Construction

The word Construction and paradigms in the physical world are so often used in various analogies in the digital world that it would be impossible to image software without it. People literally ask "What are you building?" and "What tools do you use?" when discussing software projects.

Because the software industry is so intimately intertwined with physical construction, I thought it would be interesting to include my construction background, apprenticeship, and projects as "interests" on my CV. Despite the seemingly dominant perspective that employers don't care about your personal interests, I believe at the very least they should. Surely a persons interests are extremely relevant to creating the culture that company HR folks always vaunt.

Examples of my construction projects that I might add:

• Windows and doors e.g. hanging / replacing doors and casing, windows, screens, shades, shutters
• Light electrical e.g. switches, controls, fans, light fixtures, receptacles
• Plumbing e.g. sweating copper, pex manifold, tubing, fixtures, valve replacement
• Insulation e.g. gap and crack sealing, fiberglass rolls
• Furniture making and repair e.g. bookcases, chair reglue, table repair
• Tree work e.g. cleanup storm damage and dead falls, trimming, bucking, splitting, stacking, chipping, clearing
• Appliance removal, installation and repair: dishwashers, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, washers, dryers
• Ductwork and vent cleaning
• Bathrooms - cleaning + installation + maintenance + repair e.g. Tile, tub, showers, sinks, drains, grout, caulking, toilets, bidets, mirrors, vents, curtains, glass, handrails, towel racks, hooks
• Poured concrete foundation waterproofing (interior etching and Thoroseal coating)
• Laying out a level location for a 40' shipping container - and also moving it.
• Small equipment and mower maintenance and repairs e.g. leaf blowers, string trimmers, fixing a bent flange on a riding mower deck, replacing mandrels and pulleys, belts, carburetors, push mower repairs.
• Motorcycle modification, maintenance and repair e.g. Adding a throttle control, modifying lights and electrical harnesses.
• Landscaping e.g. Installing 20 tons of crushed rock driveway.
• Small structure work e.g. prep, site and level a 10x16 shed
• Yard work e.g. mulching, borders, irrigation, watering, creating features such as stone dust pool pad, hanging bench or kayak rack
• Power washing e.g. patios, cars, drives and walkways, siding, decks, furniture
• Painting e.g. sprayer, brush and roller; interior and exterior
• Garden work e.g. tilling, grading, posts, fence installation, gate construction, planting, weeding, spraying, pest control
• Carpentry e.g. landings, steps, stairways and railings, decks
• Demolition
• Cabinets, hinges and hardware installation, repair
• Closet hardware, poles, shelving installation and repair
• Paver, brick and stonework e.g. pathways, fire pit construction, home aprons
• Roofing e.g. decking, felt, flashing, metal roofing, roll roofing, rubber, asphalt shingle, ridge vent

In addition to 'regular' construction topics, there are specialized or specific areas that are interesting to me - such as trail building and Disc golf/course design

A serendipitous reinforcing example of the connection between software and construction is that while introducing this topic, I discovered The Carpentries organization that teaches software in 3 broad categories: data, library and software to scientific disciplines. Through them, you can learn Python for free.