Brain:
You can never write too much, as far as I’m concerned. I’m a writer
and reader who enjoys reading what others have written.
I vaguely remembered your divorce the next morning, after I’d sent
the message asking about your family. My sincere apology for not
remembering and perhaps opening old wounds.
I also vaguely recall some of the software your company, or some
company, you worked for was working on. At least, I think it was you.
It was some sort of sandbox software, wasn’t it? Where you could
create configurations to boot into where you could test things,
without that having an effect on your system overall. Or perhaps I’m
confusing you with someone else who worked on such kind of software.
Yes, I’m in CA and still here, along with John, who was part of the
group until he had a stroke in 2006 that paralyzed the right side of
his body, making him a hemi-plegic for awhile. He’s recovered enough
that he is able to drive, now, and walk around pretty well with a
cane, so long as it’s not for too long and he doesn’t have to stand
still for very long. He still has some paralysis, but nothing like
what he began with. He’s in good spirits. We’re both retired. He was
sort of forced to retire due to the stroke. I voluntarily retired
early a couple of years after that.
A good headhunting company will take whatever experience you have
had, and turn it into an incredible resume. You’ll be amazed. So
don’t give them a resume, give them a list of the things you’ve done.
Few people are good at writing their own resumes. It’s something
better done by someone who can look at your skills in an unbiased
manner. They’ll know what to call your skills to make you even more
marketable, and they’ll also know what fields those experiences fit
into nicely.
For additional certifications, I’d wait to talk to the headhunter
first. You might not need anything. They might be able to find you
something in management, where certifications are not always the
first consideration for the position. The level at which you were
dealing with other companies is not an experience most people in the
technology field already have, and is a talent in and of itself.
Since those dealings were good, even if they didn’t lead to large
contracts for the company due to THEIR lack of good management to
follow through on their own products, that leaves you with a good
pre-existing relationship with companies that some other company
might want to have dealings with. So you’re an “in” for some other
company.
Are you in Wisconsin? That seemed to be the zip code of the job
listing that had been removed. If so, you might want to have a chat
with Mary Wood. I don’t know if you remember her, but she and Hamish
live in Wisconsin and might be aware of what’s going on
technology-wise there. And if you’re willing to relocate, you might
mention that, in case someone knows of something in another area.
Being able to be effective in an unstructured environment is another
talent that not everyone can manage. Chaos is more common in
companies than they’d like the outside world to know about. LOL It
also means you’re not a rigid adherent to a certain way of doing
things, but are flexible, and that’s a plus for many companies
regarding an applicant.
I’m so sorry things ended up badly in Brazil, due to the company and
other external forces going on down there. There’s not much you can
do with a tanking economy. I’m glad you’re back here where there will
be more opportunities for you. The ones you want are not always
advertised in newspapers or even online. Don’t discount the talents
and experience you have. You will be a goldmine for the right
company. 
–
Susan
Micro Focus Community Chat Moderator
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