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Do I need a managed switch at home?

Dave Farquhar Careers, Servers and Networking March 13, 2018October 27, 2018 0 Comment

Like most people, I used consumer-grade switches on my home network for years and years, like TP-Link switches. They’re fine, but my older Linksys switch started acting flaky the other night. My oldest son’s computer kept dropping off the network. So that got me thinking. Do I need a managed switch at home?

Whether I need a managed switch for my home network or not, I bought a Dell Powerconnect 2824 smart managed switch, and I got it for less than a Linksys. This is a great opportunity to learn wired networking at home, the way businesses do it. Sure, it’s overkill, but here’s why I think it’s a good idea.

Telecommuting pros and cons

Dave Farquhar Careers February 5, 2018October 29, 2018 0 Comment

Telecommuting isn’t all that new of an idea. I’ve been doing it to some extent since 2002 or 2003. And I’ve been telecommuting full time since 2016. Let’s take a look at some telecommuting pros and cons, as they can be significant.

I worked from home a significant part of the time from 2002-2009 and again from 2012-2014. Many of my colleagues did as well.

How to quit a fast food job

Dave Farquhar Careers December 8, 2017July 27, 2018 0 Comment

People frequently ask me for advice on how to quit a job, maybe because I’m a writer. But it’s only as hard as you make it. It’s possible to quit a job graciously and not destroy references you might need someday. Here’s how to quit a fast food job.

How to get a job in information security

Dave Farquhar Careers, security November 17, 2017May 15, 2018 0 Comment

I got involved in a pair of conversations in the last week. One person complained that there’s a job shortage in information security but she can’t get one. Another complained there’s a job shortage in information security and he can’t find qualified candidates to fill them. In that spirit, here’s my advice on how to get a job in information security.

Account for period between jobs

Dave Farquhar Careers April 10, 2017May 2, 2018project management

It’s a fair question to ask how to account for period between jobs. Depending on the circumstances, it may not matter very much. But it’s always a good idea to have an answer.

Is fast food a retail job?

Dave Farquhar Careers October 26, 2016November 23, 2018best buy, job duties

Is fast food a retail job? Only if you spin it. If you’re asking the question, that’s probably what you need to do. Here’s how to do just that if you’re looking for a change.

Is my IT department spying on me?

Dave Farquhar Careers, security August 31, 2016October 5, 2018CIO, Microsoft Office, Proxy server, troubleshooting

There’ve been some stories floating around about how to make your IT department spy on you. The advice is good. The question you may be asking is how much does your IT department really know? Or, more directly, is my IT department spying on me?

I can’t answer the second question with certainty. But the first question is a lot. I’ll tell you a story.

Fast food vs. retail

Dave Farquhar Careers January 26, 2016January 18, 2018

If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t require a lot of specialized skills, training, or experience, you are probably weighing fast food vs. retail. These two options have some trade offs.

Non-competes and me

Dave Farquhar Careers January 14, 2015January 18, 2018information security

I’ve read the stories this week about how fast-food chains like Jimmy John’s are forcing employees to sign non-compete agreements.

I’ve been asked to sign a non-compete exactly twice in my career, and signed one once, but neither of them was back in my teenage fast-food days.

IT personnel and knowing things they aren’t supposed to know

Dave Farquhar Careers August 7, 2014October 5, 2018passwords

On Slashdot, a newcomer to the IT field asked a really good question: What do you do to avoid seeing things you’re not supposed to see?

Clearly, some people do it better than others, but it seems to me it’s a fact of life that eventually you will see things you’re not supposed to see. How you handle it is the bigger problem. Read more