===== BALUG "Working in the Business" (Linux/...) panel discussion =====

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/]]

==== background/ideas ====
2009-04-29:
  *updated [[http://www.balug.org/#panel|panel information on main BALUG web page]]
  *potential panelists/moderator(s): complete the [[http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M79XHRP|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: [[http://lists.balug.org/pipermail/balug-announce-balug.org/2010-March/000149.html|"announced"]] (relatively near the end of that reference; specific date not yet set at that time)\\
2009-03-04: [[http://lists.balug.org/pipermail/balug-talk-balug.org/2009-March/004391.html|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
==== status tracking (may not be up-to-date) ====
2009-03-04: earlier
[[http://lists.balug.org/pipermail/balug-talk-balug.org/2009-March/004391.html|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:
[[http://lists.balug.org/pipermail/balug-announce-balug.org/2010-March/000149.html|"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: [[http://lists.balug.org/pipermail/balug-talk-balug.org/2010-April/004585.html|"survey"/application form draft - feedback solicited]] (and [[http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/sf-lug/2010q2/007708.html|here]]]\\
2009-04-29: updated [[http://www.balug.org/|panel information on main BALUG web page]]\\
2009-04-29:
  *updated [[http://www.balug.org/#panel|panel information on main BALUG web page]]
  *went live with form: potential panelists/moderator(s): complete the [[http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M79XHRP|survey/application form]]
  *got initial announcements out
  *Michael Paoli - specifically invited some individuals (still more to invite)

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