Prepare for Life after College
How do you prove that you have learned or mastered business analysis or computer programming or project management or any other Information technology career?
Do you demonstrate your competency with a college degree or by gaining hands-on experience or acquiring a certification?
In some professions like medicine or law, there is a rigorous licensing, certification and training process without which you cannot practice practice the profession or get a job.
But in Information Technology (IT), you can become a software tester, business analyst, computer programmer, IT Manager or project manager without any supporting certification, college/post-graduate degree or license.
Coaching on How To Change your Career
Some of you have been asking about “how to choose the right career” or “how you can make a career change“.
You are searching for specific, practical step by step instructions for transitioning or making career changes.
The answer to this question is important to you because you spend the majority of your waking time at work.
So you understand that this question determines how happy or successful you will be for several years or until your next career change 
Is Your Career A Silo?
Don’t let your career become a prison. Use it as a launching pad for achieving your dreams.
If you would like to change career but feel like you can’t satisfy the specialized requirements on job postings, here is some good advice for you!
[Ask IT Career Coach] is a Career Advice Column for IT professionals looking for answers to their most challenging career situations.
Why Is Changing Roles So Hard?
Changing roles is hard because Information Technology (IT), Web, or Software Development Managers want depth of experience in specific, narrowly defined or over-specialized skills.
NAMED A 50 BEST WEBSITE
It is official. We (IT Career Coach) has been selected as one of the best 50 career coaching or job hunting sites on the web by Online University Review.
This selection is important because with the predictions of US unemployment approaching 10% by the end of 2008, there is no more important time than now to take interest in your career prospects and professional marketability.
The 50 best job hunting sites cover interview tips, resume writing, employee workplace experiences, personal, pertinent and honest advice on very personal experiences encountered while job hunting.
If the possibility of spending 4 or more years in college studying computer science is remote for you then breaking the degree barrier or knowing how to get a software developer job without a college degree will be helpful to you. So here is how to begin a computer programming career when college just isn’t an option.
While it may be easier to find a programming job with a college degree in computer science, a large percentage of computer programmers either don’t have a degree in computer science, or a college degree at all. The secret to success is to gain technical skills and real-world experience that makes you as good or even better than someone who only has a computer science degree.
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?
In my University years I observed two groups of students.
The first group was ultra-focused on their studies. They attended all their lectures, turned in assingments on time and fraternized exclusively with smart or smarter students.
The second group paid attention to their studies. In addition, they had part-time jobs and projects working for local companies. They cared more about how their studies impacted their world and not just the academia. Sometimes, they were at the top of their class and sometimes they weren’t.
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.
Dear Mr. Tagbo
My name is Jose Perez. I am currently in the 12th grade of High School and I plan to be a programmer. I would like to hear from you since you have a blog on helping computer programmers.
I live in Miami, Florida and I’m planning on going to the University of Florida to get a Bachelor’s in Computer Science. I would like to know if being a programmer is a good idea.
I’ve researched upon the subject and I have found that as a programmer I would receive a good starting salary and workplace comfort.
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