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Published: Sept. 14, 2020, midnight

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Phil\\u2019s guest on the show this time is Doug Arcuri, a Software Engineering Manager for IBM who has worked in the IT industry for 15 years.\\xa0 His interest in computers began when his parents purchased a Gateway PC in 1998 which led to him developing a few successful game modifications for Half Life. Subsequently, Doug went on to learn engineering concepts, C++, website design and game modification tooling setting the foundation for his IT career.

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Doug and Phil talk about the importance of building effective business relationships over being entirely purpose-driven, and why people should be the foundations of any career.

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Doug also talks about why feedback should always be welcomed as a way of helping us grow and develop, instead of being seen as criticism.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

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TOP CAREER TIP

Don\\u2019t be entirely purpose-driven. It\\u2019s important to focus on the business and upon delivery, but we must also pay consideration to building effective, empowering relationships.

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WORST CAREER MOMENT

After finding himself out of a job, Doug decided to not only hone his interviewing skills for the next opportunity, but to keep it going as a regular concern, meeting often ever since to further practice and develop the skills needed in order to keep sharp.

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CAREER HIGHLIGHT

As a leader, Doug has been responsible for not only hiring, but developing his team members. Using his three stage method of making sure the direction of the team is correct, mentoring others in the team and setting boundaries, and some project management, Doug has found great success is developing people.

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THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T

Doug is particularly excited by The Developer\\u2019s Experience concept, which has many facets, and which shows that tools are opportunities for engineers to develop. Semantic Code Analysis, also, uses AI to gain clear feedback for code reviews, which should provide a new sense of expediency.

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THE REVEAL

What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? \\u2013 Doug grew up with video games, and found that he had an early knack for tweaking the experience through technical means. When he discovered a far more technical route to the same in later life, the career choice became obvious.

What\\u2019s the best career advice you received? \\u2013 To write for the community at large. Writing helps to clarify thought, and to inspire others.

What\\u2019s the worst career advice you received? \\u2013 To make things up. Working \\u201coff message\\u201d only leads to confusion and dissatisfaction.

What would you do if you started your career now? \\u2013 Doug would have nurtured the skill of building relationships with others, and sought more opportunities for collaboration.

What are your current career objectives? \\u2013 To become better as a software engineer manager, focusing heavily on the meta of the role.

What\\u2019s your number one non-technical skill? \\u2013 To find the humour in conversations with software engineers.

How do you keep your own career energized? \\u2013 Focussing on hobbies, such as scale-modelling, helps to keep the mind sharp. It also teaches the value of success and failure.

What do you do away from technology? \\u2013 Spending time with family, especially in the recent lockdown period, is a great source of comfort and happiness.

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FINAL CAREER TIP

When you receive feedback, you should view it as a gift and accept it gratefully. We tend to have problems in accepting feedback objectively, but we should endeavor to remember that it can make us better in some way.

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BEST MOMENTS

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(4:14) \\u2013 Doug- \\u201cFor a business to be effective, and for you to be effective wherever you are, you really need to get to know the people first\\u201d

(6:01) \\u2013 Doug - \\u201cIn order to be successful in interviewing, it\\u2019s a skill, you have to practice it\\u201d

(14:23) \\u2013 Doug - \\u201cClarify your priorities with your partners and product and project management, and make sure that those priorities are clear\\u201d

(19:50) \\u2013 Doug - \\u201cWhen we receive feedback it\\u2019s a gift, and you should simply say thank you, take it in, and reflect on it\\u201d

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ABOUT THE HOST \\u2013 PHIL BURGESS

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Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions.\\xa0 Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.\\xa0 And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.

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CONTACT THE HOST \\u2013 PHIL BURGESS

Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess

Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer

Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer

Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact

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Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast\\u2019s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com

Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer

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ABOUT THE GUEST \\u2013 DOUG ARCURI

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Doug Arcuri is a Software Engineering Manager for IBM who has worked in the IT industry for 15 years.\\xa0 His interest in computers began when his parents purchased a Gateway PC in 1998 which led to him developing a few successful game modifications for Half Life. Subsequently, Doug went on to learn engineering concepts, C++, website design and game modification tooling setting the foundation for his IT career.

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CONTACT THE GUEST \\u2013 DOUG ARCURI

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Doug Arcuri can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/dougarcuri

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglaswarcuri/

Website: https://medium.com/@solidi

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