In episode 27, Jamison and Dave answer these questions:

How do I write a great resume?

• Do you really need a resume these days?
• How important is formatting and good design?
• What content should be on your resume?

Should I push back on non-engineering tasks like PowerPoint presentations?

From listener samspot: I am a Sr. Developer and I am often asked to spend time on PowerPoint presentations for funding and other business stuff. I want to ask why the managers, analysts, etc can’t handle these tasks. I find them to be a frequent distraction from my actual responsibilities, especially because these are so frequently “emergency” requests. Should I push back on this work, or is it better to be a team player?

In episode 26, Jamison and Dave answer these question:

How do you make sure people know about your good work?

See Matt Zabriskie’s great post for background on this.

We also mentioned Do Things, Write About It.

How do you get your point across effectively so you don’t have to say “I told you so” later?

In episode 25, Jamison and Dave answer these question:

How do I understand the business side better?

• Analysis of tabs vs spaces
• How does your business make money?
• Just ask your CEO/manager
• Kill the myth of the pointy-haired boss
• Smaller companies expose you to this more
• Just ask questions:
  • What was our revenue last month?
  • How much did we spend last month?
  • Who are our biggest customers?
  • How does the sales process work?
• The Dave Smith Method® for learning business jargon.
• Be kind and have empathy when you learn.

Can I be a good technical manager without a technical background?

• Technical leadership vs management.
• Management means empathy and understanding. Can you get that without “coming up through the ranks”?
• What are the skills of a good manager?
• Does being a developer give you those skills?
• Dave is a Night Elf Code Mage.
• How do you handle technical concerns as a non-technical person?
• Don’t fake technical knowledge.
• Leading a team when you don’t directly see the effect of your actions.
• Managing Nerds by Rands.
• Jamison’s former boss’s technical expertise