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Subject:RE: Suggestions for professional development From:Marguerite Krupp <mkrupp -at- cisco -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Fri, 13 Sep 2002 09:25:31 -0400
Some things to do in "down-time," between crunches:
* Clean up the messes from the last crunch. In the process, figure out and
write down what you'd like to do differently next time. You have to write it
down, otherwise you're likely to do the same thing over again.
* Get a book on <name your technology> and devote at least one hour a day to
reading it. Doesn't have to be a tutorial, per se, though excellent
tutorials do exist. Don't confine yourself to writing tools, like JavaScript
and content management. Those are important, but this is also a great time
to learn about the technologies you write about, and you have the added
bonus of having local experts who may also not be particularly busy.
Engineers love to show off their knowledge and their toys to sincere
listeners.
* Create a website and use it as a test bed (A.K.A. "sandbox") to try out
your newfound knowledge, for example, of JavaScript. Look at the source code
for other websites and see how they did things. Can be very interesting.
* If some other group is busy, offer to help in whatever way you can. For
example, perhaps the QA group could use some help in documenting scripts or
procedures. You'll learn a lot about the product and make yourself more
valuable ("employable") in the process.
* Organize a potluck lunch or a service project... something fun that brings
people together. It improves the company's image, helps you get to know more
people in the company on a different plane, and does some good in the
community to boot!
Others on the list will probably offer more suggestions.
HTH,
Marguerite
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