I came across in my papers while searching for some taxation information, a list that I made to use as an evaluation in an “ideal job”. This goes with a general comment I made only a few weeks ago to a number of colleagues.
I’m looking for an opportunity that’s a challenge, including involving hard work and tight time frames, but a job that provides the rewards of job satisfaction for a productive contribution. An importance on quality, emphasis on continued improvement, and goals of simplicity in complex situations while working in a team environment are also necessary.
The list I found and made in 2002 was:
- Use of Existing Core Skills – Technologies
- Oracle, Unix, Java, HTML/Web
- Open Source Projects (Apache – HTTP/Java/XML, MySQL, PHP, etc)
- Use of Existing Core Skills – Experience
- Database Modelling
- Large Systems Design & Development
- Application Performance & Tuning
- Technical Problem Solving
- About Newer Technologies
- Encourage/Embrace use
- Not bleeding edge
- Opportunity for learning new relative skills
- Work Environment
- Equipment
- Location
- Core working hours
- Work at home options?
- Team Environment
- Ability to undertaking varying roles (and not others due to a team)
- Existing working relationship with people
- Across Development/Management/Support teams
- Project Environment
- Durations 1 month – 1 year
- Challenging
- Varying
- Problem Solving
- Project Methodologies
- Emphasis on Quality Procedures
- Emphasis on Software Testing
- Emphasis on Customer
- Remuneration
- Other
- Some fun
What’s interesting to know, is that this list includes a lot of points I’d still consider essential for my “ideal job”. I’ll need to consider more a revised list, as it took some time to make this list up. It’s interesting to know that my present contract position, as well as my last position do not meet a great deal of my “ideal job” requirements.