Status of MSIE and MSIE'ers

[Romola Chrzanowski]

So the MSIE program is ending. There seem to be other changes to the offerings at the grad center. I got a lot of mileage out of the training I received in the program - back in 2000. I've also benefited from quite a few ad hoc courses in the web area. But, I've been unemployed for a year now, and don't see much to be optimistic about in the job market. I should have repeated the MSIE courses this past year, just to audit - but no chance of doing that anymore.

Does anyone in this albeit small MSIE group have any ideas about how to actually find work? My experiences so far seem to be that potential employers are more interested in getting free advice and free work, somehow assuming that because one is applying for a job that means one is used to not earning anything and so pay doesn't matter.

And, now on top of it all there will be no such degree as MSIE that a professional contact could know the meaning of because the grad center is making it an obsolete degree. Could it possibly be sustained?

For anyone with advice for me - here is my resume: http://romolachrzanowski.info/index.php/resume

If you have any collaborative projects *for pay* I'd be interested. Thanks.

[Ron Pulcer]

Romola,

I am a MSIE 2007 grad. I still work at NewsBank (same job I had before I started at Marlboro). I checked our corporate site and currently there are no jobs posted. However, you could still try sending a resume. There is another MSIE grad from around 2002-03 (John Majonen) who works at NewsBank. I work in Chester, VT and John works in Keene, NH. The IT staff is split between the two locations.

Here is the company website and link to employment page:

http://www.newsbank.com/
http://www.newsbank.com/index.cfm?content=106

The HR Director is Dale Williamson (female):
P.O. Box 219
Chester, Vermont 05143

Another thought might be to "ask" Marlboro Grad Center if they have a need to teach any summer "bootcamp" courses. That is how I first did a try before buy" by taking a Dreamweaver weekend course at MCGC. You might also try to check around to see what people you know would like to learn and offer to teach a suggested course (if you know that software or language).

Given that MSIE is being phased out, there may still be a need to teach some more "technical" short courses. It is worth asking.

Best of luck in your job search.

Ron Pulcer
MSIE 2007

[Romola Chrzanowski]

Thanks very much Ron. I appreciate the information and will follow up and send my resume to Newsbank.

Best regards.
Romola

[Jil MacMenamin]

Romola:

It is sad to see the MSIE degree program being retired. The technology changes and is constantly evolving - it was a wonderful resource to audit Mark's classes and be spoon fed -or- drowning by Fire Hose, depending on your background.

I agree with Ron - the Grad Center will still need some technical training - and workshops during lunch hours helped me a great deal when I was learning the Web Interface. In addition, there are other schools that need to develop their technical training. Teaching is the best way to advertise. Teaching On-Line is a very practical option for those of us in Vermont! Your resume reflects your ability for detail. Nice Job.

I believe, John Majonen is a MSIE’02, I'm a MSIE'03 Alumni and he was not in my class. I do remember meeting him because I was the Software Quality Assurance Manager at Newsbank/Readex from 1992-1994. It is an interesting place and their product - information retrieval on indexed information is very interesting. I enjoyed the work very much, and the product.

JilMac MSIE'03 http://JilMac.com