As I write this, there is a flurry of questions about whether Cove readers have gained value from the job listings offered in a companion Forum (Job Openings and Employment Opportunities (http://elsmar.com/Forums/forumdisplay.php?f=78))

As I have been thinking about answers to THOSE questions, I became curious about the general value Cove readers DO or DO NOT derive from reading posts and threads, asking and answering questions, while here in the Cove.

The poll is anonymous. You may answer more than one item. If you feel something was very instrumental in helping or hindering your career, we'd like to hear about it. If you'd like a measure of anonymity, contact any one of the moderators you feel comfortable with and he/she will post it for you anonymously to the general public.

The things that were helpful or harmful to your career do not necessarily have to be from the Professional Employment and Occupation Related (http://elsmar.com/Forums/forumdisplay.php?f=94) group of Forums, but may be anywhere in the Cove, past or present.

As I write this, there is a flurry of questions about whether Cove readers have gained value from the job listings offered in a companion Forum (Job Openings and Employment Opportunities (http://elsmar.com/Forums/forumdisplay.php?f=78))

As I have been thinking about answers to THOSE questions, I became curious about the general value Cove readers DO or DO NOT derive from reading posts and threads, asking and answering questions, while here in the Cove.

The poll is anonymous. You may answer more than one item. If you feel something was very instrumental in helping or hindering your career, we'd like to hear about it. If you'd like a measure of anonymity, contact any one of the moderators you feel comfortable with and he/she will post it for you anonymously to the general public.

The things that were helpful or harmful to your career do not necessarily have to be from the Professional Employment and Occupation Related (http://elsmar.com/Forums/forumdisplay.php?f=94) group of Forums, but may be anywhere in the Cove, past or present.

Wes, interesting poll. I cannot answer any of the poll questions, because I have not chnaged jobs. But I will enthusiastically state that the forum has been very beneficial to me in my current work. The spirited discussions and reasoned differing viewpoints has helped me mature and develop my own viewpoints significantly. I believe it has made me a much more effective and balanced auditor and trainer. Even some clients have commented on the changes.

Thanks,

Helmut

Can't even stretch #3?
The Cove is directly or indirectly responsible for keeping my present job or getting a promotion.

Can't even stretch #3?
The Cove is directly or indirectly responsible for keeping my present job or getting a promotion.



Well, maybe, but that would really stretch. I am technically independent - I am my boss and my employee - I would have to give myself a promotion for #3 to stick...and I'm not sure that is in the budget this year...

In a small country where we don't have any quality based organization such as ASQ or a chapter of any foreign based organization, the Cove has help me to keep abreast of new developments in this field and have a feel of practices elsewhere.

All,

As I've stated many times here, the Cove has been a wonderful place to learn and grow. I'm sure that it advanced my status within positions and helped gain me promotion. It continues to help me.

Kev

I voted #3 but I believe that's a very loose fit as I work for a small company there is no room for promotion...however I do believe what I have learned at the cove has contributed greatly to establishing myself as a capable employee. The cove has not only been a fantastic resource for answering specific work related questions, it has also broadened my knowledge base and exposure to different information and issues.

I'm in about the same boat as Benjamin28.
I've only been around for about 2 years so I can't say it's helped my career but it sure has helped me in my job.

I feel like I registered last week and I have accomplished so much by just reading people's comments. I am an Electro-Mechanical Engineer and I just got into Quality, 2 months ago...I just started my career and I feel like Cove is pretty laid that foundation for me.

Most of my activity here is in attempting to answer questions rather than ask them. But I find the act of trying to answer questions that I don't usually deal with to be mind-stretching, and I can see how others react to the responses. Many times I've thought something out here for someone else, and then it pops up at work, so I am already prepared for the issue.

I am with Benjamin and Scott, the Cove has helpd me. It is good to be able to see others views on the same topic.

Phil

The Cove has helped me in my job. Without the Cove, I would have been stuck and not known which direction to take during the implementation of the ISO 9001:2000 system. I feel like the my fellow Covers are just as responsible for the success of the system as I am! Without their knowledge, I wouldn't have gotten this far... that's for sure!

There was really no option that best fit my story... so I just voted for #3 & #4... :)

I have said this many a time, and will happily repeat it: ya'll have pulled my :ca: out of the :blowup:more times than I could count. You help me :lol: in the face of :horse:, and :whip: my :rolleyes: nature. And on top of all that, I've learned how to creatively use all the little emoticons.

I have said this many a time, and will happily repeat it: ya'll have pulled my :ca: out of the :blowup:more times than I could count. You help me :lol: in the face of :horse:, and :whip: my :rolleyes: nature. And on top of all that, I've learned how to creatively use all the little emoticons.

:thanx::lmao::lmao: I needed that

Now back to the subject, if it wasn't for the covers, I would have still been fighting to get our AS9100 accredition.

Thanks all.

I selected #3 only because it is somewhat true. Promotion wise, no effect, knowledge wise, a lot.

Helping others if the answers are known, great.

I voted for # 3. I can follow my threads and see what I have learned. My knowledge has advanced through my activity here at the Cove. So I believe my employer has benefited, in having an employee who is more knowledgeable in direct, job-related information.

All,

As I've stated many times here, the Cove has been a wonderful place to learn and grow. I'm sure that it advanced my status within positions and helped gain me promotion. It continues to help me.

KevDitto what Kevin said. Hi Kevin! :bigwave:

The attachments for managing audits have been especially helpful. I have deployed them with success in my department, and Covers have helped me with Excel formulas when I made changes to suit our needs. The elephant chart helped my environmental engineer, so the benefits have extended past my department.

Of course all this makes me look good, and has, in part made them glad they hired me over the other guy. I am positioning myself to take my boss's place when he retires in a few years.

Just as important, but hard to quantify is the long-range insight I've gained by reading these threads, responding and getting responses to my remarks by people I value. I have no access to such a community that even comes close to this one. It's like an oasis in the desert. I'm not kidding!

I voted for it has directly and indirectly help me keep my job, but no promotion yet although it is in wings! I also voted for the double bummer, because I have tried to change a few things, not directly as seen here, but as a result of the inspiration the cove provides.

It has also helped me on my masters degree course so far! Even provided some excellent articles that I have cited in my assignments (thanks Craig Cochran).

It is a valuable resource that I would even use in promoting myself for a new job, along the lines of "Actively involved in Quality and Business Excellence related discussions in online forums".

Not only do I think the inspiration I get here is key, but also the confidence you get when discussing these topics, as you can get your views across and find someone who agrees and is grateful for your input. This can sometimes be lacking in the real work environment. So as well as inspiration, I can cite the forums as providing motivation to keep going!!!

:thanks:

When I worked in Quality, up until 95 when things went badly for me, I was at the top of my game at the place where I had worked (you people know my story). When I returned to work in quality in 2004 after being in limbo for a decade, I needed a source to quickly get back into the game (learn the new terms and catch-phrases...renew my knowledge of the old tools that used to be so familiar to me...etc.) and there were no REAL quality professionals available way out here in the sticks on which to bounce ideas. I stumbled into the Cove and found a plethora of ideas, not to mention a great opportunity to benefit from other people's mistakes (that "no new thing under the sun thing" is timeless wisdom). I like to lurk at the Cove, it benefits me, and every now and then I think I can drag something out of my meager store of knowledge that might help someone else. I am greatful to have the Cove as a resource.

None of the poll choices are applicable for me, but I've found a lot of helpful tidbits, and have had the opportunity to learn more about the areas (such as medical devices and aerospace) where I have no work experience.

I think it's pretty encouraging that so far more than 20 people have chosen #3 in the poll, indicating that the Cove has helped them to keep their jobs or get a promotion.

I think it's pretty encouraging that so far more than 20 people have chosen #3 in the poll, indicating that the Cove has helped them to keep their jobs or get a promotion.

Agreed.:agree1: For me, it would have been intellectually dishonest not to credit the Cove for #3. By the mere fact that we do have discussions/ debate on topics shows differences of approaches. I choose to take those opportunities to realize there may not only be an equivalent method to my own, but also possibly a superior way.

I can't conceive many other places to get so much valuable, hands-on, current information regarding the discipline of quality.

I'm not sure that I can say the Cove has helped me keep my job, but there is absolutely no doubt that it has been a big help. The folks here have made me more effective in my position.

It is a fantastic source of knowledge and experience.

I think the cove was directly responsible for me getting sucked back into Quality... I had taken a lower-level job at a different company as a step back in an attempt to reduce my stress level, and a year later, based on my knowledge (lots of which was gained here), the President of my company promoted me into the Quality Systems position I had at my previous company. As a bonus, I got Safety and Environmental as well. So, I guess my answer is #3, but I'm still deciding if it's a good thing... :lol:

Having a place like this to come to everyday is a real psychological motivator for me to do better and more at my job.

I am constantly assessing my skills with the experiences of everyone here and I still have long ways to go.

I am so impressed with everyone's hard work here in preserving the quality and integrity of this forum.

You guys are the best! :applause:

I think the cove was directly responsible for me getting sucked back into Quality... I had taken a lower-level job at a different company as a step back in an attempt to reduce my stress level, and a year later, based on my knowledge (lots of which was gained here), the President of my company promoted me into the Quality Systems position I had at my previous company. As a bonus, I got Safety and Environmental as well. So, I guess my answer is #3, but I'm still deciding if it's a good thing... :lol:

Just another example to prove my theory that folks that get into this profession are closet sadists. This way we get to abuse ourselves (or be abused) within a societally accepted methodology. I could probably get a huge grant to prove or disprove that theory.

Just another example to prove my theory that folks that get into this profession are closet sadists. This way we get to abuse ourselves (or be abused) within a societally accepted methodology. I could probably get a huge grant to prove or disprove that theory.

And a Doctorate in Sociology to boot!

I think we are more likely closet Masochists... with Sadistic tendencies.

And a Doctorate in Sociology to boot!

I think we are more likely closet Masochists... with Sadistic tendencies.

Oh krap, that was the term I needed....just goes to show that even though my initials are S and M, I don't really quite get it. Ok, I'm ready now to move forward with my plans toward higher education.

I voted Option no. 3 - the cove has definitely helped me get additional knowledge and by answering questions mainly for ISO 13485 and FDA sections, my "latent" knowledge is polished daily :)

Probably this would help me get promotion at a later date :cool:

Mine is a success story, (I think I voted #1).

Without being here when Roland Kelly of NTS/NQA posted that he was looking to fill a position, I wouldn't have been fortunate to apply (and get) the East Coast Regional Sales Manager job.......

And if I'd remained a consultant, the Cove certainly provided a couple of engagements, plus knowledge expansion.

One way or another, it helped me......!!:agree1:

One way or another, it helped me......!!:agree1:


Yea!! Look at it this way too... think about all the endless hours you would have spent doing something else! :lmao:
http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/shift%20work%20sleep%20disorder.jpg (http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/shift%20work%20sleep%20disorder.jpg)