wearing multiple hats gets the job done!
If you react negatively after reading a job description that requires cross functional skills, you may be throwing away a valuable learning opportunity!
Though the thought of working on a challenge outside your immediate area of expertise makes you uncomfortable, it will actually increase your value as a resource.
Information technology (IT) professionals are frequently asked to perform jobs completely different in nature from what they are hired or trained to do.
For example:
- Business Analysts on web development projects may be asked to create cascading style sheets (CSS), design user interfaces (UI) or perform user acceptance tests.
How To Learn .NET Programming In Six (6) Months And Get A Job
[Ask IT Career Coach] is a Career Advice Column for Information Technology (IT) professionals looking for answers to their most challenging career situations …
Submit questions about your career using the [Ask IT Career Coach] service and I will answer it for you just like I am answering this question …
Hi My name is Josh Kemp I am 26 married and self employed currently, I have read almost half of “Learn .Net 3.5 in 24 hours” by SAMs.
Are You Chasing Rabbits For A Living?
.
Do not worry about how to get handson experience in a programming language before you actually learn the programming language … that is called putting the cart before the horse.
If you choose to worry about handson experience before learning the programming language, all that you will end up achieving is nothing … those worries, fears or doubts will only delay your progress because they are either imaginary or harmful!
Cowboy Coder Or Agile Programmer
Are You A Cowboy Coder Or Agile Software Developer?
Software Developers facing a new programming project sometimes start coding before thinking through or planning an approach.
Coding without first planning or thinking through is a programming method known as cowboy coding.
Cowboy coders approach work with the mindset of coding without estimating or planning.
And they are at a complete lost when the results achieved by their cowboy coding tactics does not meet expectations.
Cowboy Coding Is Dead, Long Live Cowboy Coding
While many programmers publicly ridicule cowboy coding, they privately practice cowboy coding because it is the easier thing to do.
Learn Hot Programming Languages
Learning new software development languages can be fun.
That is one of the reasons why software developers like their careers … they get to learn or solve problems with new software development languages.
However, learning a software development language is a real-world exercise because programming is learnt by doing.
That’s why computer programmer job interviews are designed to test practical programming skills or abilities.
Apparently, some college graduates have a hard time grasping this concept because they seem clueless on how to get a programming job despite their computer science degrees!
learning multiple programming languages?
This question was posted by a reader who needs advice on
“how to learn many programming languages!”.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
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Become A Leader-Get The Job You Want!
Become a Leader And Get The Job You Want!
Getting a job by sending out resumes to employers is known as the push method because it depends on you pushing the employer to hire you!
The problem with the traditional method of getting a job is that everyone who is out-of-a-job is probably doing the same thing … pushing their resumes to hiring managers or employers!
Getting hired in a competitive job market doesn’t mean … “do what other job applicants are doing” … it means “do more than your competition!“
Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who wants to overcome obstacles posed by employment gaps in an Oracle Programming Career!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
microsoft.net software developer job
This question was posted by a reader who wants to become a Microsoft .NET Developer!
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using “This Link”.
By Sharing This Post you are helping your friends receive valuable information or succeed.
Here is the Reader’s Question:
First, a little bit about myself.
Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who wants to become a computer programmer!
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
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Here is the Question:
hi
The Software Developers Internship Coaching Opportunity
About The 2012 Software Developer Internship Opportunity!
Computer programming is one of those few careers that offers you the option to either freelance, get a full-time job or become an independent consultant even when you are really just a beginner!
As a freelance software developer, you may live in the United States, India, UK, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa or any country and work for clients located anywhere on the planet!
There are several specializations available to software developers including Mobile Application Development, Desktop Programming and Web Programming.
Be Wise ... Get Experience
In the computer programming industry, experience is King.
Real world, hands on, practical programming experience is valued more than computer programming certifications, software development diplomas or even programming job titles.
What you know is much more important than how you obtained the knowledge!
The next time you read a computer programming job description and you feel overwhelmed by the list of degrees or certifications required, just remember that the job market for computer programmers is not really that formal.
Looking For a Mentor
In college I tried to learn C/C++ by Dennis Richie and Brian Kernighan. It was a sterile experience because even though I could flip the pages of the book, I couldn’t make any sense out of it. What I really needed was a personal trainer or mentor who could work me through the book and show me how to build software applications using C/C++ because I learn better by doing than just reading.
I couldn’t get anyone’s attention not to talk of getting them to teach me how to develop software applications. Everyone I knew was busy writing programs and nobody wanted to stop and teach others what they knew.
Our blog readership has grown a lot and there are now a lot of new readers.
What I would like to do is to highlight some of the most significant articles or posts that has to do with “how to learn programming” or “how to become a computer programmer“.
1. The Secret Art of Writing Highly Effective Killer Resumes for Computer Programming Jobs
http://www.it-career-coach.net/2006/08/27/the-secret-art-of-writing-highly-effective-killer-resumes-for-computer-programming-jobs/
2. How to become a database developer
Almost every business software application depends on a database. This post gives you a concise, step-by-step plan for becoming a database developer.
http://www.it-career-coach.net/2006/09/04/sql-developers-are-in-high-demand-and-how-to-become-a-sql-programmer/
Since this website (IT Career Coach) is about careers, it makes sense for me to discuss at some point, the benefits of becoming a computer programmer.
So, I will continue along the lines set by part 1 of benefits of becoming a computer programmer, by discussing further, the advantages or benefits of choosing a career in computer programming.
1. Lots of different companies hire computer programmers
The last ten years has seen a dramatic increase in the job openings for computer programmers in the US or worldwide, as global demand for skilled computer programmers out-paced the supply. I would like to show you the benefits of this strong global demand for computer programmers.
Before you decide on a career, it’s a good idea to investigate the career and understand what you’re getting into or what the career has to offer you. Here are a few reasons why computer programming is worth your consideration.
1. The demand for computer programmers is increasing
Learning A Marketable Skill?
Hi,
Do you want to learn the C++ programming language or become a C/C++ computer programmer?
Have you ever asked this question? which programming language is the most complex and challenging?? and received the answer C++?
If you answered yes, you are not alone. About 13 years ago, I asked my mentors in computer programming which programming language is the hardest, toughest, most difficult to learn? and I got the same reply as you… C++.
I asked the question because I wanted to become a successful computer programmer.
A few days ago, I granted an interview to a student writing a research paper on The job of a computer programmer. During the interview, I was given ten questions to answer about careers and jobs in computer programming. I’ve decided to post my replies, since a lot of people will benefit from it. You will find this entire interview interesting.
Please read it for your own benefit.
1. How did you get into the field of computer programming?
Who is a contract programmer?
A contract programmer is a software developer who is paid an hourly rate for working on special software development projects for a period. Contract computer programmers are not paid salaries like full-time developers but hourly wages.
Contract programmers tend to be very project focused because they are hired to solve specific problems or code specific features and as soon as that is done, they have to move on to another project or find a new client.
Do you realize that you don’t have to be a computer programmer to be involved with software development?
Does this statement sound strange coming from a software developer coach?
If you think that my job is to get you into software development or to get to you to the top of your software developer career, you are partially right.
My job as a coach is to help you succeed by providing you key information that will save you a lot of time, a lot of pain and a lot of money.
One of my blog readers emailed me the question below about the feasibility of changing careers to computer programming in Malaysia.
Question:
Hi,
I am 34 years old, currently working as an electronic technician and am thinking of a career change and take up programming as a career.
I am interested to know if you have come across anyone like in my situation from Malaysia who has done your course and managed to get a job as a computer programmer?
Where To Find Programmer Jobs?
I am answering questions now on computer programmer careers again and if you post yours on: [Ask IT Career Coach], I will answer it for you, just like I am answering this question on “how to find jobs for beginner or entry level computer programmers“.
How To Get An Entry Level Computer Programming Job
Dear Mr. Tagbo,
Now that the spring has finally arrived, I am ready to search for programming jobs available for college students.
So far I have mastered the fundamental concepts of programming such as function: Subprocedures, Arrays, and Classes.
Kathy Sierra a Java Instructor says that some authors are making their programming books harder than necessary because they are too focused on themselves instead of their readers.
At Sun, Kathy discovered that some techie instructors who know their stuff were getting poorer evaluations compared to their less skilled colleages.
The reason? The experts focused on proving their smartness instead of helping their students get smarter assuming that students want their instructors to establich their credibility by proving that they are experts.
I’m still taking questions from my readers. Today’s question is about finding entry level computer programming job working with the Java programming language. Here’s the rest of my reader’s question:
Dear Mr. Tagbo,
I am sending you this e-mail to ask you if there will be any jobs available in the spring starting April 2007 because I am interested in becoming a Computer Programmer.
One of my personal strengths and experiences so far is tutoring other students at my former school in Algebra Math, and doing favorably well in a Java Programming course.
This post is for my readers who have unresolved questions, concerns and problems about their programming careers.
If you want to master your programming career or become a better skilled computer programmer, tell me how I can help you succeed.
Tell me who you are now and who you want to become in your computer programming career this year.
If you’ve read my e-Book, “The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programming Careers” and the bonus e-Books that come with it, tell me what more information, topics and questions you want me to cover in the next release of the e-Book.
One key to learning how to program computers is to begin with the right computer programming language. In my discussions with readers, I notice that both beginning programmers and experienced computer programmers often choose a programming language based on:
- Friends: The recommendation of their friends or colleagues at work.
- Popularity: Based on the perceived popularity of a programming language
- Difficulty: As strange as it sounds, some choose a programming language because it’s hard or difficult to master. They want to prove themselves by tackling languages that will raise their profile in their community.
Is Your Age Really Against You?
A few days ago I asked you to
contact me with your questions about beginning your programming career.
Some of you (30+ and 40+) replied saying that you would like to know if your age will stop prevent you from getting hired by employers.
So, here are my career success tips for beginning a programming career when you feel that age is against you!
-
The golden rule for career success in computer programming
Take a pen and write this down. In the computer programming industry, employers and hiring managers will judge you by “how you perform on the job”. And not by your skin color, your sex and certainly not by your age.
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