The Coding Paramedic

Paramedic ➡️ Systems engineer ➡️ DevOps ➡️ Cyber Security @ Amazon | Opinions are my own, and probably wrong

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

Hi new followers!

There's been a lot of you lately, so I'm going to stop following back immediately.

It's not you! You're probably amazing, and I can't wait to get to know you!

But I do want to get to know you.

Let's interact, and then I'll be happy to follow you.

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

For anyone who's not used to or first running into security staff at your company.

Remember:

"The answer is 'No', now prove why it should be 'Yes'" is the default, or should be, of your cyber security folks.

Plan accordingly.

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

There's something incredibly, I dunno, hilariously disingenuous about a company having a mental health disability day, a group dedicated to such things, and even calls it out on their internal home page, while enacting policies that actually makes their company hostile to those with disabilities of all sorts.

RTO5 is discriminatory towards people with disabilities, physical and mental. It punishes those who can't "fall in line" with the C-Suites whims over 1950's-style management strikes styles.

As someone with a non-visible disability, my morale is in the toilet. I love my team. I love my boss. I love the work I do.

But it's obvious that my company, as a whole, doesn't want me there any more. I'm locked out of most internal transfers. I'm under the microscope for everything, even down to hour reporting (despite being salaried).

I'm having a hard time even receiving the job title I worked for, because of the word 'Virtual' next to my name.

So I spend time on LinkedIn, pinging recruiters, putting in applications, and generally making a nuance of myself, trying to figure out where I go from here.

Because staying isn't an option. I can feel the Sword of Damocles hanging over my head.

I'm going to start using this account more, talking about security, what you can do, what I do (generally), and so on, but that's where I'm at, personally, right now.

Every day I wonder if it's the day they decide they don't want me any more.

And every day, I can't decide if I'm happy or upset that they decided to keep me for another 24 hours.

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

There's something incredibly, I dunno, hilariously disingenuous about a company having a mental health disability day, a group dedicated to such things, and even calls it out on their internal home page, while enacting policies that actually makes their company hostile to those with disabilities of all sorts.

RTO5 is discriminatory towards people with disabilities, physical and mental. It punishes those who can't "fall in line" with the C-Suites whims over 1950's-style management strikes styles.

As someone with a non-visible disability, my morale is in the toilet. I love my team. I love my boss. I love the work I do.

But it's obvious that my company, as a whole, doesn't want me there any more. I'm locked out of most internal transfers. I'm under the microscope for everything, even down to hour reporting (despite being salaried).

I'm having a hard time even receiving the job title I worked for, because of the word 'Virtual' next to my name.

So I spend time on LinkedIn, pinging recruiters, putting in applications, and generally making a nuance of myself, trying to figure out where I go from here.

Because staying isn't an option. I can feel the Sword of Damocles hanging over my head.

I'm going to start using this account more, talking about security, what you can do, what I do (generally), and so on, but that's where I'm at, personally, right now.

Every day I wonder if it's the day they decide they don't want me any more.

And every day, I can't decide if I'm happy or upset that they decided to keep me for another 24 hours.

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

@peterastephens I have an S-Team exception, and do qualify for a medical, and my manager is working on getting us set up as "Remote by Design", but even still.

It's obvious that Amz as a whole doesn't want me there, so, why should i want to be there?

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

So how does one go about finding jobs these days?

Is LinkedIn networking still a thing?

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

Well good morning Twitter

It's been too long

I'm revamping this page a bit to reflect where I'm currently at.

But, right now, I'm killing myself at the gym

I'll be back

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

For those of you trying to break into tech right now, and see just how tough things have gotten: find a mentor. Make connections.

Resumes get lost, get rejected, but finding that one person that will help is priceless.

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

"So how's transitioning into corporate life, Coding?"

'Well, Friday, in a high-level meeting, I used the word 'yeet' because I couldn't think of a better one, so that was fun.'

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

This is what worked for me, in broad strokes.

Keep in mind, I work full time and have 3 kids. To say I'm "busy" is an understatement, and I still made it happen.

So can you.

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

Quick thread on how I did it. I'm not saying this is the only way, but what worked for me to maintain healthy weight loss for 9 months, both physically and mentally.

And that's a big part. "crash" diets can hurt more than help, in the long run.

So let's do it smartly.

1/

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

Different kind of motivation today.

First photo is me on May 11th of last year. Over 270 pounds. Unhappy with myself.

Second picture is from a week ago, my birthday. 175 pounds, more muscle, feel better about myself (mostly).

I'm 38 and it's never too late to change.

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

6. Don't beat yourself up for mistakes.

I don't believe in "cheat" days, or meals, because it implies they're "wrong" or "bad".

One meal out, one "bad" day isn't going to hurt you nearly as much as beating yourself up over it will.

Eat that cake, and move on. But not every day

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

Different kind of motivation today.

First photo is me on May 11th of last year. Over 270 pounds. Unhappy with myself.

Second picture is from a week ago, my birthday. 175 pounds, more muscle, feel better about myself (mostly).

I'm 38 and it's never too late to change.

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

Survived the layoffs, now building tools and learning NodeJS.

This has been my quarterly update

(No but for real I need to update here more)

[The Coding Paramedic @CodingParamedic]

Oh hey. That's why my legs hurt.