This wiki page is primarily for some general information and tracking status of and planning for the panel discussion. For more information on BALUG see: http://www.balug.org/

2009-04-29:

• updated panel information on main BALUG web page
• potential panelists/moderator(s): complete the survey/application form
• got suggestions for question/topic(s) for panel - first see if it's already listed on this page, and if it isn't, email us, including "Working in the Business" in the Subject: header, and email it to: balug-panel-2010@balug.org

2010-03-31: "announced" (relatively near the end of that reference; specific date not yet set at that time)
2009-03-04: earlier mention of the idea

Some potential topic/question areas:

• up and down economies:
  • finding great jobs in a down economy
  • finding great candidates in hopping (e.g. dot com boom) times
  • retaining good employees in hot fast-moving economies
  • what needs to or should change when the Linux/IT job market is up/down/sideways/strange and what does or should stay the same?
• "hot"/growth/emerging areas in Linux and open source?
• Bay Area / Silicon Valley
  • How does it compare to other locations/markets?
• How do IT and/or open source careers compare to, e.g.:
  • other scientific
  • other technical
  • other professional (lawyer, doctor, mechanic, plumber, …)
• How do different sectors/areas compare, e.g.:
  • biotech
  • medical
  • financial
  • start-ups
  • government
  • academia
  • Linux vs. proprietary
  • sysadmin vs. DBA vs. network admin vs. programmer
• best places to get started, get the work experience
  • education/training/certification recommendations?
  • types of opportunities to seek?
• relative advantages/disadvantages being/using:
  • employee(s)/consultant(s)/contractor(s)
  • outsourcing/offshoring/insourcing
• what's most commonly requested/required by hiring manager that candidate lacks?
• in all that hiring/contracting process:
  • things companies do right/wrong
  • things HR departments do right/wrong
  • things hiring managers do right/wrong
  • things agencies/recruiters do right/wrong
  • things candidates/employees/contractors do right/wrong
  • advantages/disadvantages of using recruiters/agencies
• finding the good (or good fits), and sorting out the bad (or bad fits):
  • companies/"opportunities"
  • agencies/recruiters
  • candidates
• in recruitment/hiring process, most excellent/horrible/strangest/funniest things you've ever seen done by:
  • company/employer
  • hiring manager
  • recruiter/agency
  • candidate

2009-03-04: earlier mention of the idea
2010-03: created email contact: balug-panel-2010@balug.org
2010-03-22: survey form for potential panelists/moderator - began creation
2010-03-31: "announced" (including contact email above) - but specific date not set yet
2010-04-07: survey form for potential panelists/moderator - relatively near to final form - will solicit feedback (and adjustments as appropriate) before going "live"
2010-04-22: "survey"/application form draft - feedback solicited (and here]
2009-04-29: updated panel information on main BALUG web page
2009-04-29:

• updated panel information on main BALUG web page
• went live with form: potential panelists/moderator(s): complete the survey/application form
• got initial announcements out
• Michael Paoli - specifically invited some individuals (still more to invite)

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