been available, since there are few permanent positions in this field out there where I live. I’d gladly take a permanent position if the right offer came along, just to have a little security!)

Who knew that being a contractor would actually beneficial to me? My husband has reminded me time and time again that with each new job, I gain some sort of new knowledge by way of either new skills, or I learn something about myself. For example, in the contract I just finished, I learned a lot more about UX/UI design than I had before in a real-life scenario (versus something theoretical in a class), and how to write with UX/UI in mind. I got better at it, I think, over the duration of the contract. But, I also learned things about myself, such as I didn’t really feel it was a good use of the range of skills I do have, and it wasn’t satisfying work to me–I needed a better challenge. Reflecting on another past contract, it made me realize where my strengths lie so I have a better understanding of myself, and what sort of positions I should pursue. In that other past contract, I did well, it used many of my best skills, and I enjoyed it. So now, I do my best to try to find those kinds of opportunities instead of trying to force myself into doing something that really isn’t my thing, even if I have the skill set for it. I’m getting too old to be working jobs that I don’t like, and fortunately, I’ve been financially careful enough to be able to afford to take a break to find the next opportunity.

I’m not against permanent positions at all, but I will say that I have a much better appreciation for contract work over these past few years as a result, and I can recognize how it’s benefitted me in the long run.

How about you? Has your experience being at multiple positions benefitted you? Share your comments below.

–TechCommGeekMom