An old hacker's tips on staying employed
This captures a lot of what I have always wanted to express. I am of same cohort as the author, and aside from being laid off once (which, honestly, was wonderful) I have managed to stay well employed 30 years in tech.  I hold no degree. I have no specific super powers.  But, yes... everything stated here rings true for me.  I would, humbly, add some of my own.<p>Learn the people patterns.  Every where I have worked has at least a few, if not all, members of Typical IT Cast Of Characters.  There is the &quot;know-it-all-but-does-not&quot;, &quot;wise old sage&quot;, &quot;management climber&quot;, &quot;new guy&quot;, &quot;one-job-and-doesn&#x27;t-want-to-change&quot;, &quot;hockey-jersey-guy-who-smells-but-knows-too-much&quot;, etc.   Pick your own.  Most of these people will avoid, tolerate, get along with, or maybe love the others.  Or some combination thereof.   I have found being the impartial mediator to be advantageous.  Be the &quot;Ferris Bueller&quot;.<p>Know the business as well as the tech.  Technologists that can dive into the business language and work with both groups are invaluable.<p>Diagrams. Work hard on developing the capability to express ideas&#x2F;concepts&#x2F;flows in a diagram that fits on one sheet of paper.  Do this all the time...even for one-offs.  As the author states, it helps build your brand.  It&#x27;s advertising. When I see a one-pager I did 6 months ago on a desk covered with coffee stains, or pinned to the wall above monitor...I know I have made an impression.  I worked with a few masters of this craft, and honestly, they are all magic on any team.<p>Share credit constantly.  Don&#x27;t ever appear that you need validation.  Give good ideas away for team members to catch and grow. You will build a community around you that seek you out for guidance.  Time passes quickly... that junior dev you credited for a schema re-jig 5 years ago is now a VP at BigCo.  She didn&#x27;t forget.  Keep in touch, right?