[6/2001 - 3/2002] TECHNICIAN - Manugistics Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MANU)
9715 Key West Ave, Rockville, MD 20850

Worked as part of the Enterprise Systems Support team of the Information Technology Department in supporting the network infrastructure, both logical and physical, for 21 offices in 9 countries. Assisted in day to day administration and support of domain users, WINS, DNS, DHCP, and domain systems. Responsible for the Installation, build-out, and support of brand name servers over complete life cycles. Other duties included oversight for corporate asset tracking and construction of the product training intranet site.

Self-Reflection

High school was ending as I moved closer to graduation, I had just completed several years working with my High School USS on Global Access projects, and completed a Network Operations program with a 4.0GPA..... but had not yet secured a post-high-school job. Enter Bruce Mudd. Bruce was a former placement specialist for the county who, although not involved in that capacity any more, asked for my resume and cover letter and put it out to some of his contacts from his previous position. Within mere days, I had an offer from Manugistics Group to come out and interview.

Less than 6 days after I had formally graduated, I was starting full time at Manugisitcs as a Technician (AKA "Intern") working in the Enterprise Support group of the IT unit. My time at Manugistics was quite varied, working in a data center environment at times, with the training group at other times, eventually building several websites, an asset management system, and a major sales presentation using video game media for the company. Along the way, I was thrown head first into a professional office environment, complete with dress requirements, office politics, a full enterprise corporate ladder, and all the crap that goes along with it.

I owe alot to Glenn Eisenhower (the System Administrator I worked with) and Barry Yaver (Laptop Support) for helping me along and tolerating my immaturity. I will admit that I was not the most model employee (I was 17 and this was my first full-time corporate job): immature, impetuous, sometimes half-assing my assignments. Looking back now, I dont think I took the position seriously enough, I could have done so much better and put in so much more effort. I did enough right, though, that what was supposed to be a summer position turned into 9 or so months, ending in March of 2002. My manager at the time, Zinnie something or other, let me go amidst multiple rounds of layoffs.

While I do not now dispute being let go, the way that it was handled was callous and excessive. I understand the need for security in an employee termination but there are common courtesies which you can offer your employees, none of which were extended to me. I heard later from friends still at Manugistics that she herself was let go a month or so later. While I certainly hold her no ill will about being laid off, I do see a certain justice (as those friends did) in these circumstances as I will never forget that day that I was let go and the circumstances surrounding it.