ITCareerCoach Training - Coaching » computer science students 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 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 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 Did I Mess Up My Career? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/16/did-i-mess-up-my-career/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/16/did-i-mess-up-my-career/#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:40:21 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2064

Ask IT Career Coach

Ask IT Career Coach

This question was posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”.

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 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.

Here is the Reader’s Question:

I think I did myself well careerwise by reading for a degree that bears no inclination to what I am trying to aspire to in life.

The programme entitled: Degree in Computing with Management Studies is embeded with C++, COBOL and Report Programme Generator (RPG) courses.

The final year I underwent a gruelling course in Artificial Intelligence that I haven’t started to utilise in anyway in my career path.

What I strongly desire is a competence in database management and its integration with records management and design.

Regards

Here is my Answer

Hello,

I feel your pain because I have been in your shoes – in a similar situation.

I’ve had to transition career several times from Chemical Engineering to IT Sales to IT Consulting to IT Career Coaching!

I’m reasonably sure that my last transitiion is permanent … but that doesn’t mean much because I expect my IT Career Coaching skills to change so much that I would literally be re-inventing myself every year!

Think about it for a moment. The world around us is constantly changing and we have to remain flexible and adaptable or we become as dead as the DoDo!

Fact is … “career transitions are a part of life“!

What I’ve learnt that I would like to share with you is this: “march boldly in the direction of your dreams!“

Start by forgiving yourself thoroughly.

Forgiving yourself is really not as easy as it sounds … put some effort into giving yourself a break because you did the best that you could based on the information you had.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, make sure you take out some time to love on yourself before you do the next big thing.

Now, having done that, “follow your call wherever it leads without any hesitation“!

Since your heart is saying that you need to become a database professional, do exactly that!

“Jump into the water with both feet and don’t be afraid of getting your feet wet. “

What I mean is: “pursue your dreams fearlessly, follow your heart wherever it leads and don’t be afraid of making mistakes”.

You owe yourself the pursuit of “life, liberty and love”.

Let me know if I can do anything to help.

Regards,

Kingsley Tagbo – Your IT Career Coach

This post answers a question posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”!

If you have any Question about your career, Post IT as a comment on this page and I will be sure to answer it for you!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/16/did-i-mess-up-my-career/feed/ 9 How Do I Overcome Employment Gaps In My Oracle Programming Career? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/13/how-do-i-overcome-employment-gaps-in-my-oracle-programming-career/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/13/how-do-i-overcome-employment-gaps-in-my-oracle-programming-career/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:18:30 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2022

Ask IT Career Coach

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!

Here is the Reader’s Question:

Hello,

The toughest challege facing my career right now is, I have been unemployeed for an extended period of time.

I have nine years of Oracle programming experience, but I have been out of work for some years now.

I have been told by employeers that it has been too long since I have had any professional experience.

The job market is very competitive right now.

How do I compete with other programmers who may not have been out of work as long as I have?

I am attending classes so that I am not completely idle. My major is Computer Information Systems. However, I urgently need to work.

Here is my Answer:

Although, the job market is competitive, getting back into full-time employment after a stay at home period is not impossible.

Follow these guidelines to boost your competitiveness compared to that of other computer programmers.

  1. Broaden Your Skills: To stay competitive in the job market, you must broaden your skills because IT Managers are hiring for a broader range of skills!

    Begin by learning those skill that are in high demand and are also a natural complement to your existing skill base.

    For example, SQL Server programming skills are in high-demand and will complement your existing skill sets. By learning SQL Server programming you will be able to target both Oracle Programming Jobs and SQL Server Database Programming Jobs.

  2. Transition To a Software Developer Career: Take advantage of your existing programming strengths by learning a new programming language!

    Draw upon your understanding of Oracle programming to learn a completely new programming tool.

    This will help your career by giving you skills that make you more attractive to employers.

    For example, there are lots of programming jobs that require Microsoft .NET Front-End Programming Skills and Oracle Database or SQL Server Back-End Developer Skills.

    By learning Microsoft.NET you will become competitive in the current job market as you gain the ability to work on the User Interface Front-End or Business Logic Layer or Database Back-End!

  3. Overcome Employment Gaps By Becoming More Marketable: There is nothing that you can do about your employment gaps because it’s already happened and it is going to stay on your resume!

    However there is plenty you can do if you understand the power of having a marketable skill.

    When you hear employers complaining about the gaps in your employment, what they are really saying is that they don’t find your resume or skills compelling enough!

    You can completely by-pass this objection by acquiring the kind of skills that make you a marketable, in-demand IT Professional.

    This is the single, most important thing within your power to do … Learn a new skill or career that makes you instantly attractive, desirable and employable!

How to Overcome Your Employment Gap?

Not too long ago, I was helping someone who hadn’t worked for a number of years. He was in a pretty bad situation because he had a very short employment history and also an employment gap for no good reason.

The way we got around that situation was by getting him to update his skills by learning Microsoft .NET Software Development.

The demand for Microsoft .NET programmers is so high that this guy got hired at his very first interview … despite not having a credible explanation for the gaps on his resume!

I ‘m saying that considering your Nine Years of Oracle programming experience, all you have to do is to make yourself more marketable.

Remember that you already have a far better resume than the individual in question.

So, How Do You Become A Microsoft .NET Software Developer?

  1. You become a Microsoft .NET Software Developer by enrolling at the SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP!

    The software developers boot camp is an Online, Video Based, Web Based, Instructor Led, Beginner to Advanced Software Developer Training that incorporates knowledge based training in the form of Video Lessons and Hands-On Skill Building Microsoft.NET Training in the form of Microsoft .NET Projects, Case Studies, Labs, Hands-On Coding Activities and more.

  2. The SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP provides you with the skill needed to become a professional software developer or consultant. You learn ASP.NET, C#, Web-Based development in a practical, real-world, hands-on online computer programming course!

  3. Finally, I will also advise you to register for the SQL Boot Camp because SQL Server Database skills are usually required in Microsoft .NET software developer positions. You should register for both the SQL Boot Camp and the Software Developers Boot Camp at the same time to get the best results.

    So, register here for the SQL BOOT CAMP and also register here for the SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP!

This post answers a question posted by a reader on “How To Overcome Employment Gaps in Oracle Programming Career! If you have any Question about your career, Post IT as a comment on this page and I will be sure to answer it for you!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/13/how-do-i-overcome-employment-gaps-in-my-oracle-programming-career/feed/ 10 Why Can’t I Find A Job? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/13/why-cant-i-find-a-job/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/13/why-cant-i-find-a-job/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:21:11 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2002

Beat the Recession

Beat the Recession

You’ve got a college degree, a good looking resume and an impressive listing of Information Technology (IT) skills but can’t seem to find an IT job.

Finding a Job doesn’t have to be a traumatic, nerve racking or frustrating experience filled with rejection, fear and pain!

Just follow this article series to find out what’s wrong or get back in control of YOUR job search.

  1. Do You Have a Marketable Skill? Did you assume that because your skills were in-demand a few years ago, they are relevant today?

    The market doesn’t lie! … If your phone isn’t ringing or you aren’t getting job interviews then your skills need to be updated!

    What looks like a minor skill gap to you is a major skill gap to hiring managers because that’s what they’re paying for!

  2. Is Your Resume Killing Your Career? Your resume screams “hire me because I need this job” and says little about what you can do for the employer!

    Get a clue, no-one cares about you until you prove that you care about them!

    Put yourself in the employer’s shoes by re-writing your resume to say: “here is what I can do for you” and you’ll get a job paying surprisingly more than you asked for!

  3. Are You Flying by the Seat of Your Pants? Your failure to plan your job search is the reason why your job search is falling apart!

    Start your job search with a competitive analysis of your strengths and weaknesses in the current job market (SWOT Analysis) and then create a strategic job search plan that addresses your findings!

    Applying for every online job doesn’t work because everyone else is doing the same thing and you must differentiate yourself to succeed.

  4. Do You Suck at Job Interviews? You need to learn “how to interview properly” because something you’re doing is freaking out potential employers!

    Face-to-face or phone interviews are make or break opportunities that can’t be treated casually or left to chance.

    So learn “how to slam dunk job interviews” to improve your job search or get hired fast!

  5. Can You Perform? Prove It! Performers get hired wherever they go!

    Everything about your resume, job interviews or attitude must prove that you’re a performer because that’s what potential employers wants to hear!

    Remember that IT Managers view: your past performance as the best indicator of your future performance.

    So, get your act together and differentiate yourself from the competition. Prove that you’re a job candidate worthy of hire!

Remember that Employers are still hiring for Information Technology (IT) jobs despite the economy … so, if you can’t find an IT Job, you’re doing something wrong!

Finding a job doesn’t have to be an emotionally demanding, long-drawn out process. Just learn the process outlined in this series of articles and you will be in-charge of your job search.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/13/why-cant-i-find-a-job/feed/ 6 How To Become a Microsoft .NET Software Developer http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/08/how-to-become-a-microsoft-net-software-developer/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/08/how-to-become-a-microsoft-net-software-developer/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:16:42 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=1911

microsoft.net software developer job

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.

I have been in Information Technology for many years and most of my time was spent in software application development.

I can honestly say that I have truly enjoyed a majority of those years and what I have valued most is working with people and solving their problems.

Building relationships is one of my strengths, although that does not seem like a skill, which one can market.

Challenges facing me:

I am an application developer working with COBOL and VMS skills.

I have some experience with .NET but dont really feel well versed in the technology.

I have taken several training programs but all of them left me wanting. Besides being uninspiring, none of them really knew how to impart knowledge so that an individual could become productive in a short period of time.

Your website seems to indicate that you do know how to do that.

I have also begun to wonder if learning JAVA is the better way to go, since to some degree it is more open than Microsofts .NET technology.

How To Become A Microsoft.NET Software Developer

Passion as a Strength: I am glad you are passionate about your information technology career.

Passionate people are more likely to go out of their way to make their career work and the lack of passion is one of the reasons why people get burnt out or stop producing in their careers!

  1. Relationship Building Skills / Strengths: Your relationship building skill is actually a strength that can be marketed. That is one of the things that you learn from SWOT Analysis … “how to take advantage of your strengths by marketing to your opportunities“.

    The reason why it seems that your relationship skills are of little financial value is that you haven’t taken the time to identify or evaluate your opportunities in the light of your strengths.

    If I was to present you with a Cobol / VMS job, you will easily recognize it as an opportunity, because you have trained your mind to look out for or act on Cobol or VMS Job opportunities.

    But if I were to present you an opportunity to profit by exercising your relationship building skills, you may not recognize or act on it because you’ve not trained your mind to do so!

    SWOT Analysis helps you identify your opportunities in the light of your strengths and come up with a plan or strategy for acting on them.

    For example, you may be able to take advantage of or exercise your relationship building skills by referring contacts who need IT Career Advice, IT Coaching or IT Training to our website.

    If you have a really large list of contacts and you are really very skilled at building relationships, you may even go into a part-time or full time IT recruiting career!

    So opportunities to take advantage of your relationship building skills exist, you just have to take the time to properly identify, evaluate and act on them.

  2. How to Get Productive IT Knowledge in a Short Period of Time:

    Yes, you are right in saying that our website’s focus is “impacting productive knowledge in a short period of time“!

    Our definition of productive knowledge is practical, hands-on, job or career focused skills that you can put to work immediately you complete training. This is how our training works:

    • Knowledge + Practice Based Online Training:

      Our online training provides you with a blend of knowledge based training and hands-on skill building, practice based training.

      Knowledge based training is the training gained only from watching videos or instructors in a traditional classroom education or information gained just by just a book.

      Knowledge based training alone does not help because you also need practical job-based skills which are gained by working on real-world problems

      So you learn by doing and not just by watching others!

      You learn by doing or practicing what you’ve learned in a course. Our online training incorporates multiple types of hands-on, practical, real-world training.

      What this means to you as a software developer is that you practice writing actual working Microsoft .NET Code in our Hands-On Labs before you perform the same tasks for an employer.

    • Skill Sharpening Online Training: It is not enough to learn a new programming skill, you also need to sharpen your new programming skill to the point where it becomes productive or highly effective.

      In the real-world, IT Managers assign aggressive deadlines to their software development projects and only those Computer Programmers with sharp programming skills are be able to meet those deadlines.

      So, it is not enough to learn the Microsoft .NET Programming Language (ASP.NET, C#, Visual Basic .NET), you also have to be sharp, effective or productive at writing code especially if you intend to transition from being a hobby programmer to a professional Microsoft .NET Developer!

  3. Demand for Java versus Demand for Microsoft .NET Programming Skills:

    This is a sensitive question because whenever you compare the demand for a career like business analysis to the demand for another career like computer programming, people’s feelings and emotions get involved, hurt or mixed-up!

    So, I want to preface by answer with this statement: Java and Microsoft .NET are both excellent programming languages because they are both object oriented programming (OOP) languages.

    However if you are looking for a stable, full-time, professional software developer career, I will recommend Microsoft .NET over the Java programming language and here are a few reasons why:

    • High Demand for Microsoft .NET Software Developers:

      The demand for Microsoft .NET computer programming skills is high because there are more Microsoft .NET (ASP.NET, C#, VB.NET) software developer job postings than there are competent or skilled Microsoft .NET computer programmers.

      I have also observed that the demand for Microsoft .NET Programmers jumped in the last five years compared to the demand for Java Programming Skills.

      Previous to that, there was a higher demand for Java Programmers because Microsoft.NET was still relatively new in the market.

    • The Marketing of Microsoft.NET Compared to Java Programming Language:

      Another reason why I recommend Microsoft .NET (ASP.NET, VB.NET, C#) over Java is that Microsoft has been successful at marketing the Microsoft .NET development environment to businesses based on their bigger, better marketing team.

      Now, I am not a blind supporter of Microsoft Tools. I also hate those Microsoft products that have been failures.

      For example, I like PHP while I hate Windows Vista with a Passion :-)

      I also don’t use MSN Search and I use Google Search.

      However, Microsoft .NET Developers have more Career or Job options than their Java colleagues because the Microsoft .NET programming languages has also been extended to other platforms including Microsoft SharePoint (Collaboration, Communication), Microsoft Dynamics (Customer Relationship Management ), Microsoft SQL Server (Enterprise Database Computing), Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word), Microsoft Data Mining, Microsoft Mobile Devices.

    So, by learning Microsoft .NET you hook up your career or job prospects with Microsoft’s product leadership and huge marketing muscle.

    Finally, I recommend Microsoft.NET over Java because it offers you a shorter learning curve and more career prospects or job options.

So, How Do You Become A Microsoft .NET Software Developer?

You become a Microsoft .NET Software Developer by enrolling at the SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP!

The software developers boot camp is an Online, Video Based, Web Based, Instructor Led, Beginner to Advanced Software Developer Training that incorporates knowledge based training in the form of Video Lessons and Hands-On Skill Building Microsoft ,NET Training in the form of Microsoft .NET Projects, Case Studies, Labs, Hands-On Coding Activities and more.

The SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP provides you with the skill needed to become a professional software developer or consultant.

You learn ASP.NET, C#, Web-Based development in a practical, real-world, hands-on online computer programming course!

Finally, I will also advise you to register for the SQL Boot Camp because SQL skills are usually required in software developer positions.

You should register for both the SQL Boot Camp and the Software Developers Boot Camp at the same time to get the best results.

So, register here for the SQL BOOT CAMP and also register here for the SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP!

This post answers a question posted by a reader on “How To Become a Microsoft .NET Software Developer! If you have any Question about your career, Post IT as a comment on this page and I will be sure to answer it for you!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/07/08/how-to-become-a-microsoft-net-software-developer/feed/ 15 It Is Never Too Late To Become A Computer Programmer! http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/06/22/it-is-never-too-late-to-become-a-computer-programmer/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/06/22/it-is-never-too-late-to-become-a-computer-programmer/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:24:53 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=1666

Ask IT Career Coach

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!

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.

Here is the Question:

hi

i am 55 yrs old now, and I am more or less retired since the financial crisis hit us last year.

I used to work in a shipping company, in the operations dept.

I am keen to switch to an IT carer, specializing in programming. What are my chances, to build a career in programming so late.

In my younger days in 1985-1986 I took a course in computer science and programking skills langauge used basic and cobol, but i joined my brother in a shipping and forwarding company and have not done any programming.

Here is my Answer:

Let me answer your question by making a bold statement: “it is never too late to pursue happiness!“

Here in the United States we believe that “All Men … are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights … Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness“.

So, if pursuing a career in computer programming represents happiness for you … then do so regardless of your age!

I have worked with skilled computer programmers older than 55 years … one of them being a contract programmer employed by Robert Half International Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the other, a contract programmer at a Loyalty Marketing Firm in Saint Louis, Missouri.

The last time I spoke with either of them, they were in-demand, happy and at the top of their game … their age not withstanding!

But I will give you some additional reasons why “it is never too late to become a computer programmer!”

High Demand For Contract Computer Programmers

I will suggest that you become a computer programmer by first going into contract programming because the demand for skilled contract computer programmers far outweighs their supply!

You can independently verify this fact by looking at the number of contract programming gigs posted in Dice.Com.

Skilled Contract Programmers are so much in supply that you can earn six figures with full-medical, 401K and dental benefits within the first year or two … if you are good!

Age Is Not A Barrier To Freelance Computer Programming Career

The demand for skilled programmers also makes it easy and feasible for you to become a freelance computer programmer

As a freelance computer programmer, you are responsible for finding your own clients, paying your own taxes and benefits while keeping the option of working from your home office or personal business site.

Freelance computer programming is all about talent, skill and performance and not about your age, sex, nationality or education. If you know your stuff and you can promote yourself then you are in business.

So, I suggest that you learn computer programming first and using a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats ) Analysis determine if freelance computer programming is for you.

Age is Not A Barrier To Managing Computer Programmers

If you have learnt computer programming, you may specialize in managing computer programmers or software development projects.

Your age may actually work in your favor if you’ve learnt how to position it as a strength and not a weakness!

You may be hired over younger computer programmers who are sometimes seen as being more arrogant, less likely to stay on a job and less experienced at dealing with people.

One thing you may need to learn is “how to position yourself to employers by emphasizing your strengths!“. So, I would encourage you to spend more time thinking of how your age can be an asset versus how it is a liability!

Sharp Computer Programming Skills In-Demand

The IT Industry values skill-based competency over any other attribute and that goes for computer programming careers too!

If you really want to become a computer programmer, I would advise you to focus all your strength on becoming the best programmer you can be!

While pursuing your programming career, focus on developing a high-level of mastery or competence and get ready to prove it to hiring managers.

If you can prove that you are as good or better than the skill demands for the job, then you will be employed and you will stay employed … it is that simple!

Previous Industry Experience Helps

Here is another reason why your age can be an asset if you learn how to position it correctly using a tool like SWOT Analysis!

You may have an advantage over younger programmers because you have worked in more industries and you are more exposed to how business is done compared to a younger computer programmer who may even be fresh out of college

You should highlight your previous industry experience (you should have a lot by now) and prepare a position statement that points out how your first-hand knowledge of business operations will help a prospective employer!

Given this last example, I hope that I have demonstrated again the value of learning how to position your age as an asset or strength and not as a weakness!

Use Industry Contacts To Your Advantage

Here is another reason why your age can be an asset and not a liability.

Using a SWOT Analysis, you may be able to determine that you have contacts in the industry who can help you get a computer programming job!

This is a reasonable expectation because you probably know more people than a younger computer programmer based on the fact that you’ve worked in more places, been in contact with more people or been around longer :-)

What you need to do, is to learn how to leverage your contacts and existing relationships towards getting a full-time computer programming job, a contract computer programming job or a freelance computer programming job!

How Do You Become A Computer Programmer?

You become a computer programmer by enrolling at the SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP!

The software developers boot camp is an Online, Video Based, Web Based, Instructor Led, Beginner to Advanced Software Developer Training

After you complete your computer programmers training you will get assistance towards pursuing a full-time contract programmer career or a freelance computer programmer career depending on what your SWOT Analysis tells us.

Don’t Worry about this because we will assist you at every stage of your new computer programmer career.

Finally, I will also advise you to register for the SQL Boot Camp because SQL skills are usually required in software developer positions. You should register for both the SQL Boot Camp and the Software Developers Boot Camp at the same time to get the best results.

So, register here for the SQL BOOT CAMP and also register here for the SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP!

This post answers a question posted by a reader on “how to become a computer programmer! If you have any Question about your career, Post IT as a comment on this page and I will be sure to answer it for you!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/06/22/it-is-never-too-late-to-become-a-computer-programmer/feed/ 2 About The 2012 Software Developer Internship Opportunity http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/04/28/the-software-developer-internship-opportunity/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/04/28/the-software-developer-internship-opportunity/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:48:32 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=1430

The Software Developers Internship Coaching Opportunity

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.

As a web developer, you can find a lot of work as long as you have a computer, an internet connection and marketable web development skills.

An online employment job report, finds that while the US economy was struggling to add jobs, the online employment market was experiencing a surge in demand for all types of Information Technology professionals … especially computer programmers.

Note that the freelance software developer job market is weighed in favor of computer programmers with either LAMP Programming Skills: PHP, MySQL, WordPress), .NET Framework Programming Skills: ASP.NET, CSharp (C#), Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET), SQL Server Skills or User Interface Programming Skills: HTML, XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, JQuery.

The good news is that you don’t need to learn all these programming skills because a software development project will typically only require one type of skillset, either LAMP (PHP, MYSQL, WordPress) or Microsoft .NET Framework (ASP.NET, CSharp (C#) or VB.NET and SQL Server).

How To Become A Full Time Software Developer

Full-time Software Developers may be either independent software development consultants or permanent, full-time programming employees.

As an independent software development consultant, you are employed and paid by staffing agencies to work for multiple employers, one employer at a time.

As a full time software developer you will work for or be paid directly by an employer and not by a staffing agency.

Note that the corporate, full-time or independent software developer employment market is weighed in favor of computer programmers with web development skills in ASP.NET, SQL Server, C# or VB.NET and .NET Framework.

Independent software developers earn a lot more than full-time computer programmers. Here in the US, that difference can be anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 or more!

On the other hand, full-time computer programmers have more stability or security in their careers and are also under less pressure to perform or gain cutting-edge computer programming skills.

The primary difference between freelance web developers and full-time (independent consultants or permanent employees) is that while freelance web developers can work from home, their hourly billing rate is lower and also, they have to work much harder at marketing their skills.

The 2012 Software Developer Internship Opportunity

You understand that every career path in Information Technology (IT) requires handson experience?

The main function of the Software Developer Internship Program is to provide you with software development projects where you can gain practical, real-world, cutting-edge programming exposure or hands-on experience in web development … which is where most of the hiring is taking place right now.

The hands-on project experience can then be used as a stepping stone to a freelance web developer job, an independent software consultant job or a permanent programming job depending on your preferences.

However, you will need to learn either WordPress, PHP, MySQL or ASP.NET, C#, SQL Server before you can participate in the The Software Developer Internship Program because you won’t be to perform the assignments handed to you without requisite, prior training … which makes sense right?

With this in mind, you need to enroll in Software Developer Boot Camp before you are allowed to enroll in the Software Developer Internship Program!

Enrolling In The Software Developer Boot Camp

The Software Developer Boot Camp is where you get the complete, beginner to advanced online training needed to learn ASP.NET, C# and SQL Server Web Development.

The Software Developer Internship Program is reserved solely for gaining hands-on, web development experience after which you can then turn into a full-fledged freelance, independent or permanent web developer.

However, in the Software Developer Internship program, we won’t be training or coaching you on software development because we assume that you are already fully trained and ready to code … does that make sense?

The Software Developer Internship Program is designed to be a 12 to 24 weeks online coaching event where you are assigned about one or two major web development projects that utilize marketable, cutting-edge web development skills.

In the Software Developer Boot Camp you are trained using a suite of software developer practice tests or quizzes which improves your retention, comprehension or recall.

These practice tests are designed to help you ace your job interview for full-time employers or freelance consulting clients.

During the Software Developer Boot Camp, you are also given access to our private coaching module and video-based training, so that all the assistance you need is available once you’re enrolled.

Keep in mind, that the software developer boot camp is also designed to take you from beginner or intermediate programming skills to full-fledged software development skills unlike some of the other courses you may be looking at … which are only good for people who want to learn the basics of computer programming and then tutor themselves the rest of the way!

I would also advise you to ignore those distracting, counter-productive arguments over whether VB.NET is better than C# .

See, if you learn C# really well, you can pick up VB.NET by yourself with no more than a month of extra study and just so you know, we are focusing on C# in the Software Developer Boot Camp.

And as you want to hire us as your career coach, please ignore those endless debates oon the marketability of Java, C/C++, Ruby, Python or Cobol programming languages … click here to read my reviews on why some programming languages may be bad for your career.

However, if you already love programming in Java, C/C+, Cobol, Python, Perl, Ruby, learning C#, ASP.NET and Sql Server cannot hurt your career.

On the contrary, it can help you earn more money, make you even more marketable and secure your career in today’s user-interface web-based world … do you get my point :-)

Only One (1) Pre-Requisite for the Software Developer Boot Camp

Note: If you are interested in becoming a software developer, we require that you enroll in both the the SQL Boot Camp and the Software Developer Boot Camp and take both of these online training programs at the same time!

This requirement was instituted because web development jobs also require strong database development and sql query writing skills since most web applications are database driven.

Software Developer Boot Camp Discounts Ends – Friday, February 3, 2012

Currently, we have a promotion for the Software Developer Boot Camp that ends at 11:59 PM on Friday, February 3, 2012 (CST).

This week, we have a promotion that allows you to enroll in the Software Developer Boot Camp for $1125 and receive an enrollment in both the Sql Boot Camp ($499 value) and the Software Developer Internship Program ($1000).

Click Here to Enroll Now in The Software Developer Boot Camp and you will also receive both the Sql Boot Camp Online Training and the Software Developer Internship Coaching Program FREE (a $1375 discount) … this offer is only valid until 11:59 PM on Friday, February 3, 2012 (CST).

Finally, don’t wait until the last minute because if you miss out, you may not see this opportunity again this year!

Thanks and Best Wishes


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/04/28/the-software-developer-internship-opportunity/feed/ 1 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 How To Get Computer Programming Experience http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/21/how-to-get-computer-programming-experience/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/21/how-to-get-computer-programming-experience/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:00:34 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=555

Be Wise ... Get Experience

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.

How To Get Computer Programming Job Experience

Now, you know that raw, hands on computer programming experience is valued above programming degrees, job titles or programming certifications, here are tips on how to increase your programming experience.

  • Open Source Projects

    there are various open source projects that you can join and contribute code to. Before you join an open source project, take some time to learn the code, use the application, get to know the team members and become familiar with the code review or code commit processes.

  • Non Profits

    you may get programming experience by helping a non-profit organization that needs with building a database, a website or a software application.

    Be sure to let the non-profit organization know that you are doing the job to get more programming experience.

    You need to be truthful and upfront about your level of expertise or you may run into problems by taking on more than you can handle.

    When you committee to working for a non-profit organization, you may be required to work at the pace of other senior, more experienced team members.

    Also, the non-profit may be racing towards meeting some important deadlines.

    So, even if you are offering free help, the non-profit organization needs to understand that you may introduce additional delays to the timetable.

    If this is not acceptable then you and the non-profit organization are not a good match.

  • Personal Use Software Applications

    You may get computer programming experience by building a software application that provides some services or benefit to you.

    For example, an employee I managed built a price watching software applications in his spare time.

    The application was a web crawler that would go to specific websites and monitor the bids and prices of products he was interested in.

    You can get some really cool programming experience that way because you are your own customer, you are not going to stress yourself over deadlines and you understand the needs you are trying to meet.

    The downside is that software development managers do not rank this type of programming experience as high as that gained by working for non-profit organizations or open source projects

  • Professional Computer Programming Experience

    You may get computer programming experience from a professional software development organization.

    This involves having a software development company assign programming projects to you, review your code and mentor, coach or train you on your weak spots.

    This method is preferred because hiring managers value programming experience derived from professional mentors above those from self study or non profits or other sources of programming experience.

    The reason is that a professional software developer can critique your code or database design while you or a non-profit may not review or critique your own code.

How to get professional software development experience

The Software Developer Boot Camp provides you with professional software development experience.

You are given hands on, practical, real world projects to work on.

Your computer programming code or database design assignments are reviewed by course instructors and you are given feedback that helps you correct your weak spots.

You are assigned additional projects as you progress along the course and as you complete your training, you build up your portfolio and programming experience.

What Next After Getting Programming Experience?

If you don’t already have a programming job, you need to make the best efforts towards putting together a professional computer programmer resume, sending out your resume to hiring managers and preparing rigorously for your technical interviews.

If you gain relevant, real world programming experience, prepare a resume that highlights your programming experience and contact a lot of hiring managers, you will secure technical programming interviews.

All you need to at the technical interview is to put your best foot forward and get the job you want!

The Demand For Computer Programmers In A Recession

The demand for software development professionals is high inspite of the state of the economy.

I receive unsolicited job postings for SQL programmers, business analysts or computer programmers all the time.

Remember that computer programming skills are still in-demand even with the state of the job market.

So make sure you do not hesitate to improve your real world, hands on, computer programming experience.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/21/how-to-get-computer-programming-experience/feed/ 3 Entry Level Programmer Jobs For Beginners http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/31/entry-level-programmer-jobs-for-beginners/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/31/entry-level-programmer-jobs-for-beginners/#comments Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:33:33 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/31/entry-level-programmer-jobs-for-beginners/

How To Find Programmer Jobs?

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.

I feel competent enough to pursue a career in Programming as well as Mathematics.

Please send me an e-mail regarding the availability of programming jobs.

yours truly,

J.C.

How To Get Hired, What Computer Science Students Need To Know!

How To Find Computer Programmer Jobs

Start your programmer job search by looking on Dice.Com which is a fast and reliable job search engine for computer programmers.

You can search for jobs within specific miles of your zip code or search for web application developer jobs in specific programming languages like Java, C#, VB.NET, PHP, etc.

I also suggest that you customize your resume with mentions of all the technical concepts or skills that you’ve used in your work as a computer programmer.

After you get your resume to match current job postings, contact a lot of employers because getting hired is a numbers game and the more employers you contact, the quicker you will be able to get a job.

At your job interview, look at your audience and then customize your conversation to their needs because business managers, CEOS or project managers do not share the concerns that software development managers, software architects and computer programmers interviewing you have.

Here are some tips that will help you in a technical computer programming interview:

Business Line managers want to hire computer programmers who can solve business problems.

So when you interview with business folks, focus your conversations on your ability to solve business problems or complete tasks and projects important to the business.

Here are some tips on how to interview with non-technical business managers:

How To Interview With Non-Technical Business Users

  • Talk about your ability to perform the tasks involved in creating a website like designing the website in Photoshop, converting it to CSS and writing all the database and backend programming code.

  • Do not talk about the lower level details of a programming language like its object oriented features.

  • Talk about your ability to code quickly or correctly without mistakes and finish your tasks on time.

  • Do not talk about programming concepts like arrays, subroutines, functions, methods, properties or talk in ways that that non-technical business users will find hard to follow or understand.

  • Talk about your ability to code fast under pressure or to develop semantically correct websites or convert Photoshop PSD files to CSS or perform any of the programming tasks you are assigned reliably.

  • Show or demonstrate the websites that you created and why the features or design of these websites are important from a business point of view.

How To Interview With Technical Managers Or Computer Programmers

If you are interviewing with a software developer or technical manager, then do everything that you need to do to convince them of your technical ability.

In this context, it is okay to discuss the latest technical / computer programming concepts.

Here are some tips on how to interview with technical managers, software architects, computer programmers, etc.:

  • Show or demonstrate the websites that you created and how the features or design of these websites were created from a technical standpoint.

  • Talk about the cool features you’ve created and how you used CSS, jQuery, JavaScript, ASP.NET, C# or any programming technology to achieve that!

On a final note don’t use the “I am a student, give me a job” approach with employers.

Whether you are a college student, a high school student, a recent computer science graduate or a beginner programmer you need to solve real world programming problems and demonstrate practical web, windows or mobile applications regardless of your designation.

See, what makes you a computer programmer is not your educational qualifications but the complexity, scope and number of real-world web, windows or mobile applications that you’ve created.

This post is part of a series of answers to questions sent in by software developers.

If you have a question about your programmer career, click here to post it and I will answer it just like I’ve answered this computer science student’s question!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/31/entry-level-programmer-jobs-for-beginners/feed/ 6 Is My Resume Killing My Career? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/19/is-my-resume-killing-my-career/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/19/is-my-resume-killing-my-career/#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:47:14 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/19/is-my-resume-killing-my-career/

Resume Writer

Resume Writer

You won’t have believed me if I told you.

But now You, Oh Yes You, are beginning to realize it.

Your resume is the reason why you can’t get a programming interview despite your best efforts.

And when you talk to recruiters, Oh My, Do They Give You A Run Around!

Someone should have been kind enough to tell you that your resume is killing your career!

You send your resume to soooo many employers and then sit back for phone calls that never happen.

No one wants to hire you! Even though your resume literally screams Hire Me!

What is happening to me you say.

Am I over qualified, under qualified, too old, too young, too Christian, too Moslem, under educated or over educated? you ask.

Please tell me what is wrong with my career and I will fix it, you cry, staring at your phone.

And then it happens. Your phone rings! And with a surge of 100 percent pure adrenaline you grab it and yell out your full name before the caller has a chance to say hello my name is Bob and …

Surprise! The Private Number on your Caller ID is from a debt collector calling to remind you of a 60 days past due bill.

You look up. There, suspended in mid-air, are crystal clear pictures of bankruptcy, repossession and eviction!

Will I ever get a programming job, is my career over, am I the next homeless person? you wonder.

As the walls begin to cave-in on you, the only thing louder than your heart beat is your own labored breathing and one very small, very quiet voice that says now begin to face the truth that your resume is the reason why you can’t get a job.

For example:

You have several years of experience from careers that have nothing to do with computer programming listed on your resume! How does that help your case with an employer?

You have included your entire college or academic results (transcript) on your resume! Why?

You say you love programming and all you want is an entry-level programmer job. Yet your resume is that of a desperate job seeker and not that of a lover of programming.

And you don’t have one lousy programming job where you worked for at least 6 months. How can you be a programmer?

You think that by using the tag ‘entry level programmer’ in your resume, you will become instantly employable! Little do you know what employers are really thinking: Show Me Your Programming Skills First And Then I Will Show You The Money?!

To cap it! Your resume says you have been searching for work for a really long time – meaning nobody wants to hire you.

Let’s stop this madness right now.

Get with me right now so I can help you straighten out your resume quickly, get it into the hands of hiring managers today, get hired easily and get paid more!

By now you know what you must … click here to straighten out your resume quickly and get a job fast!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/19/is-my-resume-killing-my-career/feed/ 0 Beginning Computer Programming http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/10/beginning-computer-programming/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/10/beginning-computer-programming/#comments Sat, 10 Mar 2007 12:39:30 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/10/beginning-computer-programming/

Beginning computer programming can be difficult.

Even after getting hired beginner computer programmers may get the short end of the stick in matters ranging from compensation, training, and exposure to high profile projects and clients, peer respect, choice of technology, pecking order, holiday time and benefits.

There are several reasons why beginner programmers find it hard to get programming jobs or harder to find good career positions even after they are hired. Here are a few:

  1. Lack of experience: Yes, lack of strong industry experience will keep aspiring beginner programmers looking for work longer than they should. And even after they are hired they may be relegated to positions with no real prospects for career advancement.

  2. Lack of negotiation skills: Negotiation skills which are usually not taught at programming classes are critical to beginning computer programming. Because beginner programmers lack the skills to negotiate a better pay, more challenging programming projects and choice of technology their career suffers as they wait for something good to happen for them.

    However the relationship between you as a beginner programmer and your employer is that of an adult-to-adult relationship. Meaning that your employer expects you to look after your own interests.

  3. Weak Job Search Skills: Beginning computer programming jobs are often chosen out of fear, lack of self-confidence and lack of market insight.

    What is a beginner programmer to do? The first offer on the table is grabbed by the desperate, tired and stressed-out beginner programmer who’s intimidated and overwhelmed by their job search.

    As a result, beginner programmers may be stuck with under-paying, unfavorable jobs for several years until their career becomes un-livable.

  4. Low self confidence: We have all been there. You are hired and given the tag junior level or entry level programmer. This tag becomes how your fellow programmers see you and therefore how you see yourself.

    Even though you may be capable of performing at the same level as other mid-level or senior level programmers in your firm. If you believe the tag beginner, entry level, junior or novice programmer, you give someone else the power to tell you what you can and cannot do.

    And you lose that fundamental ability of a human, “the ability to self-determine one’s own destiny“.

Do you see what is going on here?

Beginning computer programming can also be challenging because beginner programmers often lack the ability to pain a better picture of their abilities through their resumes, present themselves confidently at technical interviews and negotiate better salaries that are not tied to arbitrary beginner / entry level / junior programmer CAREER TAGS.

While beginning computer programming, I discovered how I could do the same jobs usually referred to senior developers. So, I peeled off the beginning computer programming tags on my career and within 6 months my salary multiplied from $28,000/yr. to $75,000/yr. which is really not bad for starters.

And I amazed when I gete emails from programmers who are paralyzed by their beginning computer programming tag. Here is a recent e-mail. Read it below and see what I mean.

Hi there,

upon reading your article about becoming a programmer I have decided to contact you.

I am working for a web-development company as a trainee.

I have worked for this company for two months now and what was once a passion of mine (web development) has now become my worst nightmare.

Although I am supposed to be a trainee i have received no training what so ever and i am expected to know everything about every language.

When i run into almost imminent problems all the director can do is send me abusive emails where swearing and personal insults are common place.

I am desperate to become a good web-developer and would do anything to become as proficient as my colleagues but this just seems like it will never be the case.

I often study outside work but when i go into the office something else is required of me (just seems like a never ending cycle of doom and gloom).

My probation is up and i will find out if i will be kept on in my role as a “trainee developer”.

This does not add to my motivation neither does my directors abusive emails.

My advice to beginner computer programmers who find their careers in a rut like this is:

  1. Focus on the value you offer. Learn how to value your work by your raw ability to perform on the job and get the work done, nothing else. Think meritocracy and give no place to the self-defeating tags of beginner, entry-level or junior that only seek to restrain your performance.

  2. Improve your skills. You are a computer programmer. What you offer is your programming skills, experience and knowledge. If anyone takes away your ability to learn and improve your programming skills, your career is as good as dead. So, find creative ways to develop your skills fast outside of your office or your career will be over before it even begins.

  3. Think like a pro. Like a professional developer, ensure your resume and technical job interviewing skills stand out.

  4. Negotiate what you want. Begin to form a healthy self-image of yourself and then negotiate like you are serious about your career. When you get the pay you want, accept the offer and do a damn good job. And if you still can’t do a good job, better learn how to

  5. Own your destiny. Begin to act like you are in a free market economy. If you can’t get along with your employer despite your best efforts, simply apply for a position with another employer. There are several reasons why you may not get along with an employer.

    Sometimes, it’s your fault and sometimes it is not. Whatever the reason, don’t give in to fear and stay with a job you hate. Get out, get moving and get hired fast!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/10/beginning-computer-programming/feed/ 0 Computer Science Students Learn By Doing http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/05/computer-science-students-learn-by-doing/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/05/computer-science-students-learn-by-doing/#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:06:12 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/05/computer-science-students-learn-by-doing/

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.

This brings me to my point. While in college studying computer science, programming languages and software development, do you want to focus exclusively on your course work or do you want to learn how the real world works as well?

If you are interested in learning how the real world works, do a few or all of the following:

  1. Get a part-time programming job. Get a job writing software code for a company. Get used to the pressures, challenges and requirements of commercial software development.

  2. Become an expert at a programming language and database software. Don’t just use a language because it’s recommended by your professor. Find a programming language that is aligned with your career goals and then master it. Remember that as a programmer you are only as good as your skills.

  3. Put your learning into action. Whenever you write code, observe how your computer science learning affects you ability to write better code or not.

  4. Begin early to be an entrepreneur. If you want to own your own software or contract programming business one day while wait till you graduate? While not start designing, developing and selling your idea while you are still in university or college?

    That way by the time you graduate, you will know what works and what doesn’t. For example, If you want to be a computer game developer, write software games in college and sell your games online.

  5. Study what you love. Computer Science Students don’t be generalists. If you want to be a computer game programmer, why don’t you take a lot of classes on Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics and Algorithms? Why take more general computer science courses when you know what you want to be?

  6. Study ahead of your class. Don’t go to college or university because it will make your parents happy. Go for yourself by digging deep into your studies. Find a branch of computer science that truly fascinates you, then study and develop yourself to the limit of your mental powers.

  7. Know yourself before you graduate. By the time you graduate, there will be a lot of pressure, expectations and opportunities waiting for you. Wait, just don’t go with the path of least resistance, follow your heart instead.

    If you don’t know yourself enough to say why you are choosing one job over another you have have learnt little. On the other hand, if you were able to discover your talents and yourself while at university (college) then you have gained the whole world.

I advocate that you discover your own unique gifts, skills, talents and innate abilities while in college or university studying computer science.

Use your time in college as an opportunity to learn how computer software works and how life works as well.

That way when you graduate you are better prepared for the rat race or human race – your choice :-) .

To Your Career,


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/05/computer-science-students-learn-by-doing/feed/ 0 Software Developers Coaching Service 48 Hour Special Launch http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/02/06/software-developers-coaching-service-48-hour-special-launch/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/02/06/software-developers-coaching-service-48-hour-special-launch/#comments Tue, 06 Feb 2007 18:42:30 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/02/06/software-developers-coaching-service-48-hour-special-launch/

Well, you asked me to come up with a way to make computer programming less difficult, more rewarding and more meaningful.

I just did!

Starting from now until Wednesday Midnight CST, I am launching the new “Software Developers Online Coaching Service” with a 48 Hour Special to accelerate your learning and help you achieve your programming goals.

Whether you desire a lucrative programming gig, or you want to become a better programmer or learn programming as a means to more personal wealth, freedom and satisfaction, discover your answer here: IT Career Coaching.

Finally, you have till Midnight of Wednesday, February 7, 2006 to join with a 50% special discount at IT Career Coaching after which I withdraw this special offer and remove this special link.

Instantly discover programming success now, go here: IT Career Coaching


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/02/06/software-developers-coaching-service-48-hour-special-launch/feed/ 0 Beginning An Entry Level Java Programming Job In Spring http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/14/beginning-an-entry-level-java-programming-job-in-spring/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/14/beginning-an-entry-level-java-programming-job-in-spring/#comments Sun, 14 Jan 2007 18:31:12 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/14/beginning-an-entry-level-java-programming-job-in-spring/

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.

I have taken two programming language courses, and I will be taking another one next semester in my community college institution.

I love mathematics and logic, and I definitely want to enhance my logical thinking to prepare myself for more advanced programming and Scientific courses.

My favorite hobbies are research and speculation.

And here’s my reply:

There will be Java programming jobs in April or spring except if something really strange happens to the economy. However that doesn’t mean that getting an entry level programming job in Java will be easy.

  1. Ease of access: Entry level jobs in Java, C# or C/C++ are not that easy to get except if you are a professional with real world computer programming experience. For example, there’re lots of jobs advertised on CraigsList, Dice.Com, Monster.Com, CareerBuilder.Com and other job boards for experienced computer programmers.

    However, if you search these job boards for “entry level programmer” or “entry level programming” jobs, you’ll find fewer programming jobs. The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programming Careers explains how to break-in to the tight entry level programming job easily and without making a fool of yourself.

  2. Finding a good position: Not all entry level jobs are good. You need an entry level position, where you can gain good, relevant industry experience, be exposed to leading edge software development projects and be mentored by seasoned and experienced computer programmers, otherwise, your career may suffer. So it may be better to ask about “how to get a good programming job“.

  3. Getting paid: Again, an entry level programmer’s problem. While experienced programmers may not find it hard to negotiate a high rate, entry level programmers sometimes have to work for free! So, the question is, what are your salary expectations and what’s your strategy for breaking into a well paying job?

  4. Job interview hurdles: Convincing the hiring manager and/or a technical team that you really have the expertise to do the job is critical to your career success. The problem is that while there is a high demand for programming skills, that demand is reserved for people who have proven or can prove that they’re performers. It’s not easy then for entry level programmers to prove to hiring managers, team leads or a programming shop that they can perform.

    However, my e-Book The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programming Careers explains how to prepare for the technical job interview, ace the job interview and succeed by performing on the job.

  5. Lack of experience hurdle: If you do not have real world industry experience (not classroom experience), you may face a tough battle convincing employers to hire you. Even if you get hired as an entry level programmer with little real world experience, you may not get a good pay, you may not be trusted with good projects and your employment or tenure may be on shaky grounds because the employer assumes that you are being done a favor. That’s not really a good place to be at.

    So, you should endeavor to gain serious industry experience before sending your resume to recruiters. Again, The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programming Careers, leads you through the steps of gaining serious real world industry exposure, the kind that hiring managers are willing to pay top dollars for.

So, the question is not if there will be programming jobs in spring. The real question is: “what’s your strategy for finding and keeping a good, programming job with a future?” Read The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programming Careers to find the answers you need to know.


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