Where has all the mojo gone?
Ah - there's nothing like being around smart people to get your creative juices flowing! Gretchen and I are on assignment at the TopCoder Open these past few days and have been flush with new ideas. It seems like every time we talk one of us says: "Hey, I just thought of this new idea? What do you think of it?"
Why is this a big deal? Well, a few weeks ago our manager threw down a challenge to us to get more creative. Interestingly enough I don’t know if he knew it at that time. Either that or he is learned some interesting management techniques. Anyway, it erked me at first because I was like - what about the blog and some of the other things that we have been doing?! Then I realized that he was probably right, we needed to start thinking of some better ways of attracting the audience we are looking for to fill our positions. Not one to back down from a challenge - I took the bull by the horns. Unfortunately, brute force doesn't seem to work in these situations.
Gretchen and I did our usual brainstorming sessions, but we were having a hard time coming up with good ideas. We would meet and talk, but invariably we would veer off on some topic that wasn't really productive. Then we'd end up leaving the room without having accomplished anything. I also think that we would psych ourselves out of the ideas before we even got a chance to talk them through. The funny thing is I can't even credit myself with thinking up that last sentence - that was all Josh via Gretchen. UGH! Is it possible to get thinkers block? I'm a believer.
So Gretchen and I are completely frustrated and feeling like the magic is gone. Are we ever gonna think of new ideas again? Then we get to TopCoder - a pretty amazing experience in and of itself - and it's like we can't stop talking about new ways to do this or that. Slight spins on old things we have done before. New things we haven’t tried. Now we have a laundry list of ideas and we are ready to take them on.
Could it be all the smart mojo is rubbing off on us? Or can we credit being isolated out of the office with nothing to do but think? Either way I have to say we've come up with some zingers the past few days and we are excited to get back to the office to start working on them.
Okay - so I know I haven't given any clues to these "ideas" I talk of, but we can't spill the beans just yet. I imagine that we will have some posts go up as we are finalizing our thoughts and introducing them on the blog. For now, consider it a teaser.
I have to get back to the competition, but I had to write about this before I psyched myself out of the post.
Zoe from Santa Clara, CA
p.s. TopCoder has been great and either Gretchen or I will be telling you about it soon!
8 Comments
MonkeyLion said:
Wow! I went into www.topcoder.com and it looks great!... I got registered and filled my profile there, I read that you can compete remotelly!!!
I'm not sure if this is the best topic to post this question, I hope you don't mind ;)
I was on site interviewd by MS in Mountain View,CA on April 2003, the recruiter said that I was kind of unexperinced and adviced me to grow a little bit as a professional and then apply a year after that, I am applying now, but I want to know if the fact that I was already interviewed affect to the perception that you have about a candidate? If I already went, how much probabilities I have to be there again?
Thanks sooo much!
Brian Korzeniowski said:
Monkey Lion - If your recruiter asked you to grow professionally, did he/she mention specific areas? If so, have you grown in those areas? Also, have you expanded your depth and breadth of skills? Be prepared to answer how you have grown professionally. I am sure they will ask. :-)
Working at Microsoft is not a one shot deal - contrary to what most folks think. :-) I recently interviewed with Microsoft and am waiting on word regarding an SDE position. This would be my third interview in three years with them. The first was a contract, the second for a full-time position, the last for an SDE position.
Sometimes setting your goal, improving your skills, networking with others and just plain passion and tenacity are your best bets.
Hope that helps. :-)
MonkeyLion said:
Thanks Brian!, My recruiter said that I'll be in their Databases for a year, if they will be able to ask me that, then I'm thinking they keep the files a little bit more to read all this. Good to know since they will be able to match how I have been growing since my last school year. Thanks again!
Brian Korzeniowski said:
Monkey Lion -
Assume they will not keep your resume for longer than a year. Keep your focus on your goals. Have a plan. Execute on that plan.
Do not assume the recruiter has you "on file" or "in the back of their minds". Proactive people get proactive results in life and their careers. You are in total charge of the process.
If you are near a Microsoft field office, volunteer to do some technical presentations, write some training articles or a book, give some free lectures to fellow students, etc... In short, distinguish yourself in your primary area of passion.
B.
Technical Careers @ Microsoft said:
Global Inc Recruiters Blog said:
Apologies in advance for my lack of posting lately. Between the trip to California for the TopCoder...
ramesh said:
hi im sahil
ramesh said:
hi im ramesh .im doing b.tech in comp.sc