I came to a realization

Caution: This is going to be quite a BloMOH (Blowing My Own Horn) entry

I think maybe, and this is a really huge M.A.Y.B.E, I would be better off if I were a Computer Forensic Expert (CFE). I’m not saying this because I’ve been spending so many hours watching CSI. It’s also not because of Gary Sinise. No, definitely not because of him. Although he was so adorable in Forrest Gump where at first I hated him, then, when he was on the wheelchair, I started to respect and liked him. But, he's not the reason why I think I should become a CFE.



I realized that I enjoyed it long ago. Long before I joined this company. Back in Excebix, for 3 years in a row I received the following comment in my annual performance appraisal:

‘She has impressive analytical and problem solving skills. She is able to work independently under minimum supervision. She uses her product knowledge to perform system investigation and troubleshooting successfully.’

I received that from 3 different managers. It was either the managers were copying each other’s notes or that was really what they thought of me and my capabilities. Most of the times we’re not aware of what we’re capable of until some day, someone came and pointed it out to us. Anyway, I have to clarify here that it doesn’t mean I always search for people’s mistakes and system mis-configurations. It’s just that I have the talent to spot wrong settings and poor system design from miles away. (No, my work doesn’t involve telescope or microscope.)

After I left Excebix, I’ve been doing straight forward system implementation projects that translate to less challenges a.k.a boring works for the past 2 years. I was not lying when I told my friends (and even my blog readers) that I hibernated in the office quite often, especially when I was in between projects. If I was not hibernating, I’d be at Amazon; MS-Windows shopping, or probably blog-hopping.

Three weeks ago, when I was assigned to assist a colleague to investigate a problematic system we delivered a few years back, I was ecstatic. Although I have to deal with a really difficult customer who didn’t believe in forking out some money for software maintenance, it didn’t kill my excitement. The customer didn’t even allow us to touch their system! So we could only analyze and investigate bits and pieces of information that THEY extracted from the system. It was like having to complete a 1,000 pieces of jigsaw puzzle done halfway by a rat!

It took us 2 days to find out the root cause of the problem and recommendations for the customer. I felt like I just won a million EURO upon receiving the email from the manager who was handling the customer. He wrote: “I love this!” Hey, you tell me how many managers you’ve met would write that after reading a technical report?

That was when the realization came. Maybe being a CFE is never my dream, but I think if I’m there I’ll feel content.

So, who wants to hire me? If currently you don’t have that post in your company, create it NOW! I'm willing to start at RM2K per-hour. This is a once in a lifetime offer!