OSCON 2007
This week I'm at OSCON 2007 in Portland, OR. This is my fourth OSCON, so I'm pretty used to it by now.
The value of OSCON is interesting; only occasionally are the topics of enough length/depth/quality to really be that useful, but I plan on attending from now on for one simple reason: networking. Let me elaborate...
My first OSCON's utility was learning. I was greener then, and the tutorials that are repeated in a slightly new form every year were new to me.
The second OSCON I met some recruiters who I followed up with and was offered a job. The offer was horrible-- they undercut my minimum pay I'd accept, and they did only pair-programming. However, when my employer at that time heard I might be wood away, they countered with an offer that was easily acceptable. This raise probably paid for a good 4-5 future OSCONs.
My third OSCON I met some engineers from the company where I'm currently employed. It directly led to my current job, finally breaking me out of the non-profit sector. So far that has paid for probably 5-6 future OSCONs already.
This year I'm trying to focus even more on networking, not necessarily to find a new job, but to meet more of the influential people in the industry and make contacts. Hopefully I can continue my trend of OSCON profitability.
