The Challenges of a Software Engineer

While it’s true that the engineer is also a programmer, and there are some design duties included in the core job functions, there are also some very fundamental, critical differences in the manner in which software engineers, programmers, and designers complete their work. Many engineers would also argue that there is a marked difference in the quality and performance of the products they produce as well.

Software engineer jobs take a more formal approach to the process of programming software. The manner in which engineers complete their work is much more similar to traditional engineering processes than it is to software programming or designing methods.

Software engineers are often involved in the most complex of design or programming activities. Though every day, run of the mill programs can be designed by less skilled folks, many programs can’t be trusted to just any old programmer.

For example, programs that control important processes – especially in circumstances where human lives may be lost if an error occurs in a program – are primarily the realm of highly skilled software engineers. After all, you don’t want the software that runs a key piece of medical equipment or that which drives the operating system of a nuclear submarine to fail.

This is perhaps the most challenging aspect of design engineer jobs with which incumbents must constantly contend. They are tasked with ensuring the smooth and efficient operations of incredibly complex and sometimes frightening processes with computer enhanced systems.

Design engineers are tasked not only with creating a software program that will serve the basic needs of a business, organization, or other client, but they must also foresee the potential pitfalls associated with the program as well. They must be able to grasp the technological concepts of the methods or practices with which the program is intended to interface and design the software appropriately for the highly technical, and often potentially dangerous, environment in which it will be used.

Although the average programmer or designer may be able to afford a few minor glitches, for those working in design engineer jobs, there is often no such thing as a minor glitch. Of the software fails, the consequences can be great. The pressure that design engineers face on a daily basis is tremendous for this very reason.

Software engineers also face some other unique challenges in the IT world. They must often complete a lot more paperwork than most IT professionals. Once again remaining true to the engineering trade, software engineers will draft designs, test them for quality, integrity and performance, and will frequently redesign them several times before moving from paper or prototypes to the real deal. In fact, many of those who work in software engineer jobs will spend as much as 70 – 80% of their time dealing with paperwork and only 20 – 30% actually writing code for the software itself.

Personal Finance: A Simple But Powerful Step To Start Digging Your Way Out Of Debt

Throughout the middle class there is a personal finance disaster looming as personal debt rises to record levels. If you’re struggling with personal debt levels or even getting close, here’s a simple first step to turning it all around…Credit card debt is often the biggest personal debt load after a mortgage. When you got your first credit card, you most likely promised yourself you’d treat it with respect – you’d keep it for emergencies and pay it off in full whenever you did need to use it, right? Not quite the way it turned out though, is it?Your personal finance plan worked OK at first, but then that started to slip and through habit you started using your credit cards more and more and today you couldn’t possibly pay them all off this month – or even in the next 2 or 3 months, most likely. And how many times have you sworn you’d stop using them for a while and get things back under control? Unless you’re foolishly overspending for your current income and debt load, the problem is convenience.The earliest credit cards were for those already fairly well off, to help them keep their accounting simple. They weren’t thought of as credit cards but as ‘travel & entertainment’ cards, and they HAD to be paid off in full every month. Diners Club, American Express and a few others led the pack, and most people would be better off today if all cards still worked that way.But then there was a demand for ‘convenience’ cards among the growing middle class and Chargex was created to fill that need. Over time Chargex became Visa, MasterCard emerged on the scene and department stores began creating their own credit card programs, usually at a much higher interest rate. In the 1960′s and 1970′s the western economies were moving ahead full-tilt and credit became easier and easier to obtain – and people slowly started using credit cards instead of cash for many, if not most, of their purchases.In theory, that should create more jobs, build the economy and lead to greater income for all, making it easier to pay higher and higher credit card bills each month. Cardholders would make a major purchase and just pay part of it the next month, then make another major purchase before paying off the existing balance. People still made their payments each month, but each payment was more than the minimum but less than the full balance. And over time most people’s personal finance plan went out the window, replaced by higher credit limits, more cards and more total debt.You know you’ve hit the point where you need to pay your cards off, or at least pay them down, if for no better reason than to save all of the interest you’re paying across all your cards. Fortunately, Visa and MasterCard recognize the issue too, and have a solution that can be your first step in correcting your current personal finance imbalance – the pre-paid credit card.Don’t mistake these for the gift cards you see by the cash registers of the big chain stores. These are actual reloadable cards that are accepted just like any other credit card worldwide. And while they’re still referred to as credit cards, they really aren’t – there’s no credit involved since you can only use them up to the dollar amount you’ve already deposited on your account. You do pay a small monthly fee for these reloadable pre-paid credit cards, but in most cases it’s far less than the interest you’re paying currently.So if you’re serious about taking control of your finances and starting to dig you way out of debt, get yourself one of these cards today – or at least this week. They’re available at many banks, some big organizations like the auto club, and a variety of other outlets. Be sure to find out the fees for the card, the maximum and minimum loads you can put on the card, and double-check to be sure it’s a reloadable prepaid card. Most can be loaded online through your bank, but check to be sure so you don’t run into any problems.Load the card with enough to get you through each month, with a little extra just in case – there’s nothing wrong with building up a bit of a cash balance. Then take the other credit cards out of your wallet or purse and put them away in a safe place for now – if you keep them on you you’ll end up using them from habit, not from need. Keep paying as much as you can on them each month, just don’t use them. That will keep them in good standing in case of emergency, but your balance will be dropping each month. If you’re deep in debt most of your payment will be eaten up by interest, but the total will drop a bit – and each month it will drop by a little more since the interest drops as the outstanding balance does.This is by no means a cure-all for your personal debt, but it IS a step in the right direction and a fairly painless one at that. You’re starting to wrest back control over your personal finances and moving toward a viable personal finance plan. As you see your overall credit card debt receding, use the confidence and motivation it brings to tackle other aspects of your personal finances and bring them under control as well. Your current situation stems from too little income, overspending or both – your goal over time is to balance that back out in your favor. You CAN do it – just be sure to focus on solutions instead of worrying about your current debt load or worse yet, ignoring the problem.

Quick Payday Loan Options Are Easy to Get Online

When you need money quickly between paydays, because you have a mechanical problem with your car or a medical emergency, quick payday loan options are available. With the online payday loan companies, you can get a quick payday loan in just a few hours. The eligibility requirements are basic and the application process is simple with the quick payday loan options that are available. You simply sign your documents electronically and the money can be direct deposited in your bank account.If you are searching for a quick payday loan, they are easy to find on the Internet, with your personal computer. Many people don’t know where to turn, when faced with an unexpected emergency that requires some extra cash. With a quick short term loan transaction, you can get the money you need, without stress and hassle. It used to be that you could ask your employer for an advance on your check, but many employers no longer offer this option. When it comes to asking your relatives or your friends, you might not want to go through this humiliation and they might not have extra cash to loan.Most people that are faced with these unforeseen situations that occur between paydays are already going through stress and anxiety. When you are facing a short-term cash shortage, a quick payday loan gives you peace of mind and an easy repayment plan to fit your budget. Because the fees are nominal, you might be able to save expense by borrowing the money this way. Think about the late fees and other charges you might incur and you can see how you may be able to save money with a quick loan of this type.When you are experiencing a cash flow problem because of an unexpected happening, it is no reason to panic because a quick payday loan can relieve your stress and solve your problem quickly. If you are concerned about the fact you have bad credit history, it is possible you will find an instant approval and lenient terms, as long as you meet other simple guidelines. For most people, the quick payday loan is the easiest way to get the money you need and nobody needs to know about your financial situation.If you take advantage of the quick short term loan options that are available, you can use your personal computer and Internet access to get the process completed quickly. In fact, you never need to leave your home or office because the entire process can be handled over the computer. When you are faced with the need to get money quickly, they are a simple transaction to complete online.You just need to complete a few simple steps and the money can be direct deposited into your bank account, the same day if you choose expedited bank transfer for a nominal fee. For most people, the ease and convenience are the main reasons that the quick payday loan is the best solution, but for others the quick and hassle-free way to get money between paydays, gives peace of mind.

Restraint of Trade Clauses in Employment Contracts

Under UK law an employee has a duty of fidelity to his employer while working for them. This duty is implied in the contract of employment. The question often arises as to whether an employer can enforce contractual obligations on the employee after the expiration of the employment contract. In certain situations, the answer is yes. One tool that can be used to achieve this is a restraint of trade clause.The restraint of trade clause is a contractual term that expressly restricts an employee’s freedom to work, once the current employment relationship ceases. Such a clause will only be upheld by the Courts, if it is reasonable as between the parties and where it is consistent with the interests of the public. The pubic interest is that society should not be deprived of the services of a skilled workforce. The question of what is reasonable is considered on a case by case basis. In practice, the clause must go no further than is reasonable for the protection of the employer’s business.Restraint of trade clauses usually contain restrictions on the employee’s ability to work in a geographical area, or for a defined length of time. It is not uncommon or illegal for an employer to restrict a former employee from working within a fixed geographical area, or from working with a rival business to the former employer for a period of time after the cessation of the contract of employment. However, the restrictions must not be excessive. What is excessive depends on the nature of the work in question and the structure of the business.Decided cases in the United Kingdom have upheld restraint of trade clauses that prevent a former employee working with a rival business and from canvassing former clients of the employer for a period of twelve months post contract.Courts have also declared unreasonable and void restraint clauses that prevent a person from doing business within a 25 mile radius of London.A clause that purports to cover a worldwide restriction is unlikely to be upheld. The narrower and more specialist the market in question, the more likely the clause is to be upheld.It is more likely that a Court will uphold a clause as reasonable where it prevents the former employee from soliciting former clients, or from disclosing company secrets rather than stopping the former employee from working at all. Clearly a restraint clause which prevents a former employee from taking up a business which doesn’t compete with the former employer is unlawful.Where a restraint of trade clause is capable of several interpretations, some of which are considered reasonable, some of which are unreasonable, judges can sever the offending parts and enforce the remainder.Where a former employee breaches a restraint of trade clause, he is guilty of breach of contract. Such a breach gives rise to an action on behalf of the former employer for damages. It is difficult to assess the level of damages, some Courts measure damages at the level of the employee’s gain rather than the employer’s loss.A useful way for a former employer to prevent a former employee from breaching the terms of a restraint clause in an employment contract, is to seek an interlocutory injunction restraining the breach. In an application for injunctive relief the Court will have regard to whether there is a serious issue to be tried and will grant the injunction if it is of the view that the balance of convenience lies on the side of the employer. In UK decisions, other factors such as the likelihood of trade secrets being disclosed to third parties have been considered in granting the relief.However, if the practical effect of enforcing the injunction is to compel the employee to continue working for the employer, the injunction for specific performance of the employment contract will not be granted.The question of the enforceability of restraint of trade clauses is a fertile ground for litigation, both for employers and employees and can play a significant role in the formation of the contract of employment.

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