Today is Day 7 of my new job so it is high time I tell you a bit about it. First I will tell you what my job was before. I was working in an engineering lab that creates firmware managing a team that delivers the web services for the firmware. What? Huh? Holy Greek! Ya, I know…I will explain in a second.
Now, I am in a different engineering lab that creates driver software managing the planning of the software for all of the LaserJet products. No longer Greek, but perhaps Spanish.
Let me begin my explanation with the difference between software and firmware. Basically software is code that runs on your computer and firmware is code that runs embedded in a device. Firmware is the brains to the LaserJet device and software is the way to make your computer talk to the printer. Make sense?
Here is a quiz.
1. Code that makes your microwave function?
Yup, you are right, firmware.
2. Code that interacts with your webcam?
Uh huh, software.
3. Code that makes your child’s talking toys talk?
Firmware.
4. iTunes
Software
You are practically a hacker now you know so much about computer programming!
The difference between being a program manager versus at project manager is basically if you manage a program (or project) or people. At HP, project manager means you manage people. A program manager means you manage a program or project (but no people). It is kind of confusing but we like to create really confusing titles and lots of acronyms to keep the riff raff out. It is basically a test…if you cannot figure out what we are talking about after six months, you are out. 
So I am taking a break from managing people and I have to say it will be nice for a little while, but I have a feeling I will eventually miss it. I mostly made this change because I really wanted to broaden my perspective as I had been working in firmware for over TEN years! Software interacts with all sorts of different products so I am already meeting many new people and learning about products I had previously never heard of. It is very exciting! I love change!
While this may not seem like a huge change from an outside perspective, my brain aches by the end of each day with all there is to learn. If my blogs sound a little braindead for a couple of weeks or if I just start posting photos, bear with me. I will snap out of it in time. Learning curves are always so daunting…even if they are an enjoyable climb.
So the next time you press File -> Print -> Properties before printing to a LaserJet device, know that the lab I work in likely wrote the code to make that possible.
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It’s exciting and challenging to jump into something new. Good luck in your new job, my dear. You will do a great job!
Congrats on the new job Alecia! Hope all goes well.
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