ITCareerCoach Training - Coaching » computer science degree http://www.it-career-coach.net How To Take Your Career To The Next Level Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:09:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 How To Learn Programming In 6 Months And Get A Job! http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/08/09/how-to-learn-programming-in-6-months-and-get-a-job/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/08/09/how-to-learn-programming-in-6-months-and-get-a-job/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:00:15 +0000 joshkemp http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=3225

How To Learn .NET Programming In Six (6) Months And Get A Job

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.

I like it so far I’ve also done a very little of python and enjoyed that.

I am going to be done the 3.5 .Net book by July 4th doing a chapter a day after my day job.

I am willing to work hard and study and take your software developer bootcamp.

I like your website I love all the information. When should I take the Software Developer Bootcamp?

After I finish the current book? Where do I go after the Bootcamp?

Is it possibe to land a job here in the Northern Virginia area …I would obviously have less then 2 years experience.

Thank You for your advice, and all the very informative articles. Josh Kemp

Is It Possible To Get An Entry Level .NET Programmer Job In Six (6) Months?

The answer to this question is YES because of the high demand for competent or skilled Microsoft .NET Software Developers in the Information Technology (IT) Industry.

The demand for skilled computer programmers is so high that the US for example uses a unique H1B Visa program to fill Software Developer job vacancies.

Unlike what obtains with other careers, even within the Information Technology industry, a lot of software developer positions go unfilled and to fulfill the backlog of Computer Programmer Job Vacancies, a lot of foreign national are hired to work in the USA as computer programmers every year!

Now I want to stress this … the current demand for skilled computer programmers does not extend to every programming language under the sun.

I mean, some programming languages like Perl, Python, Cobol, Foxpro, Clipper are not in demand.

In other words, you have to choose the right programming languages otherwise you career will end up being as dead as the Dodo.

Even though Microsoft .NET Software Developer Jobs can pay between $60,000 – $100,000 for less than two (2) years of experience, they are still hard to fill because computer programming as a career has been mystified.

It is the misconceptions or myths and the computer programming career that stops people like you from pursuing a rewarding career as a computer programmer …

Do You Believe The Myths About Computer Programming

Do you believe the myths, half truths or outright lies about the computer programming career? They read like this:

  1. You need a formal Math, Computer Science or Technology background to become a computer programmer

  2. You need to learn computer programming in a formal college environment

  3. Computer Programming is difficult to learn because it involves mastering low-level programming languages like C/C++, Assembly Language, etc.

  4. All the computer programming jobs in the USA are either outsourced or about to be outsourced

  5. It takes years to become a competent computer programmer because mastering programming languages is difficult

  6. All programming languages are equal, in other words, it doesn’t matter which programming language you learn

If you think that any of these myths is true, then your career is headed for deep waters.

While these myths may be true for careers in medicine, law, etc. they are not true and they do not apply especially to computer programming careers.

Let me start by debunking these myths one by one.

  1. You don’t need a formal math, computer science or technology background to learn programming

    There are lots of computer programmers with Music, Arts, Humanities, Social Science or Business backgrounds because becoming a computer programmer is not tied to understanding computer science but to learning specific software tools like Microsoft Visual Studio or Languages like PHP, C# or Visual Basic .NET or even Office Productivity Tools like Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access!

  2. You don’t need to learn computer programming in a formal college environment

    Colleges are focused on teaching the science of computer programming which is not what makes you a computer programmer.

    What makes you a computer programmer is acquiring practical skills & handson experience in specific software languages especially does that are in high demand.

    For example, high school graduate who spends 4 years building websites with HTML, XHTML, CSS, ASP.NET, Csharp (C#) is a computer programmer regardless of the lack of a formal college degree.

  3. Computer Programming Is Easy To Learn!

    Back in the days when computer programming languages like C/C++, Clipper, Foxpro, Cobol or even Assembly Language where the only viale options for building software applications, learning computer programming was a long, painful task and the image of programming as a tedious, boring, geeky job was perhaps justified!

    But with the advent of Microsoft Visual Basic and Microsoft Access, computer programming became a fast paced, exciting, cutting edge job.

    Computer Programmers now work on fashionable, high profile projects like designing and coding Blogs, Social Media Networks and E-Commerce Websites.

  4. Computer Programmers now have multiple career options

    Computer Programmers may focus exclusively on designing websites using only HTML & CSS, building databases using Microsoft Access, customizing Office Productivity Tools like Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) or on building enterprise, highly scalable and reliable websites using ASP.NET, Csharp (C#), Sql Server, HTML, CSS !

    With programming languages like Microsoft C#, ASP.NET and Sql Server, the time to market for Computer Programming Projects has now been shortened to weeks instead of years and competent computer programmers have no shortage of clients, projects, opportunities or work as long as they are willing to work very hard.

  5. The Outsourcing of Programming Jobs Is Not An Issue!

    It is true that some companies are outsourcing computer programmer jobs since highly skilled developers in the USA can command as much as six (6) figure salaries.

    However the cost of hiring competent computer programmers living in developing nations is rising because these software developers are either immigrating back to the US or asking for bigger salaries in their home country thereby raising the cost of doing business with them.

    In addition, outsourcing costs are also increasing because US employers have to continue investing in the administrative, project management, business analysis and software testing facilities required to make outsourced projects work.

    And there are several cases where outsourced projects are brought back to the US because the projects were not managed properly because of language, time or cultural differences between how we do do business.

    With all this in mind, the future for computer programmers living anywhere in the world including the United States is bright and the job outlook is comparable or better than what obtains in many other careers.

  6. Computer Programming Languages Are Not Equal

    Computer Programming languages are not equal in the number of career opportunities they will provide you with.

    For example, while Mainframe Computer Programmers are currently experiencing a shortage in the demand for their skills, Microsoft .NET Developers with real-world web development expertise are currently in high demand.

    If you don’t waste your time learning languages like Python, Cobol, Perl and instead focus on becoming highly skilled and experienced in Microsoft ASP.NET, Csharp (C#), SQL Server and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET … you will be able to get a well-paying job in the current economy even if you only have six (6) months of experience.

Tips For Getting A Microsoft .NET Developer Job In 6 Months

Here are some practical tips for getting a Microsoft .NET Developer Job with as little as six (6) months of strong hands-on experience:

  • First learn everything that you can about these programming languages: Microsoft ASP.NET, SQL Server, CSharp (C#), CSS, HTML, XHTML

  • Work on completing at least one (1) Web Development Project started by you or someone else using the programming languages: Microsoft ASP.NET, SQL Server, CSharp (C#), CSS, HTML, XHTML

  • Take a lot of practice tests on the following programming languages: Microsoft ASP.NET, SQL Server, CSharp (C#), CSS, HTML, XHTML

  • Market your resume to a lot of recruiters and staffing agencies when you start your job search.

    Use a website like Dice.com to research the number of programming jobs in your city and if there isn’t a lot of them, consider relocating!

That is it! Follow these few simple steps to get a Microsoft .NET programming job in as little as six (6) months ...


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This post was submitted by joshkemp.

]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/08/09/how-to-learn-programming-in-6-months-and-get-a-job/feed/ 4 Java, C/C++ or C#, Which Is Better? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/04/20/java-cplus-or-csharp-which-is-better/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/04/20/java-cplus-or-csharp-which-is-better/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:50:24 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=3172

Java, C#, C++, Which Is Better?

Java, C# or C++, Which Is Better?

Sometimes, you have to look to the past to see the future. To see the future of our more popular programming languages including Java, C#, Visual Basic, C/C++, let’s first review their histories.

Is C/C++ the Best Programming Language?

The C programming language was standardized in the early 70s for the UNIX operating system (and not Windows) by Dennis Ritchie.

In the early 80s Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs invented the C++ programming language as classes that extend the C language.

The C/C++ programming language is primarily used in writing operating systems, video games, device drivers, embedded systems and commercial, shrink-wrapped windows based software programs.

In the MS-DOS or Windows 3.1 era, C/C++ was probably the most capable compiler for developing windows based programs

Is Visual Basic the Best Programming Language?

The folks at Microsoft who were the sharpest minds in the software development business at that time realized that they were not catering enough to hobby or beginner programmers … keeping in mind that Bill Gates started his career as a hobby programmer without any formal computer science college education.

The issue was that working with C/C++ or most of the programming languages in existence at that time, required a strong computer science background or a formal computer science college education and lots of tedious, coding hours.

At that time, programmers had to repetitively code for mundane windows features or behaviors like detecting or responding to keyboard clicks or mouse movements.

So, in keeping with their founder’s (Bill Gates) history, Microsoft decided to do away with a lot of the repetitious, boring coding by developing Visual Basic (VB) 1.0 as a Drag and Drop, User Interface Driven, Rapid Application Development Environment.

VB 1.0 was introduced in 1991 to make computer programming accessible to everyone including hobby programmers, inexperienced software developers, beginners or anyone without a strong, formal, computer science background.

Visual Basic succeeded at making programming fun, less tedious or less expensive by giving programmers an easier, more productive coding environment.

A Paradigm Shift in Computing

Because of Visual Basic, millions of professionals without a formal computer science college education or background could learn how to program or get fun jobs without experiencing the drudgery or pain traditionally associated with programming languages.

Because of this paradigm shift, business owners could bring their windows software projects more quickly to market because the amount of time that programmers spend writing code had been dramatically reduced.

This paradigm shift also separated systems programming for which C/C++ was still the best from windows-based business software development for which Visual Basic was better suited.

What differentiated Visual Basic was its graphical, windows development environment which allowed inexperienced programmers to write less code by dragging or dropping pre-built windows features from a toolbox!

This meant that programmers no longer had to write thousands of lines of code before their software would receive user input in data entry forms, interact with back-end databases or detect and respond to mouse or keyboard actions from users.

Is Java the Best Programming Language?

While Microsoft was busy at work, the Internet appeared as if from nowhere and pulled the rug from other programming languages like Visual Basic and C/C++ which were not designed with the Web in mind.

The question no longer was “can you program in visual basic” but rather “can you program for the web or build a website?“

Sun Microsystems answered that question by releasing Java in 1995 with the intention that unlike Microsoft software, Java programs will run easily on web browsers and is portable to most hardware or software environments.

Java became very popular for many reasons. It was a superior object oriented programming language to Visual Basic which at that time was not object oriented.

Java was easier to code with than C/C++ and Sun designed Java programs so you could port or run them on all sorts of hardware systems unlike Visual Basic or C/C++.

Though Java became popular in the late 90s with experienced programmers, it still lacked Rapid Application Development features just like its cousin C/C++.

Today, Java still does not appeal to inexperienced software developers, beginner programmers or web developers without a strong, formal computer science education.

Java is also not the language of choice for writing web applications or designing websites! Web application development skills are currently more in demand than windows, systems, hardware programming skills.

Is C# the Best Programming Language?

Then Microsoft had another brainwave and released C# in February 13th 2002 which changed the web and windows programming industry again.

Here was a programming language that incorporated the object oriented programming capabilities of Java or C/C+ and the Rapid Application Development environment of classic Visual Basic and at the same time, provided a first-class web programming environment!

With all the facts in this article in mind, here are my recommendations for choosing a programming language.

  • Lower Learning Curves Is Good For You

    C/C++ has the highest learning curve (level of difficulty) followed by Java.

    C# is the easiest of the three (3) programming languages to learn because of its Visual or Graphical Programming features and language intellisense, which explains the meaning of programming commands as you type!

    C# also offers a large set of pre-built classes that save you from writing thousands of repetitious lines of code before you read, write or update databases or accept user input.

  • Acing Programming Interviews or Finding A Job

    Acing a programming interview or finding a job depends on your mastery of the programming language in question.

    Keep in mind find that mastering C# is easier than learning Java which in turn is easier than learning C/C++.

    Also, C# is preferred to either C/C++ or Java for building web applications.

    This means that if you want a web development career, you will do better to choose C# over Java or C/C++!

  • Bringing It To Market Matters Most

    The speed or ease with which you write code determines the time, money or effort required to complete a software development project.

    That is why it takes longer to build websites in C/C++ compared to Java. That is also why C# is easier or most productive for building web or windows applications compared to C/C++ or Java.

    Finally, software development managers are typically more concerned about the ease or speed with which you code than how fast your code runs, keep in mind that C/C++ is the the fastest or how portable your program is: Java is designed with portability in mind.

  • Code Potability or Processor Speed Is Irrelevant

    The amount of processing power available to Computer power has been dramatically boosted since the 90s.

    Software programs now run in 4GB to 8GB of memory instead of 256MB.

    Furthermore, computer processing power has grown from 16MHZ to QUAD CORE 2GHZ CPUs.

    So, the speed of your compiled software code is no longer a determining or driving business factor for most software development projects.

    The web / internet removes the need to address the question of code portability because HTML, XHTML and CSS is the native programming language for the web.

    Your Web Software is 100% portable if it emits pure or valid HTML, XHTML or CSS, so saying that Java is portable gets you nowhere!

Please answer the questions below. But before you answer the questions posted below, take a moment to read this article titled: “Is Learning C/C++ Programming Language Good For You?”

Discussion Questions

  1. Today, we live in a digital, information rich, mobile, internet era and my first question is: “how relevant is C/C++, Java, C# to the Web / Internet Age?“

  2. What is the difference between Operating Systems / Hardware programming and Business Software Application programming?

  3. No one programming language is best suited for every project. With this in mind, “what sort of software development project is each of these programming languages best suited for: Java, C#, C/C++?“

This post answers a question posted by Josh on the quickest way to get into a computer programmer career..


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/04/20/java-cplus-or-csharp-which-is-better/feed/ 5 In The Software Developer Industry, Experience Is King! http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/03/14/are-software-developer-internships-key-to-landing-good-jobs/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/03/14/are-software-developer-internships-key-to-landing-good-jobs/#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:02:04 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=3137

Hands-on Experience Is The Key To Landing Good Jobs!

Hands-on Experience Is The Key To Landing Good Jobs!

Once a computer programmer with marketable programming skills gains handson experience by building real-world, practical applications, he or she is virtually guaranteed not just any type of job … but a portable, marketable, high-paying professional career as a software developer!!

Why? Because in the software development industry, Experience is King!.

Real world, hands on, practical, computer programming experience is valued more than computer programming certifications or even computer science diplomas or college degrees!

With that in mind, a promotion that allows you to enroll in our 2012 Software Developer Internship Program ($1000) + SQL Boot Camp Online Training ($499) + Software Developer Boot Camp Online Training ($1000) for only $1125 Ends Today!

How Do You Get A Software Developer Internship?

This is how you can land yourself a Software Developer Internship opportunity:

  1. Start by learning marketable programming skills:

    Internships opportunities go to those with marketable computer programming skills.

    So, if your programming skills are out of alignment with the business needs of employers, you are out of luck.

    Demonstrate a high level of commitment to your career by learning how to program first before looking for how to get paid.

    Software Developer Internships are hard for those who want to be paid first before they learn how to code, get it?

  2. Next, build practical, real-world software applications:

    Internship opportunities do not go to those who have not first taken the time to learn or master a programming language.

    In other words, internships are for putting the knowledge and skills that you’ve acquired to work and not for learning how to code!

  3. Finally, get yourself a good programming job:

    Software developers who first take the time to learn valuable programming skills and then build a portfolio of web / software applications will get a job because they have fulfilled the major requirements for getting hired!

The demand for skilled computer programmers far outstrips the supply of skilled talent available.

The demand is so high that you are virtually guaranteed a good job when you fulfill the requirements I just mentioned.

A software development internship will help you land a good programming job, keeping in mind a few things:

  1. The purpose of a software development internship is to provide you with guidance, mentoring, coaching or feedback as you build real-world, practical software applications, products or services.

  2. Though software developer internships are helpful for landing good jobs, they are still very competitive or hard to get.


  3. Click here to Read More about the “2012 Software Developer Internship Opportunity”

Announcing the Software Developer Internship Program

With all this in mind, we are announcing our Software Developer Internship program for 2012:

  1. Computer programmers: who want to build hands-on software development experience in marketable computer programming skills.
  2. Web developers: who want to be mentored, coached, guided or advised on how to build practical, real-world software applications.
  3. Information Technology (IT) professionals: who want to build a portfolio of database driven web-based applications from beginning to end..

Enrolling in the software developer internship program means that you work on projects like:

  • Building Database Driven Websites using ASP.NET, C# and SQL Server.
  • Developing font-end, user-driven websites using HTML, CSS, JQuery and Javascript.
  • Hosting websites on .NET Framework (ASP.NET, C#, SQL Server and Windows).

Special Pricing Discount – Enrollment Starts Now!

The Software Developer Internship Program is an exclusive program that is designed for computer programmers who want to develop hands-on experience by building practical, real-world applications.

The special pricing for the Software Developer Internship program is set at $1000 for a limited time!

However, if you signup for the Software Developer Boot Camp before midnight Today (11:59 PM on Friday, February 3, 2012 (CST)) you will get a complimentary one-time, $1375 discount and be enrolled in both the Software Developer Internship program ($1000) and SQL Boot Camp ($499) and Software Developer Boot Camp ($1000).

Click here to enroll for the Software Developer Boot Camp + SQL Boot Camp + Software Developer Internship Program ($1375 discount) by making a $1125, one-time payment … this offers expires on Midnight of Friday, February 3, 2012 (Central Standard Time).


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/03/14/are-software-developer-internships-key-to-landing-good-jobs/feed/ 0 How To Start Programming for Mobile Phones? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/01/25/how-to-start-programming-for-mobile-phones/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/01/25/how-to-start-programming-for-mobile-phones/#comments Tue, 25 Jan 2011 22:35:58 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=3084

[Ask IT Career Coach] is a Career Advice Column for Information Technology (IT) professionals looking for answers to their most challenging career, job or business situations.

Here is a question that illustrates the challenges facing us as we try to find a worthwhile career.

I am a recent college grad who has come to the realization that I wasted time and money in a psychology degree with nothing to show for it.

I have always had an interest in computers, and recently developed a strong desire to possibly move into the computer industry (mainly b/c of google android and my passion for cell phones).

The problem is, i have no formal background, I don’t know where to start, and most articles I’ve read say don’t ruin your hobby by making it your job.

I respectfully seek more information about how to transition into this industry (really into cell phones) regardless of time, money or energy (seeing all I do at work and home is play with roms on my cell phones and dismantle them to discover their contents).

What I have though of so far is going and getting another bachelors (i love to learn; actually what I do best), going to a trade school (ITT, DeVry, etc.) or getting some type of certification, but I don’t know whats best. Any help would be appreciated.

Do You REALLY Need a College Degree to Get a Programming Job?

Congratulations, you have just made an important discovery; which is that it is more important for you to discover and develop your passion than to postpone it for a college degree.

However, don’t lose heart because your time has not been completely wasted.

While you do not absolutely need a college degree to get a computer programming job, some managers will view your college degree as proof of your ability to set a goal and achieve it.

According to Esther Schindler, having a major in a non-computer science discipline can actually work in your favor.

Read more about this in this article titled “Do You REALLY Need a College Degree to Get a Programming Job?“: http://bit.ly/2XKgEM.

The real issue here is not that you have a college degree but that you postponed doing what you love.

You should never put off following your passion for something else … at the very least, you should have worked hard at getting a college degree and also getting handson learning in cell phone application development at the same time.

Is A Computer Science Degree Worth It?

Is a formal background in computer science required for a career in mobile phone application development? The answer is absolutely not!

Again, you are making the mistake of looking for a solution in a college degree.

Don’t you see the trap that you are again falling into? You’ve already spent a number of years in college and all you got is a degree that you consider worthless … though I disagree with you on that.

And again, you are hoping that investing time, money and effort towards another degree will fix your career situation!

You are caught in a maze and it is time for you to wake up or get yourself out of it!

The problem is that most computer science colleges, trade schools or diploma providers will not teach you how to program on mobile phones.

They will most likely teach you just pure computer science and all the theoretical stuff, which is why you won’t be helped.

Even if you hit a homerun and you find a college where you can learn mobile phone programming, by the time you graduate, whatever you will have learned will have become ridiculously obsolete and you will be back at the starting point again!

Should You Turn Your Passion Into A Career?

Absolutely yes! The best career you can have is the one that you love, the career that interests you, the one that you do as a hobby or for fun.

Yes, I am asking you to do what you love and turn your passion or hobby into a full-time job.

The best reward you will get out of work is not the income that you make but the pleasure you get from doing your job.

Tell me, if you are not going to have much fun at work, why on this green planet will you do it?

How Do You Become A Mobile Phone Programmer?

You will become a mobile phone application developer by continuing along the path of getting your hands dirty with real-world mobile phone application development … and this is how you do that:

  1. Look into the cost of developing for each of the mobile phone platforms (Android, iPhones, Windows Phones) and then choose one of them to begin with

    .

  2. Get a good number of books on the platforms that you’ve chosen and start learning everything that there is to know

    .

  3. After you learn how mobile phone programming works on any of these major platforms, start building at least one mobile phone application project.

  4. If you find yourself being overwhelmed by all the information on mobile phone development technology, find a training provider or a course that you can subscribe to and learn mobile phone development in under a year.

And regardless of whether you are learning mobile phone development through self-study or through a training or coaching provider, keep building real-world mobile phone applications.

The biggest challenge that you will face with any Information Technology Career regardless of whether it is mobile phone programming or business analysis or project management is that of finding practical, real-world knowledge.

For overcoming that challenge, I would recommend that you read the book listed here: http://www.it-career-coach.net/book/

Are you facing a challenging career or job situation?Submit your Question to [Ask IT Career Coach] and we will answer it for you.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/01/25/how-to-start-programming-for-mobile-phones/feed/ 1 How Does Outsourcing Affect IT Jobs? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/11/24/how-outsourcing-affects-it-jobs/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/11/24/how-outsourcing-affects-it-jobs/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:36:54 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=3016

What Is The Future of IT Jobs?

What Is The Future of IT Jobs?


[Ask IT Career Coach] is a Career Advice Column for Information Technology (IT) professionals looking for answers to their most challenging career situations.

This question was submitted by a computer programmer who would like to know: “How Outsourcing Affects The Future of IT Jobs”.

Here Is The Question:

Hello Kingsley,

Your Software and SQL Boot Camp sound great and all. You also stated that a IT job is practically guaranteed when one becomes a Microsoft.Net Software developer!

However, Dice discussions portray a very bleak picture.

They include outsourcing, Indian countries taking jobs pennies on a dollar, programmers with 20 yrs experience being laid off and unable to find work, people with various degrees not getting hired, etc.

The only ones that seem to get hired are the ones who will take minimal pay. Basically 95% of the discussions say that IT dead and will only get worse over time.

What’s your view on this?

Is this a reality check for aspiring programmers?

Will it still be worth the time and effort to learn these skills?

How Outsourcing Affects IT Jobs

Hi ,

I agree that outsourcing is taking all the viable IT / Software Development jobs available in the USA!

1.) Some people are of the view that all viable Information Technology jobs especially Software Developer Jobs have been outsourced or are about to be outsourced from the US. However, those holding these view have been saying that for the last ten or more years.

2.) There is no actual evidence to support that Information Technology jobs are drying up or that software developers are having a harder time finding jobs because all the jobs have hone to India!

3.) The evidence actually points the other way … software Developers in the USA are amongst the highest paid professionals, and their earnings continue to increase.

4.) Right now there is a higher demand for .NET Software Developers (for example) than there are available programmers.

Please disregard the hype and call your local IT Recruiting firm and tell them that you are skilled in MS .NET Programming and then watch their reaction.

If Dice.com’s analysis is correct, they will tell you that all or most of the jobs have been outsourced to India and that you should find another career … or perhaps they will be all over you because you have solid Microsoft .NET programming skills?

5.) The demand for Software Developers and IT professionals is so strong that despite the recession that affected most of the US Economy in the last recession, IT professionals / Software Developers still stayed in demand especially when you factor in how poorly the rest of the economy was faring.

6.) Then there is the case of the jobs that were actually surprised. Do you know that a number of those jobs are being pulled back to the US because they were executed poorly because of language barriers, challenges with managing teams on different time zones, the inability to translate business requirements accurately and a host of other issues. In a nutshell, it turns out that a lot of the outsourcing talk is just hype and companies are realizing that.

7.) FYI: Outsourcing is a global phenomena affecting probably all careers. For example, many professionals are now flying to India or South Africa for medical treatment since the cost of treatment in the USA is astronomically high when compared to the cost of medical treatment in other countries.

If your sources on Dice.com are right, then Medical Doctors and pretty much everyone else will be out of work because the cost of almost any skilled labor is cheaper in places like India and China than in the USA.

And if outsourcing is really taking away all the jobs, then I suggest that you ignore the issue of outsourcing because everyone in the US will be pretty soon out of work.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/11/24/how-outsourcing-affects-it-jobs/feed/ 2 How to Prepare for the Real World When College Doesn’t Help! http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/08/22/how-to-prepare-real-world-without-college/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/08/22/how-to-prepare-real-world-without-college/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 06:22:46 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2981

Prepare for Life after College

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.

However, unlike so many other professions, you cannot get a job or succeed in an information technology career without a fair amount of hands-on experience or professional expertise.

As a matter of fact, the IT Industry is notorious for being performance or results driven. This explains why many managers fail to attach extra weight to educational qualifications and the like.

When was the last time your firm hired a web designer based on the web designer’s educational qualifications or hired a project manager with an MBA and zero work experience over a project manager with 10 years of hands-on experience and no MBA degree?

The superiority of hands-on experience over college education or certifications becomes self-evident when computer science or information technology college graduates find it hard to get jobs because they lack practical, hands-on experience or skills!

With that in mind, here is a question submitted by a college student on “how to deal with college”.

… the toughest challenges facing my career includes methodologies that our lecturers employ in teaching IT related topics; being not practical rather too theoretical, lack of competence criteria, difficulties in job seeking.

Become A Practical Learner

Find a way to build, create or perform the real-world tasks that correspond to the courses you’re taking in college.

If you are learning web design or computer programming, join an open-source project an contribute your code or start one of your own.

If you’re learning technical writing, volunteer to work on a commercial or open-source project where your skills and contribution will be used to create real-world solutions.

That will help you create a portfolio of projects that will open doors for you!

Find the real-world practical tasks that correspond to whatever theoretical skills you are learning from college and get a heads-up on your competition that way!

Take a Lot of Knowledge-Based Tests

Take tests or certifications not to get a job but to sharpen your skills, advance your knowledge or deepen your understanding of the industry.

Do not depend on tests or certifications to get a job because hiring managers realize that certifications by themselves are not necessarily a true test of ability.

Practice tests or certifications are better used for sharpening your skills or improving your comprehension or retention of a subject.

Discover and Follow your Passion

Don’t worry about making money after college. Rather use your time in college to find what you love or what you’re good at.

After college, get a job you’re passionate about at any cost … even if you are under-paid compared to your colleagues.

Don’t go into a career because it is popular or because it pays well.

Rather, follow your dreams, passions or strengths and the money will follow you after a while because you will excel and command the top pay in your industry .. if you are passionate about your job!

  1. Click here to read: Use Practice Tests For Boosting your Skills.

  2. Click here to read: How To Start A New Career.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/08/22/how-to-prepare-real-world-without-college/feed/ 6 Would You Like To Study A New Programming Language? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/10/28/would-you-like-to-study-a-new-programming-language/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/10/28/would-you-like-to-study-a-new-programming-language/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:42:53 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2660

Learn Hot Programming Languages

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!

So, what do I advise?

  1. Practice as you learn – at the software developer boot camps, graduated hand-on assignments allow software developers to practice solving programming problems.

  2. Solve real world problems – Find a small, real world programming challenge and solve it. Solving real world problems improves your analysis, design and project management skills.

  3. Ask for help – Get help from skilled programmers. Don’t spend weeks sweating the small problems when an e-mail to a coach, mentor or colleague will do.

    Note: One-on-one private coaching is included in the software developers boot camp as part of the training. Click here for more information

Some tech workers still see programming as being difficult because they are unable to work through difficult programming problems by themselves. I argue that learning new programming languages is not difficult!

Register today and get an additional, free training program as part of our 2 for 1 promotional discount which ends this week!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/10/28/would-you-like-to-study-a-new-programming-language/feed/ 2 Bonus HTML Practice Tests, Quizzes or HTML Training http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/04/26/bonus-html-practice-tests-html-quizzes-html-training/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/04/26/bonus-html-practice-tests-html-quizzes-html-training/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:37:48 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=1402

Top Paying Skills in High Demand

Top Paying Skills in High Demand

HTML programming skills are in high-demand for freelance consulting gigs, web design jobs, web development careers or internet businesses.

HTML web design and programming skills are some of the most frequently asked for skills in out-sourced or freelance computer programming projects.

Why HTML Skills Training?

HTML web design skills are among the most frequently asked for computer programming skills because almost every business has a website that needs to be maintained, redesigned or developed from scratch. In bigger corporations, the HTML web design or development jobs are taken care of by a specialized web design or web development team.

Smaller businesses may not be able to afford a specialized HTML team, so may outsource to freelance HTML specialists or ask the in-house Information Technology (IT) team to handle the HTML tasks.

Because HTML web design skills are classified under light computer programming skills, HTML tasks may be delegated to any member of the Information Technology (IT) team including business analysts, computer programmers or data analysts.

How To Become A HTML Web Designer or Web Developer

The The HTML Practice Tests or Quizzes E-Book is the e-book that provides you with practice tests or quizzes for learning HTML on your own.

The The HTML Practice Tests or Quizzes E-Book includes a HTML E-Book that acts as a reference for learning or working with HTML and several HTML practice tests or quizzes delivered via the Quiz Module on our Learning Management System (LMS).

Bonus HTML Practice Tests Included In the Computer Programmers Book

The Software Developers Boot Camp also includes all the HTML quizzes or HTML practice tests needed to become a HTML web developer. The HTML quizzes included in the Software Developer Boot Camp or the the HTML Practice Tests or Quizzes E-Book are also designed to improve your comprehension, recall or mastery of HTML web design or programming.

… But now, for the first time, we are also providing several of these HTML web design or web development quizzes to past or current buyers of the The Computer Programmers Book (The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programmer Careers).

Included in the bonus HTML practice tests or HTML training quizzes for all buyers or owners of the Computer Programmers Book are:

How To Become an HTML Web Designer or HTML Web Developer

HTML is a light programming skill that may be learnt or mastered by anyone who wants to learn the basics of web development or master one of the most frequently asked for freelance computer programming skills. The way to learn HTML easily is to REPEATEDLY practice the HTML SYNTAX until HTML becomes second nature to you. That is exactly what the bonus HTML REFERENCE E-BOOK and HTML QUIZZES will do for you.

To learn more about how Quizzes or Practice Tests help you develop technical mastery or competency, click here.

Who Gets The Bonus HTML Training Lessons?

The bonus HTML Practice Tests will be delivered to all buyers (past, current or future owners) of the The Computer Programmers Book – The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programmer Careers.

Note: that if you are subscribed to the Software Developers Boot Camp, then you already have access to the complete set of video training, practice tests or quizzes, software developer mentoring or coaching and hands-on programming projects and this announcement does not affect you.

How Do You Get The Bonus HTML Training Gift?

Go to this link and place an order now for The Computer Programmers Book – The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programmer Careers and you will be given access to both the HTML REFERENCE E-BOOK and BONUS HTML PRACTICE TESTS or QUIZZES.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/04/26/bonus-html-practice-tests-html-quizzes-html-training/feed/ 0 Bonus C# Training In The Computer Programmers Book http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/04/16/bonus-csharp-training-in-the-computer-programmers-book/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/04/16/bonus-csharp-training-in-the-computer-programmers-book/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:41:29 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=1381

Top Paying Skills in High Demand

Top Paying Skills in High Demand

CSharp (C#) software developers with as little as six months of computer programming experience can get full-time jobs, consulting or contracting positions from any state, province or city.

C# developer salaries range from $60,000 to six figures. Though, six figure salaries are more common for C# software development consultants than full-time employees, they are still available for really good C# developers.

Why CSharp (C#) Skills Training?

C# programming skills are by far the top-paying, in-demand computer programming skill. C# programming skills are in-demand in most cities or states because it is a modern, object oriented programming languages (OOP).

C# is used in software development projects for a wide number of Microsoft or Windows products (SQL Server, Microsoft Access, ASP.NET, Microsoft Office, Web Development with ASP.NET, Microsoft SharePoint for Collaboration, Document Sharing and Intranet Development and a wide number of other products.

The C# programming language also supports mobile or PocketPC development and Windows or Desktop development. The demand for C# programming skills is still high even in the current economic climate … a fact you can verify on Dice or Monster or CareerBulder or any of the top job sites

How To Become A C# (CSharp) Computer Programmer

The The Computer Programmers Book – The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programmer Careers is the e-book that provides you with a blueprint for learning C# (CSharp) programming or studying the C# programming language on your own.

If you prefer a step by step, in-depth, video training from C# instructors, then the The Software Developers Boot Camp will be better suited for you.

Bonus C# Lesson Included In the Computer Programmers Book

The Software Developers Boot Camp includes C# quizzes, C# video training and hands-on C# projects. The C# quizzes help sharpen your software development skills quickly. The C# Quizzes are also designed to improve your comprehension, recall and retention of the C# video training sessions.

However, we are now adding one of the C# quizzes from the Software Developer Boot Camp to past or current buyers of the The Computer Programmers Book (The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programmer Careers).

Included in the bonus C# lessons for the past or previous owners of the Computer Programmer Book are:

  • A Bonus C# Lesson Summary: The bonus C# Lesson is an electronic downloadable lesson that summarizes a C# video presentation from The Software Developers Boot Camp. It includes a summary of the C# video lesson presented at the Software Developers Boot Camp on a C# learning topic or concept

  • A Bonus C# Software Based Quiz Practice Session:  The bonus C# practice test or quiz is adapted from the C# video presented at the software developers boot camp. The bonus C# lesson also includes a private, secure, personal login to our training portal or learning management system (LMS) and a C# quiz that you use to perfect your understanding or mastery of some C# topics.

How To Become an Expert C# Software Developer Easily

The way to become an expert C# software developer easily is to practice your C# programming skills repeatedly until the C# skill becomes second nature to you. That is exactly what the bonus C# lesson and skill development session will help you to do.

To learn more about how quizzes or practice tests help you develop mastery or competency, click here.

Who Gets The Bonus C# Training Lesson?

The bonus C# training will be delivered to all buyers (past, current or future owners) of the The Computer Programmers Book – The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programmer Careers.

Note: that if you are subscribed to the Software Developers Boot Camp, then you already have access to the complete set of video training, practice tests or quizzes, software developer mentoring or coaching and hands-on programming projects and this announcement does not affect you

How Do You Get The Bonus C# Training Gift?

Go to this link and place an order now for The Computer Programmers Book – The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programmer Careers and you will be given access to both the C# lesson training lesson and C# skills practice sessions.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/04/16/bonus-csharp-training-in-the-computer-programmers-book/feed/ 2 Become A Technology Expert First! http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/10/27/subject-master-expert/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/10/27/subject-master-expert/#comments Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:23:35 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/10/27/subject-master-expert/

One of the reasons why you may find yourself struggling with your career is that you have too many goals. So, I’m writing this article “pick a technology and master it” to help you achieve your goals more easily.

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of choices you have to make?

Perhaps, you’re married, you have 2 kids, you have a job, your spouse has a job, you spend quality time with your family every day and you want to become a better software developer or business analyst.

So, you sit down and write your career goals on a piece of paper based on actions you will take over the next 1 year. If you are a computer programmer or you want to transition to computer programmng, you may begin by asking “what is the best possible programming language I can master to become highly valued?“, and you will get a reply like:

1. Master C/C++ because C/C++ developers are very skilled at what they do.

2. Learn Java … it’s really easy to learn and there are ton of jobs for java developers.

3. Enroll in Oracle database classes because Oracle developers are paid big bucks, Oracle developers are hard to come by and Oracle is one of the most reliable and high performing databases available

4. Study PHP & MySQL programming because if you search the internet for PHP or MySQL projects you will find a ton of businesses wanting to outsource work to freelance developers

5. Ajax and Web 2.0 is the next big thing. So, find out everything you can about Ajax and put it on your resume.

6. Visual Basic .NET is so easy to learn … so, learn it and have it on your resume just like everyone else.

7. Go to school and get a 2 year associate degree in computer science because employers won’t hire you without a computer science degree. When you complete it, do back and get a 4-year computer science degree and after that make sure you get a masters degree in computer science because there are so many 4-year computer science graduates, you can’t get a job except if you stand out with a masters or PHD. in computer science.

And the list goes on and on.

For business analysts, some of the advice you will get will be:

1. Get a 4-year degree and then a masters in business and information systems

2. Master Rational tools by going for Rational training classes

3. Get an MBA

4. Study SQL, PL/SQL, Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, DB2…and the list of requirements goes on and on like an insatiable leech.

If you take this sort of advice at face-value or attempt to achieve these goals you will find that:

1. You have become a professional jack of all trades and master of none

2. Your resume lists too many technologies and not enough real-world projects utilizing those technologies

3. You will most likely flunk any serious technical interview because your expertise is too broad

4. Even when you get a job, you will be too scared or confused to do anything. You are going to be working with skilled, expert professionals and discover that your knowledge is too shallow to be of use to anyone. So, you start avoiding technical conversations with your colleagues.

5. You start shirking your duties, roles and responsibilities seeking to pass them on to other people, because you suspect that you don’t have enough skills and knowledge to get the job done.

So, where do you go from here?

If you find yourself in this position, do this:

1. Slow down, become humble, take just one technology and master it. Become an expert first before branching out or becoming a generalist.

2. Be on top of your game completely. Make sure that you are an expert at whatever technologies, skills and projects you’ve listed on your resume. When it’s interview time, make sure that the hand-writing on your forehead says “Subject Matter Expert“. Become so technically competent, that you can get a job with just one interview.

3. College is good. Real world expertise is better. Gain a lot of experience working with those few technologies you’ve mastered. If you are always learning, always in college, always studying, you will lack critical experience on how to solve real-world problems … skills which are almost never gained in college. Solving problems under pressure, with limited resources for business users is different from studying to pass a computer science examination, so don’t mix the two up.

When I started my tech career several years ago, I picked just one technology and became an expert at it over a year’s span and then slowly expanded my skills and experience by becoming experts in several closely related technologies. I did’t waste my time learning any skill, I wasn’t prepared to become an expert in.

My strategy worked very well for me. What about you, is your strategy working for you or are you ready to become a subject matter expert?


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/10/27/subject-master-expert/feed/ 0 How To Get A Computer Programming Job Without A College Degree http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/08/22/how-to-get-a-programming-job-without-a-college-degree/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/08/22/how-to-get-a-programming-job-without-a-college-degree/#comments Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:02:32 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/08/22/how-to-get-a-programming-job-without-a-college-degree/

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.

What Are Employers Looking For?

At the end of the day, employers are looking for raw programming talent and skills when it comes to software developer positions. You must get these skills through formal computer science college education or get them on your own through personal development and self-education. As long as you can demonstrate that you’ve mastered the programming skills you listed on your resume … even if you gained them by self-learning or self-taught means, you will get the job you are looking for.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 33% of all computer programmers in the US do not have a college degree; the key to their entry into the software development industry is their personal knowledge and programing skills and not college accreditation.

Will Certification Improve My Chances Of Getting A Job?

An alternative to a computer science degree is to get certified which helps to demonstrate your depth of knowledge in a given platform, technology or language. According to CertMag.com some of the top certifications for programmers include:

  • Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform (SCJP)

  • Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)

  • Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)

  • SAP Certified Technical Consultant

  • Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)

And there are a lot more. Many employers consider certification as being as important as a college degree when it comes to proving your programming skills. For a lot of companies, the general computer science skills provided by a college education are not enough and you must show that you have programming skills in specific technologies rendering a college degree irrelevant.

According to a study by Fairfield Research, computer programmers and IT professionals with relevant and current certifications typically earn $2,000/yr. to $5,000/yr. more than others without certification, even if they’re doing the same work. And as the level and number of certifications increases, so does the pay level, often on an exponential rather that linear basis.

Experience Is King

The great thing about computer programming is that you can gain real-world relevant experience without having a job. Unless your chosen industry involves working with platforms that are hard to access at home such as mainframes or satellites, you will be able to find ways to gain experience in your field before landing your first job.

How to get a job without a college degree

The thing to emphasize when going for a job is your software development knowledge and programming skills, and any relevant experience you’ve gained while preparing for your first job. If you don’t have a degree, play to your strengths and emphasize the knowledge you do have, along with other programming skills, training or experience. Make sure your employer knows that while you don’t have a computer science degree, you have the software development knowledge and practical programming skills needed to get the job done. Chances are, other members of the team don’t have degrees either!

Your first programming job is unlikely to be glamorous or make you wealthy. But it will likely pay a lot better than other entry-level professions. The truth is software development is very much performance-based when it comes to pay and advancement. If you have the relevant programmer skills and you’re effective at your job, the manner in which you obtained those programming skills will become less and less important.

So, Where Does This Leave You?

What it boils down to is that programming skills and real-world experience is more valuable than computer science degrees and diplomas. If you have the practical programming knowledge and experience, you’ll find companies willing to hire you easily.

Keep in mind is that the software developer industry is still in transition and is a long way of from maturing. If you don’t have a degree in computer science, you’re still in some pretty good company:

  • Bill Gates – founder of Microsoft

  • Larry Ellison – founder and original developer of Oracle

  • Steve Jobs – founder of Apple

  • Steve Wozniak – co-founder and original developer of the Apple/Apple OS

Looking at the list above, you might say to yourself, “yeah right, all of these guys got into the business early, and that’s why they were successful“. But, while timing certainly played a part in their success, remember this: computers had been around a long time before these guys came on the scene, they just took advantage of the opportunity .

What really made these entrepreneurs successful was that they stayed young in their thinking and kept an open mind even in the face of sceptics.

Today, I am asking you to take advantage of the opportunity offered through my book to launch your own programming career:

My book details the path to contract programming or a full-time software development career.

It shows you how to learn programming, gain relevant experience and start your career in as little as 4 months.

It will shave years off your learning curve by showing you how to learn programming fast, how to prepare your resume so you will get noticed by hiring managers, how to prepare for and excel at technical job interviews so you can get job offers easily.

I even throw-in an additional 1 month free software developer mentoring which allows you to get one-on-one coaching on any aspect of your software developer or business analyst career.

The opportunity presented by my book is incredible, the rewards are real and tangible … and the results come surprisingly fast. But the ball is in your court. Stop doubting and procastinating. Take action now. Order a copy of the book and discover how you can easily master computer programming and become the best programmer you are capable of being.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/08/22/how-to-get-a-programming-job-without-a-college-degree/feed/ 1 Thinking of Changing Careers To Computer Programming? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/08/thinking-of-changing-careers-to-computer-programming/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/08/thinking-of-changing-careers-to-computer-programming/#comments Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:53:32 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/08/thinking-of-changing-careers-to-computer-programming/

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?

I ask because the conditions in Malaysia is somewhat different as in the need for a degree, for example. So, it would be refreshing to know of a proven case for me to bear in mind when making the crucial decision to get myself to really go for it.

Thank you. Kind regards,

Edward

Answer:

Hi Edward,

  1. Is A Computer Science Degree, a Legal Requirement? I’m aware that programmers who have degrees are sometimes preferred to those who don’t at job interviews. Notice that I use the word preferred. However the question to ask yourself is this: “Am I legally required to have a computer programming degree from a college or university?”

    The answer to this question in many cases is NO. No because in most countries that I know of, you are not legally required to have a computer programming degree from a college or university. Let’s examine my claim more closely. If you want to become a lawyer or medical doctor, in most countries you need to have degree from a university or college.

    So, you will be doing something illegal if you present yourself as a medical doctor or a lawyer without having the college or university degree to back it up. However, with computer programming, the preference is not a legal requirement. This means that you can present yourself as a computer programmer without having a computer science degree.

    So, this is what I urge you or any of my readers to do. If you are really serious about changing careers to computer programming, take advantage of the opportunity to do so now because the entry requirements and barrier to beginning a career in computer programming is quite low.

    The mechanics of how to master computer programming and begin a professional computer programming career is what I teach in my book: “the street smart guide to computer programming careers“.

  2. What Are Employers Looking For? Yes, there are many job postings that list a computer science degree as a requirement. However, in most of these cases, the computer programming degree requirement applies to full-time computer programmer job postings and not to contract programmer positions.

    This is because the contract programming market works differently from the full-time employment market. For contract programmers, the important requirement is to have strong industry experience and the technical skills for the job and simply present your resume. It’s far better to focus on developing the technical skills required to master programming than on the degree requirements because employers would often hire programmers who have the required programming skills without a college degree.

  3. Focus on Outsourcing And Increase Your Employment Options: You cannot focus on your local employment market in Malaysia alone because you limit your options by doing so. Whatever country you live in (Singapore, Japan, South Korea, South Africa), you have access to the internet and to a global supply of computer programming jobs. This means that even though you live in Malaysia or Kenya, you can bid for programming projects originating in US, UK, Canada, etc.

    Often these projects pay more than those originating in your own country. So, if you decide not to become a computer programmer because of the employment conditions in your country, you lose the option of working on better paying programming projects posted by more open minded employers on the internet. These software development projects do not require a computer science degree and are posted by employers in the US, UK, Canada, etc. for computer programmers living anywhere to participate in.

Edward, I have given you 3 good reasons why you should begin your professional computer programming career today without hesitation. Please let me know if I can answer any other question or comment that you may have.

Finally, If you are considering changing careers to computer programming, begin by reading the definitive book on how to master computer programming easily and get hired for a programming job fast.


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