Good article…but I still think the biggest problem is that we underpay our teachers relative to the current market.

http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/aug-2014/teachers-vital-ingredient-creating-uks-next-generation-engineers

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3 Ways Social Media Can Help You Land a Job (And Keep It)

What a great article. And great to see a CEO wanting the technology he is involved in to actually help graduates.

Love this quote.

“My point is that as social media becomes incorporated more fully into business (and it will!) being savvy about Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn will become a critical skill set. In today’s business landscape, jobs are becoming less specialized and more general; the more you know, the more hireable you become.”

Suggests to me that new graduates when they apply for jobs, will more and more be judged on their own credentials. And they’ll have to show a genuine interest (and better still would be passion) in the job they are applying for.

http://blog.hootsuite.com/3-ways-get-a-job/

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In Head-Hunting, Big Data May Not Be Such a Big Deal

Shame about the title of the article, because it actually has a very revealing quote from Google.

Q. Other insights from the data you’ve gathered about Google employees?

A. One of the things we’ve seen from all our data crunching is that G.P.A.’s are worthless as a criteria for hiring, and test scores are worthless — no correlation at all except for brand-new college grads, where there’s a slight correlation. Google famously used to ask everyone for a transcript and G.P.A.’s and test scores, but we don’t anymore, unless you’re just a few years out of school. We found that they don’t predict anything.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/business/in-head-hunting-big-data-may-not-be-such-a-big-deal.html?_r=0

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I’m a mother first and a boss second, says Burberry chief as she reveals how she balances career with children

Just heard the Burberry CEO leaving for a role at Apple.

Reminded me of a great article I read on her a month ago. Clearly a very successful boss but also very well grounded. Good for her. The world needs more bosses like her.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2415439/Burberry-CEO-Angela-Ahrendts-unusual-recipe-balancing-career-children.html

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EU study on migrants rebuffs ‘benefit tourism’ claims

I always thought this would be the case – can’t think of anyone immigrating to UK not aspiring to get a job…certainly not coming here for the pristine beaches and long summers!

Yup, UK and certainly London these are not very enjoyable locations to be in without a job. If you are going to be unemployed I recommend a location with fantastic weather and beaches!

“According to the latest report, jobless EU migrants form 1% of the total EU population. In the UK the figure was 1.2% in 2011 and 2012.”

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Joining a software startup right out of school

This is a fantastic article. It should be mandatory reading for all IT Graduates globally. Infact even for High School (in the UK Secondary School) leavers.

I’d also like to add don’t let the fear of failure in startups deter you from considering them. The younger you are, the less likely you are to have family (ie kids) and financial (ie a mortgage & school fees) commitments which WILL more likely influence your decision making against startups.

You only live once so make it count and list all the options on the table, go through the pros and cons. And make a call, ideally talk it through with a friend or co-graduate.

http://chase-seibert.github.io/blog/2013/10/04/what-to-know-before-starting-at-a-startup.html

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StageLearn

Looks like a good resource, especially for home learners. Frightening some of the stats on the US K-12 system. Especially worrying that only 17% of engineer graduates are female.

Will be important that they keep the content of the case studies updated. I wish them the best of luck.

http://www.stagelearn.org/t1/History

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The Star Wars Character Tournament

Very funny.

Immediate questions that come to mind.

1. How on earth can people vote Boba Fett over Emperor Palpatine in the dark side semi final?

2. On what planet are the people on who gave R2-D2 33% against Yoda in the light side Final?

3. And judging on “who delivered the best results” model for their respective sides. Surely Darth Vader out performs Yoda. Infact on who’s watch did the Galaxy fall to the dark side? Yoda’s. I rest my case.

http://starwars.com/This-Is-Madness/

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In America’s Cup, Oracle Team USA looks for high tech advantage

Great article on Asim Khan, the New Zealander in charge of IT for Oracle Team USA.

Especially these quotes.

So how did Khan end up in such an interesting job? By accident, it turns out. He said he had “no interest in sailing whatsoever”

“The fact that they’re world famous sailors is really by-the-by to me,” he said.

I love us IT guys. Always one of the more honest departments in a firm. Most of us just want to get the stuff working and move onto the next problem. We aren’t that interested in the actual users at all (and clearly the feeling can be rather mutual) !

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9230436/In_America_39_s_Cup_Oracle_Team_USA_looks_for_high_tech_advantage

Amos Hermens

A believer in the kindness of all humans

The season when Spurs almost got relegated!

Teachers – the vital ingredient in creating the UK’s next generation of engineers

I always thought this would be the case – can’t think of anyone immigrating to UK not aspiring to get a job…certainly not coming here for the pristine beaches and long summers!

“According to the latest report, jobless EU migrants form 1% of the total EU population. In the UK the figure was 1.2% in 2011 and 2012.”