gtaylor@astroatc.UUCP (Greg Taylor) (01/21/86)
Learning How to Read These
Things is Half the Battle
So there you are, becalmed in the "Horse Latitudes" of the
working day, n-keying your way idly through the news, cast-
ing about for job listings that are somewhere your area of
interest and/or expertise:
(We are looking for a Compiler Designer--
specifically, we want someone who will work on the
development of a PASCAL Compiler, and the support of
a code-scheduling compiler back end.)
while you check out the mail path for the name of the firm,
praying that some joker didn't diddle with the "Organiza-
tion" line. Aha! A snappy "Subject" line on the top has
caught your attention. Now, you swing into action, hurriedly
taking out your "Junior Semiotician" kit.
(We are Astronautics Corporation of America, a firm
with expertise in high technology that dates from
before the time that it was even called "high
tech").
Right, right. Quick! On to where they start listing the
background qualifications:
(We are looking for applicants with an MS in Comput-
er Science or equivalent experience, and a thorough
working knowledge of PASCAL, C, and the UNIX operat-
ing system.).
Hmmm...could you reconstitute all those scrogged synapses
that at one time made you a crack whatever-you-were? Next,
it always helps to read the "experience desired" part of the
listing. That way, you can figure out what you'd be doing
there next if you took the job. Avoid all postings that list
"shark bait" as a desired background trait.
(It is also desirable that a prospective applicant
should have experience with and a working knowledge
of ADA, and some background in pipelined computer
compilation techniques and the development of com-
pilers for the multiprocessing environment).
Finally, you've gotta check out the address of the place and
the people you've gotta contact to make sure you won't wind
up in a little condo on the outskirts of East Nowhere.
Besides, you've got to know where to send your resume or
those feeler letters that always start the "dance of employ-
ment."
(The city of Madison is one of those places that
most people try to avoid leaving. It is the capitol
of Wisconsin and home of the University of Wiscon-
sin, and a place known for its high quality of life.
Madison is a city built on the shores of four lakes.
It is surrounded on all sides by the beautiful State
of Wisconsin, which offers cows and many recreation-
al opportunities, including sporting and cultural
events).
That's pretty much how they do it. And all of those network
blurbs end with some inspiring aphorism and the usual stuff.
Apply today and join the Future already in progress!
If you are qualified and interested in contributing to major
new technology and product development, please submit your
resume in confidence to Mary Burnett
Astronautics Technology Center
5800 Cottage Grove Road
Madison, Wisconsin 53716
608-221-9001
or via E-mail to
{ihnp4,seismo,harvard}!uwvax!astroatc!maryb
An Equal Opportunity Employer, Astronautics Corporation of
America offers a comprehensive benefit package including
relocation.