Comments on: User Groups – Expanding Beyond the Mundane http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/ Thoughts of a practical idealistic software consultant. Also the home of Mark Freedman Consulting, a division of LorMarSoft, LLC. Thu, 03 May 2012 15:05:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark Freedman http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-529 Mark Freedman Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:41:26 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-529 I love that Career Fair idea, SB. We meet at UCONN, so that would fit right in. Sorry you couldn't make it last night. Extremely interesting topics. I love that Career Fair idea, SB. We meet at UCONN, so that would fit right in.

Sorry you couldn’t make it last night. Extremely interesting topics.

]]> By: SB Chatterjee http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-520 SB Chatterjee Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:36:10 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-520 Our group (CTDOTNET) is quite career-focused - we have local IT companies ("head hunters") and HR departments of local corporations sponsor our monthly meetings (mostly pizza/soda). We also have a fairly active Jobs posting at our site - http://ctdotnet.org/jobs.aspx , with new postings a few times a month. Another item recently undertaken is integration with the LinkedIn groups (CT Technology and .NET Developers) as these are fairly active with HR folks. A few years ago, we had a 'Career Fair' where ~10 local IT companies were given small booths that offered talks on career tracks, resume reviews, interview skills, etc. It was quite a success with over ~80 in attendance. SB Chatterjee Acting Director - Connecticut .NET Developers Group ctdotnet.org Our group (CTDOTNET) is quite career-focused – we have local IT companies (“head hunters”) and HR departments of local corporations sponsor our monthly meetings (mostly pizza/soda). We also have a fairly active Jobs posting at our site – http://ctdotnet.org/jobs.aspx , with new postings a few times a month. Another item recently undertaken is integration with the LinkedIn groups (CT Technology and .NET Developers) as these are fairly active with HR folks.
A few years ago, we had a ‘Career Fair’ where ~10 local IT companies were given small booths that offered talks on career tracks, resume reviews, interview skills, etc. It was quite a success with over ~80 in attendance.

SB Chatterjee
Acting Director – Connecticut .NET Developers Group
ctdotnet.org

]]> By: Mark Freedman http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-361 Mark Freedman Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:18:03 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-361 Good idea, Russ. We plan on having a forum, also, where people can discuss technical issues, etc. Good idea, Russ. We plan on having a forum, also, where people can discuss technical issues, etc.

]]> By: Russ http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Russ Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:37:05 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-350 Mark, Along with Name Tags, it might be nice if members could publish their technical expertise/intersts on the groups site. This way, if i were starting a project on some new technology, perhaps I could find someone in the group I could touch base with. Mark,
Along with Name Tags, it might be nice if members could publish their technical expertise/intersts on the groups site. This way, if i were starting a project on some new technology, perhaps I could find someone in the group I could touch base with.

]]> By: Mark Freedman http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Mark Freedman Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:01:07 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-345 Thanks, Des. I'll email you about this. Are you planning to come to tonight's meeting? Thanks, Des. I’ll email you about this.

Are you planning to come to tonight’s meeting?

]]> By: dESMOND nOLAN http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-344 dESMOND nOLAN Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:56:14 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-344 Michael, In regards to the geek dinners, (or as I like to call them Nerd Herd gatherings), I do that with a couple of former co-workers in Norwalk once a month, and if anyone wants to join us, please email me at DesNolan@OptOnline.net. Also, as in regards to panel debates, I'd love to be in the waterfall versus agile one; on the agile side. Keep up the good work. Des Nolan ABC Systems, Inc. President/Chief Software Architect Norwalk, CT Michael,

In regards to the geek dinners, (or as I like to call them Nerd Herd gatherings), I do that with a couple of former co-workers in Norwalk once a month, and if anyone wants to join us, please email me at DesNolan@OptOnline.net.

Also, as in regards to panel debates, I’d love to be in the waterfall versus agile one; on the agile side.

Keep up the good work.

Des Nolan
ABC Systems, Inc.
President/Chief Software Architect
Norwalk, CT

]]> By: Michael http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-341 Michael Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:08:32 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-341 I believe that recruiters should have access to a future job board. They play a valuable role in helping IT professionals find jobs whether in a time of stress i.e. job loss or pursuing opportunities that may not be available otherwise because not every technology person is savvy enough to network or has the time to network for the hidden jobs. I do believe there should be a code of ethics for recruiters to have access to the job board which could include obeying certain rules that you post on the job board. I believe that recruiters should have access to a future job board. They play a valuable role in helping IT professionals find jobs whether in a time of stress i.e. job loss or pursuing opportunities that may not be available otherwise because not every technology person is savvy enough to network or has the time to network for the hidden jobs. I do believe there should be a code of ethics for recruiters to have access to the job board which could include obeying certain rules that you post on the job board.

]]> By: Michael http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-340 Michael Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:42:10 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-340 I am not involved with the Philly .NET site and I do not attend their meetings but I go to the website for downloads from past meetings. I am not involved with the Philly .NET site and I do not attend their meetings but I go to the website for downloads from past meetings.

]]> By: Mark Freedman http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-339 Mark Freedman Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:36:15 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-339 That's a great idea, but it's more of an added feature of the user group websites, which my team has discussed. I was considering first converting the site to Telerik's Sitefinity from DNN before adding more features such as this. Also, the trick is keeping the recruiters (read-headhunters) off the job board. Do you attend the Philly UG regularly? Are you involved with the maintenance of their list? Any suggestions on how to ensure only true positions are posted would be a great help. We do ask people to make any announcements at the end of the meetings, including job opportunities. We should probably formalize that more. That’s a great idea, but it’s more of an added feature of the user group websites, which my team has discussed. I was considering first converting the site to Telerik’s Sitefinity from DNN before adding more features such as this.

Also, the trick is keeping the recruiters (read-headhunters) off the job board. Do you attend the Philly UG regularly? Are you involved with the maintenance of their list? Any suggestions on how to ensure only true positions are posted would be a great help.

We do ask people to make any announcements at the end of the meetings, including job opportunities. We should probably formalize that more.

]]> By: Michael http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/comment-page-1/#comment-338 Michael Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:01:19 +0000 http://MarkFreedman.com/index.php/2008/06/21/user-groups-expanding-beyond-the-mundane/#comment-338 I like all of your ideas. One thing missing from your list is a job board for people looking to hire .NET professionals. The Philly .NET user group maintains its own job board online. This is beneficial to those who are looking for positions without the help of recruiters and who do not have the time or savvy to network for positions. I like all of your ideas. One thing missing from your list is a job board for people looking to hire .NET professionals. The Philly .NET user group maintains its own job board online. This is beneficial to those who are looking for positions without the help of recruiters and who do not have the time or savvy to network for positions.

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