RN: Please tell us a little about yourself.

SIRACUSA: I started out in IT as a database administrator where I also had the opportunity to learn operating systems and project management. My manager moved me to middleware architecture because of my background and the fact that at the time, middleware people were pricey and very scarce because of the emerging technology. In my free time I like to fly and scuba dive. I just received my pilot's license this summer and recently joined the Civil Air Patrol.

RN: What interested you in writing ReviewNet tests?

SIRACUSA: Writing is a nice way to take a brief hiatus from the technical aspect of the IT.

RN: What did you enjoy most about writing your WebSphere MQ tests?

SIRACUSA: The chance to review my knowledge base and crack open some manuals to double-check my accuracy!

RN: How did you first get involved in writing about technology?

SIRACUSA: I was an author for MQUpdate, a technical journal published by a company based in England called Xephon. I wrote MQ articles involving security and Unix performance.

RN: Outside of working with ReviewNet, what do you feel is your biggest professional accomplishment?

SIRACUSA: We just finished a very large EAI implementation where I work, a Fortune 100 company, and it's been a long time in the making. It's very satisfying to see such a large, highly technical project such as that go into production.

RN: Tell us about your latest published work?

SIRACUSA: I am a frequent contributor to a technical journal so you can see more of my work in MQUpdate.

RN: How do you keep up with changing technologies and the latest trends in the IT industry?

SIRACUSA: That's a tough one. I guess like most people, I read as much as I can but most of it comes through work. I always try to maneuver myself onto the hot projects!

RN: Tell us a little about your ReviewNet test.

SIRACUSA: One thing I tried to stay away from in my test was making it a certification test. I really tried to ask questions that tested practical information so a manager could distinguish between an experienced person and someone who perhaps just went through a certification course.

RN: What advice would you give to someone learning your discipline? Are there significant barriers to learning about this subject?

SIRACUSA: I would say that you really have to have a thorough understanding of operating system. Since middleware is used to allow applications to talk across unlike systems, if you don't have that expertise, you are really going to struggle when it comes to troubleshooting.

RN: What do you see as the future of WebSphere MQ? Where would you like to see it go?

SIRACUSA: Middleware has really evolved into a big business software. I would like to see the industry start moving towards technology that is economically feasible for smaller shops to obtain and use.

RN: When did you decide to get into the Information Technology field?

SIRACUSA: I actually decided in college. I was majoring in Biology and decided to pick up a minor in Computer Science. Whenever graduation time came, the prospect of passing up the money for another few years in law school didn't seem too appealing.

RN: Please share your thoughts with us on the role that ReviewNet evaluations play in hiring IT professionals.

SIRACUSA: I think ReviewNet allows hiring managers to be able to evaluate someone at a very high technical level. This is something that may not otherwise be possible if they don't already have the best people already available.

RN: How did you design your ReviewNet test to help eliminate IT hiring mistakes?

SIRACUSA: Again, I think it is important for hiring manager to be able to determine the experience level of potential employees. This is extremely important whenever you run into problems where the solution can't be easily found in manuals.

RN: What was the best part about doing this project for ReviewNet?

SIRACUSA: The people. I had never worked with ReviewNet in the past and I was surprised with how pleasant it was to work with everyone that participated.