An SE analogy to ponder

So, what really makes being an SE so great, anyway? Well, like most things, being an SE is not for everyone! And, I will give you a good example to start with. If you are currently a network administrator, where the single most important thing for you is a role with administrator rights in a singular environment; where you can have a positive impact every day…being an SE is probably not for you. If you enjoy the technical aspect of your IT role, but would rather be in a barrel of rattlesnakes than engage in public speaking, especially in an environment where complex questions are being asked on the fly…being an SE is probably not for you!

And, why are high-quality SEs in such high demand? A lot of that can be answered with the goose analogy. A professional SE may not be the single most technical person in the room, but they are in fact VERY technically sharp. This is especially true in not just their product or service, but also in relation to the technical environments these products are a part of. Furthermore, the SE may not be the single most eloquent public speaker in the company, but they are, in fact, VERY dynamic presenters capable of taking complex technical concepts and relating them to their audience, whether technical or not. Finally, an SE may not be a Six Sigma-certified process manager, but world-class SEs are highly structured people who not only effectively manage their time with little supervision, but can also manage very complex PoC campaigns effectively, achieving their operational goals consistently. You see, the SE needs to be effective in multiple disciplines to be world-class. Being technical is important, but it is not nearly enough! Being a dynamic presenter is key to success, but that alone will not make someone an SE.

Flock of Canada geese flying over Great Salt lake, USA; Image by wirestock - Freepik.com

You see, the humble goose may not be the best swimmer, but the goose can in fact swim very well. Some say it does so effortlessly. Although it may not swim like a barracuda, the barracuda is always stuck in the water. They will be there forever, and in fact, leaving the water is literally a death sentence! The versatile goose, on the other hand, does not just walk away from the water’s edge at will…the goose at his pleasure… can fly! He can soar with the other flying creatures. In a similar fashion, this is what makes the SE such a versatile part of any organization, whether you are in a small start-up or you work for a large vendor in the industry. The SE brings a breadth of skills so valuable, all packed within a single person, and yes if you have that skill set or aptitude, you may find that the SE role will become a tremendously gratifying career experience.

If the following aspects excite you about the role…then being an SE very well may be for YOU!

• You are excited about the fast-paced, customer-facing role in which you get to be the technical arm of a sales team.
• You like solving technical problems and designing solutions to overcome them.
• You enjoy public speaking and are passionate about articulating complex topics in a manner that both technical and non-technical people can understand.
• You are a self-starter and take initiative to accomplish tasks.
• You collaborate well with both non-technical teammates (account executives) and technical ones (fellow SEs).
• You have humility. Brilliant jerks never make for a world-class SE. In fact, people who align to this, should not be customer-facing at all!
• You are passionate about the technology your company offers.

So, if these aspects excite you, let’s turn our attention toward which group you are most closely aligned with in order to help you get the most out of the material.