A lot of responses I've seen seem to bag on side-projects. My experience has been a little different, but I see the wisdom in 'Don't pursue side projects if its purely for getting a job'.
Here's my story: I was a Junior in College, and had just learned Java. I was bored with the class, so decided to do something with Java, since I'd just picked it up. I decided to write a small mod for Minecraft, back before like 1.5 or something. It was a simple terrain modification, involving some basic 3D geometry. And after a few weeks, I was able to post it and had some success. I was very pleased with my Floating Islands.
That summer, when I was applying for _Internships_, They asked about my work with Java, and I mentioned the mod I had made, and explained the process as well as the logic I had used to get it done. They later extended an offer to me, and thus I started my first Internship.
As I got to know some of my interviewers, by working with them, I was given the chance to ask what I had done which made them think to offer me the spot. You see, I wasn't the strongest in CompSci, since I was actually studying as an Electrical Engineer. The interviewer mentioned a small handful of things involving problem solving, and the way I could handle changes in requirements ( they enjoyed throwing a wrench in the works during the interview questions). And then he mentioned that my work outside of school had put me over the edge because it wasn't just academic, it was personal.
So in summary, perhaps at the Professional Level side-projects of low-impact have a low rate of return, but at the college level, I believe it is worth investing your time in a side-project, to grow your skills and to show you are interested in it beyond mere academia.
I've heard this advise relatively frequently. But I've heard very little suggestions for effective ways to approach this with your manager. Any ideas?
I've heard the usual 'assemble a list of your accomplishments' but I am also interested in how to get such a conversation started without burning bridges.
Sloppy or Serious: I have to agree with that. The attitude of the person in that case would dominate their work quality.
However I think you are being overly cynical about the 'Senior Web Engineer' bit.
True, you can make it far by faking it. Very far in some cases. But number of times I have run into developers that only landed the job because of the habit you describe, I can count on one hand. Was there a particular event that shaded your world view so?
As to the rest: Most appear to be under Server Side control. For the choice of IPs, I think I can filter Tors list of usable IPs... I think. Is there a list of known problem Ips? Or perhaps such an effort would not pay good dividends?
Personally, I have encountered this too. And I feel I might have found a way out, but first I want to share some of my thoughts.
Several Commentators have struck on some pillars of the issue. Whether it is lack of time spent thinking or lack of time spent encountering new ideas. I will suggest two more possibilities:
1. If you are working now, then perhaps a large portion of your creativity has been spent on the problems you are currently facing. Having done this for an entire workday is it any wonder that when you finally have a free moment, you are tired? That all you hear in your head is mental static?
2. Consider along a similar vein, creativity may be like a muscle. Certainly, I cannot think on hard problems for more than 8 hours straight. Suppose then, that with the transition into the pattern of work, you muscle has become tired. Naturally, it will produce little when un-rested. In my opinion, rest can come from breaking patterns, or from 'stretching' by encountering new ideas, trying to think of or solve puzzles in new ways.
I hit this wall very quickly after college. And I was frustrated for about a quarter, before I found ways to break the mold. What I found was Ted Talks, and news sources like Hacker News. Both these allowed my to be exposed to new ideas. But moreover, I got caught up in the excitement and the mentality of the communities therein. Instead of asking, 'could I ever do this?' I found my self asking, 'How could I not?'. This change in thinking is very powerful, in my opinion. It frames every one of your actions, and changes the tenor of your thoughts for the better.
The last thing I found that helped me, was starting a blog. I had been frustrated by the lack of career movement (shocker I know, and perhaps a bit naive at the time), and by the lack of fresh ideas and challenges. I found that by writing about my thoughts and about my projects, I achieved two things.
First, I found a new challenge, as I am not the best writer. Naturally, writing a blog on any kind of a consistent basis would necessarily exercise that part of me. And Second, I opened my thinking to items beyond just programming. I found issues and ideas flowing from things as simple as an ill-organized meeting.
I don't know if these ideas will help, but you should know you are not alone. Further, I encourage you to not give up, but more importantly, to be unafraid to look in novel places. To summarize a passage written by C.S. Lewis:
"The Man to loves the thought of flying may be discouraged by the loss of the first blush enjoyment when he joins the air force. But if he sets his teeth and continues to walk towards the goal of his original passion, he may yet find other interests along the road. Once he has mastered flying, though it's passion no longer burns as brightly, he may discover a love of gardening or of photography. So long as he is willing to surrender that first hot, bright passion for the quieter longer-burning kind. "
I do not recall the work, but it may have been The Abolition of Man... or perhaps the Great Divorce. If someone know better, I would welcome the correction.
In either case, It captures well the core of the issue. Lament not the loss of your first fruit, and look to the horizon for yet more harvest. Good luck sir/madam, We all wish you the best.
-Edit-
My goodness I am long winded. I formally apologize, but retain my hope that it serves well.
I've run into the same problem before. I found that Bullet Journals have a good system for this. And it is applicable to any notebook you have. (Similar suggestion was made earlier in the comments.)
Link: http://bulletjournal.com/
It would seem that the Performance Review is less a measurement to be taken accurately, and more a Tool to be used to subtly move people.
The study you cited provides a useful enumeration of why. And if you read carefully you can begin to see that the perception of the tool is likely to be incorrect. (that of a measurement to be taken accurately).
To quote the end of the study:
" The goal then is not to arbitrarily and ruthlessly try to eliminate politics but, instead, to effectively manage the role politics plays in employee appraisal."
Cool! If you've currated the sources that could make it easier. You should take a look at feedly [ http://feedly.com/ ]. You could learn from their UX, and maybe improve upon it. I currently use them on my browser and my phone(android), and I enjoy the experience and control.
I have found that using a Bullet Journal ( a nice pen and paper solution) I can cover my Calendar, Tasks, and even general notes rather well.
You can find instruction here:
http://bulletjournal.com/
, but the best part is that it will work with any notebook you have lying around!
For Kanban's, I have used Trello, but got a little annoyed. I recently found this personal Kanban project:
https://github.com/greggigon/my-personal-kanban
It's use is very simple, and I find that it works well for me. A little difficult to share among a group though.
Finally for All the rest of my documentation: Keepnote
http://keepnote.org/
This glorious little tool handled nearly anything you can throw at it. It supports Windows and Linux ( I am not certain about Mac), and it is search-able. I have used it from all my work related notes, specifically for debugging solutions, like Binding Exceptions in Telerik.
Here's my story: I was a Junior in College, and had just learned Java. I was bored with the class, so decided to do something with Java, since I'd just picked it up. I decided to write a small mod for Minecraft, back before like 1.5 or something. It was a simple terrain modification, involving some basic 3D geometry. And after a few weeks, I was able to post it and had some success. I was very pleased with my Floating Islands.
That summer, when I was applying for _Internships_, They asked about my work with Java, and I mentioned the mod I had made, and explained the process as well as the logic I had used to get it done. They later extended an offer to me, and thus I started my first Internship.
As I got to know some of my interviewers, by working with them, I was given the chance to ask what I had done which made them think to offer me the spot. You see, I wasn't the strongest in CompSci, since I was actually studying as an Electrical Engineer. The interviewer mentioned a small handful of things involving problem solving, and the way I could handle changes in requirements ( they enjoyed throwing a wrench in the works during the interview questions). And then he mentioned that my work outside of school had put me over the edge because it wasn't just academic, it was personal.
So in summary, perhaps at the Professional Level side-projects of low-impact have a low rate of return, but at the college level, I believe it is worth investing your time in a side-project, to grow your skills and to show you are interested in it beyond mere academia.