SDACM Career Task Force
The Career Task Force is dedicated to providing assistance to computing professionals who want to pursue careers in computing in the San Diego community. We sincerely hope that the information on these web pages and the programs offered by the SDACM will help you with your job search. We are always looking for ways to improve our information and programs. Please feel free to respond with your comments and suggestions.
Job Seeking Sessions
The SDACM typically holds monthly meetings from September through May. Until recently, the CTF would hold a session prior to the monthly meeting. It would invite recruiters, job seekers, and corporations to network and make presentions. Since most previous CTF participants have found jobs, though, the CTF has fallen dormant. If you have an interest in reinstituting these meetings, please let us know at info@sdacm.org.
Job Seeking Resources
Job Boards
There are a number of job boards. Many of these boards offer services in addition to resume and job posting such as resume review, periodic newsletters as well as articles about interviewing and job searching techniques. If you are actively looking for work you may not want to make the job boards your sole approach to the job search. Well known job boards include Monster.com, FlipDog, Dice, SignOnSanDiego, HotJobs.com, Job Search USA. (This is not an exhaustive list.) This UCSD site does a good job of gathering information from many job boards.
Technical Associations
In addition to the SDACM, you might look at other technical association to broaden your network. Active computing associations in San Diego include the San Diego IEEE, San Diego Telecom, UCSD Connect, and the San Diego Software Industry Council. You can subscribe to most of these associations and get periodic emails about regular meetings and company events.
User Groups
Another great avenue for pursuing your interests and meeting people are user groups. San Diego has a number of highly rated user groups that include the San Diego Oracle User’s Group and the San Diego Java Users Group. There is also an active Linux group that meets regularly, San Diego Linux Users Group. This is just a small sample.
Company Research
If you want to plug into the local business community you should subscribe to the San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Daily Transcript. The San Diego Business Journal publishes “The List”. Many people pay to get their hands on this list. You may want to subscribe instead. Check it out before buying just “The List”. UCSD Connect also offers individual membership that comes with a registry of member companies, another good source of company listings.
San Diego Workforce
The San Diego Workforce has regional resource centers that provide a wealth of programs. You can practice interviewing and network with other professionals as well as access reams of research and other resource materials. This one is a must!
Books
The classic book for job seekers (not just career changers) is “What Color Is Your Parachute?”. The 2003 edition of this book is full of web resources as well as good advice and practical suggestions. This book is well worth the price. (You can find this book at San Diego Technical Books.) This book has a related web site. Everything on this site is completely free and requires no registration.
