As we enter the winter months and holiday season, when many of us will struggle to maintain or lose weight due to colder weather, a natural inclination to hibernate, and all those tempting holiday meals, I wanted to share my weight loss journey. This is not my typical post on AI, security, or career, but… Read More »
What It Really Looks Like to Study Artificial Intelligence Online A decade ago, most universities treated artificial intelligence as a single elective buried deep inside computer science. It was the kind of class you took after surviving data structures, algorithms, and a heavy dose of calculus. That began to change in 2018, when Carnegie Mellon… Read More »
Another Unforgettable Black Hat & DEF CON Week I landed in Las Vegas and checked into Circus Circus, a no-frills spot but close enough to DEF CON to make the walk easy. It felt like the right basecamp for a packed week. My 4th hacker summer camp! Tuesday was about arrivals, badges, and parties. I… Read More »
With so many Large Language Models (LLMs or GPTs) available today, how do you know which one to use? The truth is, there isn’t a single “best” model. Instead, the right choice depends on your specific needs and the tools you have at hand. General-Purpose LLMs Text-based LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are… Read More »
Vibe Learning is a new approach to education that uses AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to create a fast, interactive, and engaging learning experience. By shifting from traditional study methods to conversational exploration, learners can accelerate understanding, focus on what matters, and build knowledge more efficiently.
I was explaining my career progression to a new mentee recently, someone new to IT, and it got me thinking about how, early in life, it can be unclear how someone might transition through multiple jobs or careers. For many, these transitions are driven by interest, necessity such as being laid off, or a drive… Read More »
I’m still recovering from my third year at Black Hat and DefCon. The physical and emotional exhaustion, social overload, and post-event sniffles are all signs of a great conference. This year, I added an extra day for the first-ever Black Hat AI Summit. I was drawn to the topic, the networking opportunities, and my usual… Read More »
I returned from my second Hacker Summer Camp a few weeks back, Black Hat and DEF CON, and I’m excited to share my observations and notes. What is Hacker Summer Camp? DEF CON was started by Jeff Moss (known as Dark Tangent) at the age of 18 in 1993, with around 100 attendees, and it… Read More »
There are many opportunities in our professional lives to provide feedback on peers, managers, company direction, instructors, vendors, etc. You may be tempted to use these opportunities to focus on the negative by providing constructive criticism and negatively weighted responses. I suggest that you consider focusing on the positive. Consider that these feedback requests are… Read More »
At some point in your technical career, someone is going to ask you to research a new technology and to educate others on what you learned. Maybe you are a SME, consultant, salesperson, instructor, or you simply drew the short straw. I have been fortunate to experience this process many times in my professional career.… Read More »
Forged in Fire is a great analogy for a job interview. Forged in Fire is a one-hour blacksmithing competition show where four contestants compete in three rounds to identify the Forged in Fire Champion. Each round involves sword and knife forging competitions. Professional and amateur blacksmiths compete in timed rounds to forge weapons within specific… Read More »
The Information Technology career field draws people from many industries. If this is your first career or your third career; here are a few tips on how to be awesome at IT Admin. Most IT Admins are not programmers. Learn at least one programming language fluently. For those entering college that means taking the computer… Read More »
Here are some useful links for job seekers. I will update the list periodically.
Microsoft Specific, Resume Services, Soft Skills, Cyber Learning, Tech Training, Vet Resources, Tech Projects
Here is a list of over 1,000 hours of book recommendations (70 titles) from an audiobook and podcast addict. Walking, driving, shopping, cleaning, or just relaxing. Hopefully I can share my addition with others. May you also get strange looks from onlookers as you laugh unexpectedly or carry a silly grin or intense scowl. Enjoy!… Read More »
The two most important interview questions in my opinion are around your passion for technology and the company. Interviewers want to know that you are technology focused and that you are particularly interested in serving their organization. How do you stay up on technology? The core of this question is an attempt to assess your… Read More »
Here is a screen shot of me preparing for my 2017 interview with Microsoft. Here are a few remote interview tips. Look closely… I have a high-end web camera mounted on a tripod at a flattering angel. Many laptops place the camera at an unusual angle. The larger camera provides a better focal point for… Read More »
Do not get taken to the cleaners by web hosting companies with insufficient security controls that upsell you to expensive website protection services. They have a financial incentive not to protect your websites. I host my WordPress websites with a big hosting company. One of my sites was attacked. My hosting company was quick to… Read More »
How will you prepare for your next interview? Please let me share my tips on preparing for and landing the interview for your dream job. Crushing the interview begins long before the actual interview. Identify your dream job (get your head out of the “any” job mindset). Determine the type of work, a short list… Read More »
Quick tips for achieving the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification. There are no prerequisites. You only need to complete AZ-300 and AZ-301. I do highly recommend completing AZ-900, AZ-103, and AZ-500 prior. Be prepared to retake 2-3 exams along the way. Test early and test often. These exams overlap and have a cumulative effect. Starting… Read More »
Are you at a fork in the road? Time to polish your resume or maybe time to write your first resume? I have completed over 100 technical interviews, mostly for college and veteran hiring programs. I see a lot of bad resumes and would like to share some tips on resume writing. In my experience,… Read More »