Comment

Comment by James J. Popoff on June 10, 2008 at 8:59am

Good Morning. I'd like to explore the potential offered by this mode. I've been involved with consulting for about 23 years, and R & D consulting and full-time employment in R & D in particular for about 11 years. My experience has taught me that complex challenges that require advanced knowledge and, hence, people like us, have two fundamental components; there are the technical issues themselves of course, and there is the context, or political sphere. People who prefer to focus on the technical might do better as "visiting scholars," or "subject matter experts," or plain old contractors or what have you, because it takes a more coherent balance of the technical and the political to thrive as an employee (some might argue that to actually "thrive" requires no balance at all but I do think it depends on the company). I confess that I am one who really prefers to tackle a Problem, and derive pretty much sheer delight from the prospect. However, whether in the role of contractor or employee, I have found that once the Problem or Problems are solved to the extent that they can be handed off to subordinates I am, typically, once again looking for work (with the grateful thanks of the company). I generally observe that people who season their workday with much socializing, in person and on the phone, which demonstrates their adaptability I suppose, remain in place and are promoted. For some, that observation might peg me as a whiner, and again, it does depend on the company; but I do think that the information/description of the group speaks to a stubborn predilection among dare I say all of us toward a distance relationship, in addition to the other very good reasons for it such as responsibilities of child, convalescent, and elder care, unwillingness to relocate, and financial and personal cost of daily commuting. It also justifies, in my opinion, the rise (or spread) of the position of "project manager," which, if it is not initially outright redundant is at the expense of the more common line manager. In exchange for the clear line of authority of the latter, the former gains the flexibility to select resources from across functions and those assets include telecommuter resources, who in particular have weaker departmental ties and may be emotionally inclined to cleave to the PM as something like their current single, or among at most, several points of contact with the organization. I'm grateful that you had the wit to set up the group, Ms. Hercenberg, and I anticipate learning quite a lot here and maybe even contributing some too.

Comment by Chana Hercenberg on April 17, 2008 at 12:51am

I recently came across a website that might interest you in the meantime during your search, or possibly connect you with a company looking for your skills called www.odesk.com. They seem to offer free tests to service providers so they can prove their skills in different areas and then have projects posted. It looks like it might be somewhat similar to www.elance.com or www.guru.net. Those might be helpful too. Good luck!

Comment by Victor Zinenberg on March 31, 2008 at 7:47pm

I am looking for some telecommuting job.