|
The short answer is, I'm a professional engineer
specializing in software/system QA, test, testing,
verification, validation, and documentation,
and would like to expand my experience in
these areas.
The long answer is,
I have 10+ years of industry / paid commercial
experience,
including 10+ years of current Software QA experience.
View my 5-page software engineer resume
here.
I only do this because I'm very good at it, and
love to do it, too. Software/system QA/test/testing is
where my passion lies, where I get my greatest
fulfillment, and where most of my abilities lie.
Whether it is in writing bug reports, creating test
cases, or writing test procedures, it is all deeply
fulfilling and exciting to me.
Keep in mind, according to one myth, all software engineers
are developers. The reality is, many of us are not!
I'm a software engineer, specializing software/system testing,
verification and validation. I'm not a developer;
I don't spend my life writing code, and staring at glowing
monitors all day!
According to one myth is, we contractors have "no skills" because
we're unable to hold down "real" jobs.
The reality is, we contractors are MORE skilled, and quickly become
increasingly more skilled and talented than "permanent" employees,
mainly because we have to be. If we were less skilled, we couldn't find,
interview for, and keep up with the many different jobs and end clients
the marketplace throws at us every day.
There is no work like contract work, because contract work
is what pressures, motivates and forces us to build our technical as well as
people skills!
Some recruiters are wonderful.
The ideal call I have in mind goes something
like this: Telephone rings and it's a
recruiter. He/she says a well-known and
large client - like Lockheed or Honeywell
- has a major project underway and
there is lots of work. The client needs
many software test
engineers. "It is a contract. The
job description is a short ______. What do you
think? Duration is 11 months, but there is
work for up to five years. The rate is
generous and we can shoot for $65, $75, or
even $85 per hour. Are you interested,
and would you like to be submitted?"
I believe the most important thing is to
'work'. If it's on my resume and the rate
is right, I will do it. I'm a firm
believer in taking the bird in the hand.
If I'm offered a start date, I usually
take it, no matter what it is. It's not
forever. My main concern is a paycheck on
Fridays.
|