Career Advice from the Internet

The problem with taking career advice from the Internet, or any advice that relates to you or your business, is that humans suffer from many different cognitive biases. In particular, illusory superiority is a huge barrier to understanding and following the advice that is available online.

Although the biases still persist, I think it is far more helpful to talk to people/experts and get advice that is specific to the situation. Hopefully, the person giving the advice will be helpful enough to identify and correct any biases. This is why mentors, coaches and consultants are so important – to help reveal the obvious.

Don’t Be An IT Consultant

I finally made it, safely, to Bracknell. I had a 4 hour delay from Boston due to a volcano eruption in Iceland. When I finally got to Reykjavik, the mechanics union went on strike. After 9 hours of waiting, they finally let us board. The story I heard is that the parliament stepped in to resolve the situation. I finally made it to Heathrow, where it was a zoo trying to get through immigration. Once I was through immigration, I had a great limo driver who took me to the Hilton St. Anne’s Manor. (I am a Marriott Platinum member, but I decided to try the Hilton Gold status that was conferred upon me. And besides, it is close to our office and a co-worker recommended it.) I learned my lesson though, because they bumped me for someone more important.

They put me in a cab to the other Hilton here, Hilton Bracknell. They gave me a choice of a free room upgrade or wireless, so I picked the wireless. Oh, I ordered in a pepperoni pizza, and they sent over a pepperoni, tuna, ham, olive, green and yellow pepper pizza. The diet coke I ordered turned out to be a regular coke and I’m too tired to complain.

To anyone who is considering a career in IT Consulting, I say forget it. It is better to be an I-banker. Or a hotelier. Or a CPG manager. You’ll have a better commute.