April 27, 2010 Certification, Success 8 comments
Brainbench Master Certification in C#
It turns out that I’m eligible to pass exam 70-536 for free – my company will pay for me, but before I’m required to pass Brainbench C# exam with higher than 4.0 score.
And I just did it – my score is 4.03.
You could see my results using following link: http://www.brainbench.com/transcript.jsp?pid=9108054
So now I could use this logo on my blog (see somewhere on the right):
Also in e-mail which I got is following information:
| You are eligible for a certificate! Would you like to receive it? | ||||||
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How do you think should I pay for that? Please let me know.
Also following information says that I have weak areas in implementing Services and Data Consumers. Need to check-out in more details about that.
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Guys, it is quite easy to pass this. And don’t loose chance, this exam is free till 30 April.
It is time to get Microsoft Certification
April 26, 2010 Certification, Success 4 comments
When is it time to be Microsoft Certified?
My company is developing new certification model, named abc (I’m not sure if I can use original name), which includes few levels such as abc Certified Junior, abc Certified Intermediate, abc Certified Senior… and so on… To become Senior developer after you are Intermediate you first need to get abc Intermediate certification.
Each of the levels has some requirements like industry experience, some number company-wide presentations, passed performance appraisal with strength area marks, passed knowledge evaluation, but what is important here is that each next level also requires some external certifications. For example, to be abc certified intermediate level in .NET desktop you need to have 2 certificates: 70-505 and 70-536.
Hey, but I’m already promoted to be intermediate, but do not have certificates… At least it is one of the reasons why I cannot become Senior (another one is that I need about half a year more experience and improve my knowledge). And this makes me bit sad.
Actually I tried to get 70-505 exam immediately after I get promoted (summer 2009). First time it was free attempt, and I failed it. Shit, but that was so easy, I got 670 out of 1000 with required 700.
Why did I fail it? There are few reasons:
* Exam 70-505 includes features from the 3.0 framework, which I did not ever use. For example it includes easy question regarding the Linq. I did not know Linq at that moment. It included question regarding installing and deploying strategies. Which I did not ever try. Stop. Am I so bad? I knew design patterns; I had experience in developing desktop applications. But I was interacted only with actual developing of easy things; I was not familiar with whole lifecycle of our product. To be honest we have so complicated lifecycle that nobody knows it well.
* I was too much self-confident about the exam.
* I did not spend a lot of time on preparing, maybe half a day.
I know that there are other ways to successfully pass exam, I think you know what I mean, but I did not see in internet actual tests for my exam, and besides that is not good way to pass it. I saw some people that passed with 1000 score other exams. Why? They found exact test in internet.
Let’s suppose that I was not ready and I did not know how to pass such exams.
Ok. Do you know Roosevelt? His words: “Never, never, never, never…give up!” And I did not give up. I tried again with the same exam month later. And you know – I field it with score less than 500. I was pure sure that questions will be similar, and they were. I was too much confident that I will pass it, but I did not. So I blew 50$. Holly shit.
Was it needed to pass Microsoft exam? Tips are following:
• Get resource to learn from it. Best choice is Microsoft Training Kits.
• Be aware what does your exam include, if there are some unknown technologies for you, ask yourself if this is correct exam for you.
• Ensure that you interacted with each technology meant there in real world, if you have not interact, just write simple applications when preparing to exam.
• Do not schedule exam, if you are not self-confident in your knowledge.
• Do not be too much self-confident in your knowledge. Most of exams are dry tests, which include some monkey questions that could be easily forgotten.
• Train, train, train… and never give up.
Getting MCTS for me is very important step in my career. (See picture below).
I’m going to achieve this with passing 536 and 505 in short terms.
My presentation on the Service Oriented Architecture
April 23, 2010 Opinion, SOA, Success 4 comments
Yesterday I executed my presentation on the Service Oriented Architecture. It was awesome. I got good portion of emotions.
People
I was really surprised how many people have come to listen to me. As per me it was supposed that this local Architecture Group (AG) is for couple of people, who have desire to spend their free time on talking about SOA, but for my great surprise almost all team came, I mean developers from whole enterprise project where I work. Guys, there should be something that I don’t know about intent of this group?
Rehearsal
Before presentation I as usual did my rehearsal. First it was presenting to my friend, who is also developer. We call this ‘Turbulent Developers Community‘ where we sit in the evening with beer and talk about different interesting IT things. So he brought few interesting questions for which I was now ready to respond. Also, I had my *.ppt at my phone, so when getting to my work I was trying to replay presentation in my mind. І на останок, вже безпосередньо перед презентацією я розказав її своїй дівчині в скороченому режимі – це зайняло близько 20 хвилин. Дуже тобі дякую за це!
Presentation
So, I started with plan which I have in this blog post. People were listening with attention and that is very appreciating. Also, what was enjoyable is that they had a lot of different comments on what about I was talking. They even spoke to 3 of my slides instead of my… OMG.
How was it?
… asked I, and got an answer: “It’s a great success! … can we now get money out of that?.. :)”. Those are words of my colleague with whom I work on the same piece of software. I really hope that other also enjoyed what I did.
Conclusion
For myself I have discovered that I learnt more about how to provide a good presentation. I do not say that this is my best presentation. I this the best I had is presentation on DDD, but anyway… having more experience in that area is very good achievement.
Keep in mind – you will die someday
What is the intent of my life? I spend my life at work, so that is a very big part of it. If above said it truth, why don’t then do the best at work and in your growth? For me it is mandatory. If you don’t like you work – just change it. Just do it!
Everyone have to die some day. Think about what you do and what you want to achieve. Have super large dreams. Often why I’m getting to the work at town vehicle many people talks and as I understand the intent of their life it to find a good job, to have a car, home and family. I don’t say that family is bad, BUT why to put such trivial task in front of you? You have one life and then death!
Am I still on track?
March 3, 2010 Revision of my activity, Success No comments
I just want to ask my self if I’m still on the track. Accordingly to my 7th point in the list of “Things you need to remember to become successful developer” I need to have revision of what I’m doing.
This is year list:
1. Get MCTS, MCPD.
I’m out. Why? Because I was to lazy to schedule exam and learn something. I do not think that MCTS could be big problem for me. Just need week for learning.
2. Read 24 book.
I’m on. Read 3 books in 2 months… almost as desired.
3. Become known employee in my company.
I’m on and out. I did few presentations, but I think that need more. Will try to get something tomorrow.
4. Familiarize with Java and contribute research and development work to Kohonen Map.
I’m on regarding of Java – wrote few GoF patterns on it.
I’m on regarding of Java – wrote few GoF patterns on it.
I’m off the Kohonen Maps – will fix this.
5. Become Senior Developer
I’m on.
6. Improve English.
I’m on. Joining English courses.
7. Gather good capital and look for investments.
I’m still on (before marriage :) ) 1/3 of what I need for month are income like interest, and that is very good.
This is keep doing list:
1. Keep on learning.
I’m on.
2. Establish what your goal is
I’m on.
3. Every challenge is opportunity
I’m on and off.
4. Be positively charged
Getting better with this.
5. Find a mentor.
I have such.
6. Be more public
Search google me, hope will get more than 700 results.
7. Do you gym
I’m completely out. I need fix this 100%, either I’ll be dead before get to the goal.
Речі необхідні, щоб стати успішним програмістом
February 10, 2010 Success, Ukrainian 4 comments
This post is in Ukrainian and is translation to the Things you need to remember to become successful developer
1. Не переставайте вчитися
Я припускаю, що ви навіть б не читали цей пост, якщо б не мали хоча б елементарної освіти, і ви б навіть не хотіли знати як стати успішним програмістом без вищої освіти. То ж якщо ви зараз програміст навіщо зупинятися вчитися?
Це просто недозволено. Одна важлива річ тут: Стояти на одному місці не означає, що ви стоїте на місці – це означає що ви рухаєтеся назад. Просто рухатися вперед не означає що ви рухаєтеся вперед – це лишень означає, що ви не загубилися із невдахами десь в кінці. Щоб просуватися вперед вам слід вчитися постійно – не просто рухатися, а БІГТИ.
Ось мій короткий список, що підпадає під цей пункт:
• Читайте книги
• Підпишіться на RSS і читайте різні статті
• Пробуйте різні мови програмування і речі, про які ви чули
• Ходіть на семінари і готуйте власні презентації
• Вчіть будь-що, що може вам допомогти просуватися
• Вчіть інших, так як це вчить вас
2. Визначте вашу ціль і тримайтеся правильної дороги
Я думаю що важко бігти якщо не знати куди бігти. Основне завдання полягає в тому, щоб чітко уявляти свою ціль. Ваша ціль повинна бути довготермінова і велика. І після того як у вас вже є бачення своєї мети візьміть і розбийте її на дрібні завдання – тобто побудуйте свою карту до успіху. Вам слід скласти список завдань, які ви ПОВИННІ виконати за місяць, або за рік. Як тільки ви його маєте, просто чітко слідуйте за ним.
3. Будь-які проблеми є можливостями
В буденній роботі ви завжди стикаєтеся із різними траблами. Ви отримуєте нові завдання або звіти про баги від тестерів. Ви отримуєте нові проекти від Проджект менеджерів. Ваш співробітник запитує про допомогу. Вам потрібна допомога. Це все приклади проблем. І справді важливе питання тут таке: як ви зустрічаєте їх? Ви можете сказати «Ой, але так я не позбавлюся від дурної надоїдливої роботи». Ви тут абсолютно не праві. Запам’ятайте, що ваші боси будуть раді дати вам більш складну роботі як тільки побачать, що ви справляєтеся із поточними завданнями.
4. Будьте позитивно налаштовані
Ви повинні дивитися на все позитивно. Якщо ви виявили, що зробили помилку просто сприйміть це легко – кожен робить помилки. Вам подобаються люди, які ниють коли у них проблеми? Як ви думаєте ви будете виглядати у чужих очах, якщо ви скажете: «Так, хлопці, я це зробив – я це вирішу, дайте мені хвилинку» і опісля ви повертаєтеся і починаєте фіксати вашу помилку із усмішкою на лиці. Як тільки ви вирішите проблему ви будете просто щасливі.
Ваша дорога є хорошою і ви швидко рухаєтеся вперед. Ніколи, ніколи не думайте що ви не досягнете своєї цілі – ось суть цього пункту.
5. Знайдіть наставника
Це не означає, що вам потрібна людина, яка буде вам допомагати робити вашу роботу – бо це просто вчитель або ж більш досвідчений розробник. Це означає що вам потрібна людина, яка знаходиться там, де ви хочете бути. Вам потрібно брати приклад із цієї людини. Якщо ця людина недостатньо високо – просто знайдіть когось по серйозніше. Також майте друзів які будуть вам допомагати рухатися по шляху. Або просто користуйтеся підтримкою жінки або дівчини.
6. Ставайте відомими
Якщо ви не покажете іншим, що ви крутий і що ви заслуговуєте більше, як вони будуть про це знати? Є просте рішення – почніть вести блог, запитуйте і відповідайте на питання, переконайтеся що гугл знає вас. Поширюйте своє знання у вашій команді і на проекті. Якщо ви вивчили щось нове, то чому б не поділитися цим? Ви забудете ці нові речі, якщо ви не будете їх пробувати.
7. Слідкуйте за виконанням ваших завдань, будьте певні, що ви й досі на шляху
Час від часу слід перевіряти чи ви робите все правильно. Впевніться, що ви виконуєте поставлені задачі. Якщо ні, то швидко знайдіть причини і працюйте над ними. Знайдіть свої слабкі сторони і змагайтеся із ними. Це може звучати смішно, але я знаю хорошого програміста із добрими теоретичними знаннями, але його швидкість набору коду просто жахлива. Чому? Тому що в нього просто жахлива клавіатура і він не хоче провести 10-20 годин за тренажером. Хіба це не тупо? Друже, якщо ти будеш читати цю статтю, пообіцяй що ти переможеш цю слабинку.
8. Робіть гімнастику
Я зробив маленьке само-опитування, коли писав цю статтю. І «Робіть гімнастику» попало у список. Я є досить молодий і проводжу забагато часу за ноутбуком і за іншою машиною на роботі і я не можу заставити себе робити гімнастику. Але це як точіння леза. Є така історія про двох дроворубів які поспорили про те хто зрубає більше дерев. Один дроворуб був здоровий і великий, а інший худий, як я. Сильний був певен, що він переможе, оскільки він рубав дерева всі 8 годин без жодної перерви, а худий робив перериви на 15 хв. кожної години. Але боротьбу виграв худий – він зрубав 150 дерев тоді коли Силач зрубав 100. Секрет полягав у тому, що він точив лезо тоді коли відпочивав. Ваше здоров’я – це ваша сокира і якщо вона буде тупа ви не зможете вирубати собі дорогу до успіху.
Тому нехай всі ваші сокири будуть заточені!
English Level
February 1, 2010 English, Success 5 comments
Point 6 in my Where Do You Want to Be In a Year? is:
“Improve my English skills to have at least upper-intermediate strong level (according to my company graduating)”
Previous Level: Intermediate
Last year my level was evaluated as Intermediate, but since that time I had a lot of experience of communication with native speakers. So I was pure much sure that my language is improved. I requested reevaluation, which occurred last week.
How was it?
I’ve drank too much coffee before came for my reevaluation, so my voice was a bit hoarse. Not a plus.
We spoke a bit, I mentioned about that I requested this reevaluation and why do I need that. Then she gave me feedback and proposed me to pass some test.
Feedback
Before test she said that my English level is not upper-intermediate definitely :( , and she explained why:
1) I repeated same words to much.
2) I do not use enough adjectives.
3) My speech is not fluent.
For upper-intermediate my English should be fluent!
Exercise for me
When I speak I should think not only about what I speak, but also how I speak.
Result
Current Level: Intermediate Strong
English courses
Also, I’m eligible for English courses in my company, so I moved to upper-intermediate course. This means that course could improve my skills to that level, of course if I’ll be a good student. I really need this study, even if it will be taking some time. I know that to compel myself learning that alone will not succeed. I’ve decided that course will help me with this just fine.
I’m on the way to have desired level of English, so will learn hard to have
Future Level: Upper-Intermediate Strong
I Increased posting frequency
January 26, 2010 Opinion, RandomThoughts, Success No comments
I have 18th post this month that is more than in past three months. This means that I increased frequency of posting and I think that did not lost quality of its content. What do you think?
I think I’m good on this. I also increased amount of blogs I read (near 30).
Why do I think that blogging helps me?
- I’m learning how to express my thoughts.
- I grab only consistent knowledge on themas of my posts. This means that I do good research over internet before posting something.
- After I posted something I leave a good knowledge portion left in my mind.
- My blog will grow and I will get more readers so will be more famous. People needs this sometimes.
- This blog also could be a good visiting card for my further career.
To get more readers I need to have some certification that my blog is good to read and this could be reached only if I will continue learn something.
I also found one interested post where guy explains why Why Blog Post Frequency Does Not Matter Anymore. Yes, but my blog has defined content boundary and my posts are not something like posts on twitter, so I believe that it will lead me to Success.
BTW: If you are one of the guys who think that I’m too small fish to read my blog I would say: “Follow me and see if you will be so fast all the distance as I will be.”
Honestly I think we should see people in light of theirs attitude to something, but not in light of theirs knowledge of something.
Leave your comment with link to your blog. I will follow you immediately. ;)
Presentation on DDD for my co-workers
January 17, 2010 Success No comments
Among my goals for this year is to become well-known employee in my company. To accomplish this I’m preparing different presentations and looking for some opportunities once they will appear.
On Thursday I provided presentation for my team workers on Domain-Driven Design.
As per me presentation went well, and I much improved my skills doing presentations. I know this at least because we have surveys to evaluate how the presentation went. And rates there were much higher than last time I did presentation on IoC.
I want to list few things that are flying in my mind after that presentation. They are also some tips to how provide effective presentation. (This is not full list, just associated with this presentation.)
DO
- Provide the same presentation to your friend. It is great if you have friend who is working in Software Industry also. Actually we have another blog, where we just fixing which stories we made with short agenda.
- Imagine your are providing you presentation right now, try to reproduce what you will be saying in your mind. I did this when way on the way to office.
- Improve your presentation with restructuring it to the way it will be easily to speak to it.
- Have verbose notes to each slide.
- Print your story and have it handy on presentation. Just have. I looked there only once.
- I kept attention of my audience with collaborating with it, asking questions.
- In the end say that presentation was good. Some people could just believe you :)
DO NOT
- Don’t wait for answers long. Collaboration with trainees i great, but if you ask question don’t wait long. Start answering yourself.
- Don’t ever make people think that you think that they don’t know something. I did one mistake. I said something like “This could be accomplished with FlyWeight design pattern. Do you know what is it?” then we had a bit of silence. But, I’m sure that many people know that pattern. Maybe I asked not clearly. And my mistake “Nothing bad, if you don’t know, the FlyWeight is…”.
REMEMBER
- There always be someone who disliked your presentation, maybe few. Why? Because he/she dislike you, but not your presentation. I can do nothing to such people. Just improve yourself and there will be time they will start to respect it (probably you will not have need in respect from such people).
- There are always some pessimists. They always find something that was not really good. Just analyze if their observations make sense, and if yes do the best to fix your issues.
- In opposite to those people there will be some who will rate your presentation all with max in a minute you sent survey for feedbacks.
Things you need to remember to become successful developer
January 8, 2010 Success 5 comments
1. Keep on learning
I assume that you would not even read this blog without having some elementary education and you would not want to know how to become successful developer without higher education. So while you are right now developer why to stop learning?
There is no way to do that. One important thing here: Staying in one place doesn’t mean you are staying there – it means you are moving backward. Walking forward doesn’t mean you are moving forward – it means at least that you are not lost with the losers in the end. To keep going forward you need to learn continuously – not walk, but rather RUN!
Here is my short list:
• Read books
• Subscribe to RSS Feeds and read magazines
• Try out different features you hear about
• Go to seminars and do your own presentations
• Learn everything that can help you move
• Teach others since this teaches you
2. Establish what your goal is and keep the right way
Ok, it could be hard to run without knowing where to run. The key point here is that you need clearly imagine your goal. This goal should be long term target, and after you have a vision of your goal, go ahead and breakdown it into smaller tasks – build your roadmap. You may create list of tasks you MUST accomplish per month or per year. Then just follow it.
3. Every challenge is an opportunity
In everyday work you always encounter different troubles. You get issues and bug reports from your QA. You get new tasks from your Project Manager. Your co-worker is asking for help. You need help. These all are challenges. And the real question is: how do you meet them? I have an answer: you need to take them all with passion, because every challenge is an opportunity. You would say “Hey, but this way I will never get off stupid nasty work.” You are 100% not right here. Remember, your bosses will be glad to give you more complicated work once they see you do the best to get your current job done.
4. Be positively charged
You should look at everything in very positive manner. If it is found that you did mistake, just take it easy – everyone does them. Do you like people who start to whine once they have troubles? How do you think you will be looking in others eyes if you say “Ok, guys, I did it – I will solve this, give me a minute.” and turn around and start fixing your mistake with smile on face. After you solve the problem you will be so happy and proud of yourself.
Now your way is good and you are moving fast forward. Don’t ever, ever think that you will not be able to reach your goal.
5. Find a mentor
This does not mean that you need a person who will help you in doing your job – it is a coach or more senior stuff than you are. This means that you need a person who is where you want to be and you need to take a leaf from his/her book. And if suddenly you discover that he is not high enough – you will need to find another. But most of the time you need to have such person. Also have people, friends if you will, who will help you keeping on track. It could be your wife or girlfriend (in my case :) [2011: now wife]), or best friend who always supports you (in my case he is developer, but this doesn’t matter).
6. Be more public
If you will not show others that you are cool and you deserve more, how will they know? There is simple way to do that – start blogging, ask and answer questions, ensure google knows something about you. Share your knowledge in your team and project. If you learned something new, why do not share it. You will forget things if they are not tried and shared.
7. Track your activities; be sure that you are on track
Time to time you need to check if you are doing everything in proper way and in align with your main goal. Verify if you are accomplishing stated goals. If no, quickly find reasons and address them. Find your weak areas and work on them. This sounds funny, but I know a very good developer with strong knowledge, but his coding/typing speed is ridiculously slow. Why? Because he has a bad keyboard and doesn’t want to spend 10-20 hours with keyboard trainer. Isn’t it stupid? Man, if you read this, please promise yourself that you will overcome yourself.
8. Do your gym :)
I did a bit of “brainstorming” when writing this article. And “Do your gym” has fallen there. I’m quite young man and spend too much time with my laptop and with another computer at work and I cannot coerce myself doing gym. But this is just like sharping the blade. There is story about two woodcutters who made a bet based on count of cut trees. One was Strong man and another was Thin. The Strong one was sure that he will win since he was cutting trees like hell 8 hours without single break and since Thin has rest each hour for 15 minutes. But Thin won the battle – he cut 150 per contra 100 of the Strong man. His secret was that he was sharping the blade in breaks. Your health is your axe and if you will keep it blunt you will not be able to cut down your way in your career.
So, let any of your axes be #.
Where Do You Want to Be In a Year?
January 1, 2010 Success, YearPlanReport 3 comments
Right now is the first time in this year when I opened google reader and found one interesting post Where Do You Want to Be In a Year? by Tim Barcz. When I read it I realized that I had read book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People also.
In general all books on Success says that you need to “Begin with the end in mind“, this means that you must have your plan.
At first you need to find out you goal for whole life. That is your target and main thing you need to get. Then you need to do breakdown of tasks you need to accomplish in your life, having them in few levels of term scope like 10 years term, 5 years term and 1 year term… and so on. So question:
Where Do You Want to Be In a Year?
My answer:
By the end of 2010 I want:
1. Get Microsoft Certification:
* MCTS (Exams: 70-536 and 70-505)
* MCPD 70-563 and 70-565 (this one is big fish, but I need such!)
2. Read at least 24 books.
3. Become known employee in my company, sharing knowledge and doing presentations, so will have much more authority among co-workers.
4. Familiarize with Java and contribute research and development work to Kohonen Maps world.
5. to be Senior Developer and continue growing…
6. Improve my English skills to have at least upper-intermediate strong level (according to my company graduating)
7. Gather good capital and looking for investments of money.
Write down your answer in comments or give me link to your blog!
