ITCareerCoach Training - Coaching » entry level 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 What Is the Toughest Challenge Facing your Career? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/01/11/the-toughest-challenge-facing-your-career/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/01/11/the-toughest-challenge-facing-your-career/#comments Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:30:35 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=3062

What Is The Toughest Challenge Facing Your Career?

What Is The Toughest Challenge Facing Your Career?

Compliments of the Season and Merry Christmas To You. What is the toughest challenge facing your career right now?

Post a detailed question regarding your challenges right now, and I will help you take care of them, once and for all!

How To Discover Your Passion?

Perhaps, your toughest challenge is …

  • How to choose the right career or
  • How to make a career change or
  • How to get an entry level job that is inline with your career goals

Regardless of the type of challenge facing your career, go ahead and post a detailed question regarding your challenge and I will answer it for you

How To Do The Work You Love?

Perhaps, your toughest challenge is …

  • How to become highly skilled at your job or
  • How to get suitable hands-on experience or
  • How to transition from a beginner or junior position to a senior-level job

Leave a detailed comment about your challenging career situation using the form below and I will answer it for you!

How To Take Your Passion To The Market?

Perhaps, the most challenging situation facing your career is …

  • How to rewrite your resume and/or cover letter, so you can get the job you want or
  • How to distinguish yourself from others in your industry, so that you can standout or get hired or
  • How to ace your job / technical interviews so that you can get jobs more easily …

Whatever your challenge, just go ahead and ask a question using the “comment form” below and I will answer it for you.

I may answer by writing a new article that addresses your concerns or by posting a comprehensive reply to your comment below.

The concern or challenge facing you is important to me, so go right away and post it as a comment on this page.

The sooner you ask that question, the sooner I can take care of it for you. So, let’s get started


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/01/11/the-toughest-challenge-facing-your-career/feed/ 53 How To Get An IT Business Analyst Job http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/02/26/how-to-get-an-it-business-analyst-job/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/02/26/how-to-get-an-it-business-analyst-job/#comments Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:25:17 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/02/26/how-to-get-an-it-business-analyst-job/

How To Get An IT Business Analyst Job?

How To Get An IT Business Analyst Job?

On of my readers needs help with finding a business analyst job, so I am posting the information I provided to him in this article.

If you have any questions about this or about your business analyst career, post it as comment at the end of this post and I would also answer or address it for you.

Here is the business analyst career question posted by my reader:

Hi – my greatest challenge is the fact that I’ve never held an IT Business Analyst position.

I’m convinced I can do the job based on my experience, but I have not had any interviews outside of my current employer.

I had a few interviews in my current company but was being sabotaged by my former boss so I never got the job.

As the economy has dived over the last few months, I am not getting any offers for interviews. I’ve given up trying to get into the IT Bus Analyst field for now.

What do I need to do to get back into the ‘hunt’? And, how do I convey to potential employers that I am the man for the job?

Here is how this business analyst can address the situation facing him:

Why Do IT Managers Hire Business Analysts?

IT Managers hire business analysts with skills, training and experience matching specific jobs.

IT Managers list a wide range of business analysts skills in job postings including UML, Use Cases, Requirements Elicitation.

IT Managers Are Looking For Hands-on Business Analysis Experience

The Key to getting a business analyst job is to find out what employers or hiring managers are looking for and then give it back to them.

This sounds quite easy and simple, but believe me, it is not that easy. There is a lot that goes into following this straightforward advice.

What are IT Managers hiring for? IT Managers are looking for hands-on skills, experience and expertise in specific knowledge areas.

You may already have some of the requisite skills and experience based on your previous or current job experience.

Some of the most frequently asked for skills are included in the business analyst course curriculum listed here …

Tailor Your Resume To Business Analyst Jobs

You may already be able to do a business analyst job based on your current experience so, why not also work on improving your current resume so that it reflects the experience or skills you already have in business analysis?

Begin by highlighting and expanding on the business analysis tasks you have performed in the past.

Put more spotlight on the skills you utilized, the business analysis roles and responsibilities you held (formally or informally) and the results you achieved.

You want to joggle your memory and bring out every relevant detail. Imagine that you are making your case in front of a skeptical judge.

Your prosecutor is the list of job candidates that would make a better presentation than you. The arguments in your favor is your resume.

Your business analyst resume has to be very convincing for you to get the job.

Improve Your Business Analyst Resume

The strongest argument that you can make will be along the lines of experience, resume and skills.

So, you want to marshal all your arguments forcefully on your resume because if you don’t, you may never get a second chance.

If your resume is not convincing, you may not get a second chance or a follow-up phone interview or a face to face interview or the job or an offer or the ability to pay your mortgage … you get the picture?

Add More hands-on business analysis experience to your resume!

The fastest way to get hired for an IT business analyst job is not your educational qualification or your business analysis certification but your hand-on business analysis experience!Are you surprised about that?

IT Managers know that certifications can sometimes be gamed!

There are horror stories about job candidates who have the perfect certifications and the perfect scores and then fail to perform on the job after they are hired!

These sorts of candidates have damaged the credibility of the certification market! But experience cannot be gamed

It either you have experience or you don’t. Because IT Managers are looking for hands-on experience, your can cut to the chase by getting a lot of hands-on business analyst experience such as that offered through the business analyst boot camp online training here:

There are other ways to gain hands-on experience and I discuss this next:

  • Start again by volunteering for non-profit organizations. They are plenty of them around and in this recession they will be needing your help even more!

  • Do a good job and ask the non-profit organization to provide you a reference for for the work you’ve done for them.

  • Use your spare time in the evenings and weekends to rack up your experience and references.

  • Then go on a job hunt. Start by sending your resume to multiple recruiters (not just one or two recruiters), telling them that you are in the market for a business analyst job. Then just sit back and wait for them to line up business analyst job interviews for you.

  • That is all you need to do. Take massive action towards landing your dream business analyst job and while you are on it, forget about the economy or the recession or your manager who denied you the opportunity to move ahead.

FYI: Stephen Covey in “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” mentions that proactive people do not worry or focus on factors or things over which they have little or no control … instead they focus on their “Sphere Of Influence” … those factors or circumstances over which they exercise control.

So, while you may not be able to change the past or the economy or the recession, you can dramatically improve:

  • Your Business Analyst Resume

  • Your Business Analyst Hands On Experience

  • Your Business Analysis Job Interview Skills

If you have any question or challenge about your business analyst career, go ahead and post it as a comment at the end of this article and I will address it for you.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/02/26/how-to-get-an-it-business-analyst-job/feed/ 40 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 How to Get an Entry Level Business Analyst Job Part 2 http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/16/how-to-get-an-entry-level-business-analyst-job-part-2/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/16/how-to-get-an-entry-level-business-analyst-job-part-2/#comments Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:56:58 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=480

Entry Level Business Analyst Job

Entry Level Business Analyst Job

This article is in two parts. You are currently reading part two and you may click here to read part one of the article

Once you’ve determined that Business Analysis is your dream job your next steps will be to get trained, get networked and get your entry level business analyst job.

SigningUp For The Business Analyst Boot Camp

The next thing you will need to achieve your goal of becoming a business analyst and at the minimum, getting an entry level job, is to get trained.

The business analyst profession requires a wide range of soft skills, technical skills, analysis skills and a good business understanding.

Even when you do have these, your learning will be continuous throughout your career.

To be successful and not just having business analysis as a pipe dream, you want to get a good jumpstart on gaining your skills.

For this, we recommend the business analyst boot camp to get you started immediately on becoming a business analyst.

Why the e business analyst boot camp training? For one, boot camp style training helps you master the basics of business analysis in a short period of time and gets you coasting in your learning quickly.

In the e business analyst boot camp, even when you are not particularly good at something initially, you will be able to learn it and pick it up fast.

The e business analyst boot camp uses rapid learning techniques with the goal of helping you achieve mastery sooner rather than later.

The Business Analyst Boot Camp is an online Business Analyst learning system that trains you with the expectation that you’re eventually going to become an expert business analyst, however long that will take.

Becoming Skilled In Business Analysis

The Business Analyst puts you in the position of a top professional in training whose goal is to master the basics first and quickly.

The e Business Analyst Boot Camp is a 24-week program, so you can expect that in six months or less, you can set out to get your entry level business analyst job.

Start Networking For Business Analyst Jobs

Now that you’ve established that you really do want to become a Business Analyst, and you are now in training to master the basics of the Business Analysis profession, you need to begin to network and meet people in the Business Analysis industry.

When you hang out with people in a particular industry, you pick up on the news, opportunities and breakthroughs in that industry.

Look for your local chapter of the IIBA and join it.

Search for blogs and websites (like this one) that discuss the Business Analyst profession.

Make out time to read these sites and participate in the discussions.

Use Social Media to network. Join LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and join up with other Business Analysts.

Seek out mentors and coaches. Ask questions and get answers. In this regards, the business analyst boot camp includes on-going one on one coaching as well.

Create a professional profile that shows your desire to become a business analyst.

Avoid spending all your time in social media on personal stuff. Get the word out about where you’re going instead of where you’ve been.

Start Searching For Business Analyst Jobs

Now that you’ve laid the groundwork for that first entry-level job, it’s time to go out and get that job. Get IT Job Search, Resume and Interview Coaching.

Upgrade your resume, search for entry level jobs online AND send in your resume. Prepare extensively for your interviews.

Because you are looking for an entry level job, you need to posture yourself as being a competent or highly skilled business analyst to overcome initial skepticism.

However, because of your boot camp training and industry networking, you are sure to exceed all of your new employer’s expectations during the interview.

Can You Work For Free?

The only problem with any entry level BA job is the entry level pay.

Don’t let that get you down. Look at that job as your ticket to the big leagues. Put your whole heart into it, so that you can learn everything possible.

In order to grow, you will need to work harder and continually improve your skills and learning so that you quickly outgrow that junior level BA position and move into a mid-level or eventually a senior level Business Analyst job.


Read Part One of this Article


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/16/how-to-get-an-entry-level-business-analyst-job-part-2/feed/ 1 How To Get An Entry Level Business Analyst Job Part 1 http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/15/how-to-get-an-entry-level-business-analyst-job-part-1/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/15/how-to-get-an-entry-level-business-analyst-job-part-1/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:26:27 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=472

Entry Level Business Analyst Job

Entry Level Business Analyst Job

This article is in two parts. You are currently reading part one and you may click here to read part two of the article.

What should you do when you decide you want to become an IT Business Analyst?

You may have been a software developer, data analyst or even someone who has never worked in the Information Technology industry at all.

Perhaps you have an MBA or other business degree, but you have an interest in technology and you think IT Business Analysis is something you’d like to try your hand at.

Here are the steps that you can take from where you are to becoming a business analyst without taking a lifetime to switch your career.

First, Determine That Business Analysis is Your Dream Job

The first step is to make an informed decision that Business Analysis is your dream job. Ask yourself why you want to become a business analyst.

What is it about the career that you like?

What are the personal traits that you will be free to express as a business analyst?

Don’t choose to become a business analyst because of the money or the lack thereof.

Some people never go after their dream job because they think it won’t make them wealthy.

Being fulfilled in your career and fairly comfortable financially is much better than being wealthy and unhappy.

In addition, when you pursue a career that is in alignment with your passions, values and personal goals, you are more likely to become financially secure.

Going for your dream will require your commitment and investment of time and money, so you need to be sure that you are ready financially and mentally to pay the price.

If you are thinking about becoming a business analyst, evaluate the characteristics and skills that are necessary for being a good one.

You can always get training for your technical skills, but here are a few personal traits and skills to consider:

  • A good business analyst is good at and enjoys communicating.

  • You’ll need to be organized and able to manage large amounts of input and information coming to you from lots of different sources.

  • Are you curious and flexible? Do you enjoy learning new things on a continuous basis?

  • Do you handle conflict well? Can you be calm when others are not?

  • Can you handle conflict on behalf of others? On the job as a business analyst, you will have to be arbitrator, negotiator and peacemaker all rolled into one.

  • Are you willing to learn new technical skills such as gaining a good understanding of the software development process?

  • Do you enjoy learning new business concepts?

  • Do you enjoy research?

  • Can you help people understand new concepts? If they don’t understand it one way, do you have the skills to reword your explanation?

Take Action Now

Once you’ve decided that Business Analysis is the dream job for you, you need to laser-focus your time and energy and give everything you have to achieve your goal.

To achieve success in any endeavor, you have to apply effort and hard work.

Business Analysis is no different.

The role of the business analyst is not an “easy” IT job

It requires skill and dedication to do a good job.

Be prepared to stay the course and don’t bail out too soon.

Be patient and hang in there and you will be amazed at the results.

Stop talking about become a business analyst someday and begin to work on your dream now. Just start taking lots of action.

Take your dream out of Never Land and make it concrete by setting a timeline for your goal.

Create timeline for your goal. A goal without a deadline is just a castle in the air.


Click Here to Read Part Two of this Article


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/15/how-to-get-an-entry-level-business-analyst-job-part-1/feed/ 2 Learning C++ Programming Language Is Bad For Your Career … C++ Programmers Can’t Find Jobs http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/25/learning-c-programming-language-is-bad-for-your-career-c-programmers-cant-find-jobs/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/25/learning-c-programming-language-is-bad-for-your-career-c-programmers-cant-find-jobs/#comments Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:41:07 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/25/learning-c-programming-language-is-bad-for-your-career-c-programmers-cant-find-jobs/

Learning A Marketable Skill?

Learning A Marketable Skill?

Hi,

Do you want to learn the C++ programming language or become a C/C++ computer programmer?

Have you ever asked this question? which programming language is the most complex and challenging?? and received the answer C++?

If you answered yes, you are not alone. About 13 years ago, I asked my mentors in computer programming which programming language is the hardest, toughest, most difficult to learn? and I got the same reply as you… C++.

I asked the question because I wanted to become a successful computer programmer.

So, I reasoned that if I could prove myself by conquering the hardest programming language, my success in computer programming would be guaranteed.

Do You Want To Learn The Hardest Programming Language?

Recently, a number of C/C+ software developers have been turning to me for help with their computer programmer careers.

You can do this by taking advantage of the developer coaching or training sessions available to computer programmers who enroll in the software developers boot camp.

So, what could go wrong with the career of a software developer who has conquered one of the meanest, hardest, most complex computer programming languages?

The real problem with learning C/C++ is not whether it leaves up to its reputation for being a tough guy, because it does!.

The challenge facing those who succeed in learning C/C++ is more subtle.

Continue reading and you will find out for yourself soon.

Is C/C++ Programming Good For Your Career?

A few months ago, I started mentoring a C/C++ computer programmer with real-world programming experience in C/C++, Microsoft Foundation Classes and Windows 32 API and a college degree.

He couldn’t get a computer programmer job, so he signed up for my coaching program to find out why he couldn’t get a job with C/C++ programming skills.

After he explained his situation to me, I presented him with a list of 3 hot programming technologies in high demand.

I told him that these programming languages were so hot that just having them on his resume would land him programming job offers, even though he had been out of work for 2 years!

Well, he acted on the information I gave him, took MASSIVE ACTION and in a FEW MONTHS learnt all he could about the 3 hot programming technologies!

Guess what? a few months after taking advantage of my software developer mentoring, he got the first programming job he interviewed for on the spot, after being out of work for two (2) years!

So, why couldn’t a C/C++ computer programmer with real world industry experience and a college degree get a programming job in the middle of a hi-tech boom?

WHY C++ PROGRAMMERS CAN’T GET JOBS

The simple reason why C++ programmers can’t get a job is that the C++ programming language is not suited for business or web applications development!

But, wait a minute, isn’t C/C++ also one of the fastest programming languages?

Yes C++ is one of the fastest programming languages. But the speed of C++ applies to the speed with which it executes on a computer and not to the speed with which you can code or develop software programs.

STOP! Think about what I just said. Don’t just read it, digest my last statement until you really comprehend it.

C/C++ is the wrong programming language for business or web programming because employers care more about the speed with which you code or develop software and care less about the speed at which your software program executes.

Why Employers Don’t Care About The Execution Speed of C++ Programs?

The reason is that the dramatic increases in computer processing speed and memory has made the personal computer faster and much more powerful.

So, the amount of processing power available on most personal computers makes the execution speed of any programming language sufficient for most business software development projects.

What Do Employers Care About?

Employers really want their software developers to code or write programs faster. And C/C++ fares badly at this, because it’s one of the meanest, hardest, most complex programming languages to either learn or develop real-world business applications with.

The problems of C/C++ does not stop with the difficulty of learning the language. It’s also harder, tougher and slower to develop web or business applications in.

This is the real reason why most employers will not hire C/C++ programmers for business or web application development.

Is C/C+ Dead?

Certainly not. C/C++ is best suited for software projects like writing operating systems, compilers, computer or video games, data mining applications, scientific applications or applications where the execution speed is critical.

Stop for a moment now and answer this question: do you really want to make money from programming computers quickly or easily?

If you answered yes, I recommend you go into an area of computer programming where the demand is hot and where there are lots and lots of jobs.

That area right now is in internet or web application programming which C++ is unfortunately not suited for.

Secondly, if you want to success in web or business applications development, learn a programming language which allows you to quickly create programs that meet business needs.

After 13 years, I realize that employers don’t care about the beauty of the C++ programming language.

Employers care about automating their business processes or making their businesses work better, quicker and faster.

Employers also want to hire programmers whose speed of development matches or outpaces their business operations.

The ugly truth is that C/C++ is not the right tool for achieving either of these results.

Dear friend, enroll in the Software Developers Boot Camp now and learn those programming languages that excel at creating business software applications easily and quickly and you will discover success in computer programming quickly and easily.

Finally, if you are a programmer needing help with career decisions, no matter how bad your situation is, sign-up for the Software Developers Boot Camp now and you will be personally coached on how to achieve success in your situation.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/25/learning-c-programming-language-is-bad-for-your-career-c-programmers-cant-find-jobs/feed/ 21 The Secret Path To Contract Programming http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/16/the-secret-path-to-contract-programming/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/16/the-secret-path-to-contract-programming/#comments Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:00:38 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/16/the-secret-path-to-contract-programming/

Who is a contract programmer?

A contract programmer is a software developer who is paid an hourly rate for working on special software development projects for a period. Contract computer programmers are not paid salaries like full-time developers but hourly wages.

Contract programmers tend to be very project focused because they are hired to solve specific problems or code specific features and as soon as that is done, they have to move on to another project or find a new client.

Contract programmers are independent software developers who work with clients on a project-to-project basis. The relationship between a contract programmer and a client lasts as long as the client has a steady stream of work. What usually happens is that as soon as the client can’t find any work or the work starts dwindling down, the client initiates the process to end the relationship.

Contract computer programmers are not supposed to form strong emotional bonds or ties to their clients unlike their full-time colleagues because the nature of their work is temporary. That is why contract programmers are sometimes called temporary workers.

Contract programmers are specialists, experts and master craftsmen. When a client hires a contract computer programmer, the client expects to find a master programmer who will hit the ground running. This separates contract programmers from full-time software developers and the master craftsmen from the wannabe contract programmers.

A contract programmer is expected to start churning out high quality code, fixing bugs, improving their clent’s software and generally justifing their high pay by solving important problems within a few hours or days of starting work. Unlike full-time software developers who may take 6 months to 1 year to prove themselves, contract programmers who haven’t mastered their art well-enough to make a difference are usually dropped like hot potatoes by their clients.

Contract programmers may be W2 contract programmers or 1099 contract programmers. The difference lies with how their taxes are filed with the IRS.

The W2 contract programmer is paid by a recruiting agency that is also responsible for withholding taxes and providing liability insurance. Many recruiting agencies will also provide medical, dental and 401K benefits.

On the other hand, 1099 contract programmers, generally known as free-lancers, pay their taxes to the IRS and provide their own medical, dental and 401K insurance.

A contract programmer has the liberty of working as a W2 contract programmer with one firm and a 1099 contract programmer with another firm.

How long do contract programming projects last?

Contract programming projects typically last from a month to 5 years. The trend is towards fewer months and higher billing rates. The typical duration is 3 months, 6 months or 1 year.

How much do contract computer programmers bill?

Contract programmers typically bill anywhere from $50 per hour to $200 per hour.

What factors determine the contract programmer’s billing rate?

The factors that determine a contract programmers billing rate include:

1. Experience: The more experienced a contract programmer is, the more the contract programmer can charge

2. Demand: Some computer programming skills are in high-demand while others are not. So contract programmers who master computer programming skills that are in high-demand can bill at a higher rate than others

3. Client: The compensation provided for the same programming skills can vary widely by client with no other explanation other than one client having more money than the other

Who should be a contract programmer?

Contract programming makes sense for computer programmers who love to be independent or who do not want to climb the corporate ladder. It is also good for those individuals who want to make more money than is found in regular full-time software development. Finally, it works for those who can use their down-time in between projects to sharpen their computer programming skills, pursue other hobbies or take vacations.

What is the future or outlook for contract programmers?

The future is bright for contract programmers as more companies are trending towards out-sourcing their software development projects to temporary staffing firms or recruiting agencies that in turn out-source the programming work to contract programmers. Contract computer programmers are considered to be expert, highly-skilled craftsmen and their opinions and expertise are valued at client sites They are also paid significantly more money and do not have to stand inline or beg for a pay raise when they work for it.

How do you become a contract programmer?

The critical skills needed for a successful contract programming career are:

  1. Expert programming skills

  2. Well-crafted resume

  3. Effective job interviewing skills

  4. Aggressive Resume Marketing

Read this previous post titled “The keys of a successful computer programmer career” to learn more about these keys.

If you have these skills in abundance, you will do well in contract programming. If you don’t or will like to develop them, you should read “How to become a master contract programmer” or CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY IN A FEW MINUTES.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/16/the-secret-path-to-contract-programming/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 S-I-X figures! Six Figures Programming Job With Two Years Of Computing Experience http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/28/s-i-x-figures-six-figures-programming-job-with-two-years-of-computing-experience/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/28/s-i-x-figures-six-figures-programming-job-with-two-years-of-computing-experience/#comments Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:43:34 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/28/s-i-x-figures-six-figures-programming-job-with-two-years-of-computing-experience/

I’ve been discussing how beginner (novice, entry-level or junior) computer programmers can break-through to high paying computer programming jobs with just a little real world experience.

Do you realize this is how I became a computer programmer? Yes, I landed a break-through $76,000/yr. contract programming job within 6 months of beginning my professional computer programming career in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

Unfortunately, some of my readers still find this hard to believe. I receive questions all the time pointing out why one can not succeed in contract or full-time computer programming this easily. If you are a skeptic, your contrary arguments usually falls into one of these:

  1. You are too old: You believe you are getting too old to begin your programming career ( Read “how your age affects your programming career” ).

  2. You only have a high school education and you think that finding a programming job with just a high school education is impossible.

  3. You don’t have a computer science degree. And you reason that you must have 4 years of computer science education to succeed in programming.

  4. You want to buy your way to success. So, you think you must spend thousands of dollars in expensive classroom education to learn a computer programming language!

  5. You have little real-word experience. And you reason that it’s impossible to find a well paying programming job within a short time of learning programming.

Well, today, you’ll get one more powerful proof that beginner programmers can earn six figures or find a well paying computer programming job with as little as two (2) years computer programming experience.

Well, I receive job postings from recruiters all the time. So, I will post an email I got from one this week. Analyze it, email me about it, refute it, discuss it, do whatever you want with it, and if you are still a skeptic, please take the time to tell me why again :-)

Here is the proof:

Hi Kingsley Tagbo,

I noticed your background and thought that you may be interested in finding out more about the new job opening we have below.

The position is for a C# ASP.NET Developer near Jersey city, NJ.

The job details:

C# / ASP.NET Developer – .NET ProgrammerLocation: Jersey city, NJ or New York,Salary Range: $80,000 – $120,000C# ASP.NET DeveloperWe are an established and growing software firm with clients in the investment banking industry. Due to our growth we are looking to hire and experienced C# , ASP.NET Developer to join our outstanding team.

We need candidates with a great attitude for developing cutting edge products and some experience with developing products for the financial services industry.If you have 2+ years professionals experience in C# and .NET – please apply!

Your background should include:

* 3+ years combined experience in C, C++, C#, or Java.* 2+ years experience with ASP.NET, HTML, DHTML, XML, and JavaScript.* Solid knowledge of relational databases, especially SQL Server.* Proficient in MS Visual Studio 2003/2005.* Familiar with source code control systems.* Bachelors degree in Computer Science or Engineering

What is in it for you:

* We offer a competitive salary* Bonus* Great benefits* Strong long term career opportunities* A fun and exciting work environment and other cool perks!So, if you have 2 or more years developing in C# and ASP.NET and a desire to work in a fast paced, cutting edge environment we want to talk with you, apply today!

Now you’ve read my mail :-) , are you ready to know more about becoming a well-paid, in-demand computer programmer?

And if you’re ready to start earning serious money, enroll for”Online, Software Developer Training” and begin to see how it’s done.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/28/s-i-x-figures-six-figures-programming-job-with-two-years-of-computing-experience/feed/ 2 Is There A Future For Web Designers This Year? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/24/is-their-a-future-for-web-designers-this-year/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/24/is-their-a-future-for-web-designers-this-year/#comments Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:01:20 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/24/is-their-a-future-for-web-designers-in-2007/

Web Designers are the creative professionals who design “how websites look”.

According to a recent report, this is the year for web designers. And Monster.com (one of the premier job search websites) predicts a hefty 26 percent growth rate for the web design profession.
So, what?s web design and what does a web designer know and do?

Well, web designers are experts or professionals in making websites look good using graphics, HTML, XHTML and CSS.

If you are considering a career in web design, here are some sought after skills by hiring managers and recruiters:

  • You need to be strong in at least one graphics software package (Adobe, Macromedia, Flash, etc.)

  • You need to be fluent in CSS and XHTML.

  • You need to have good color co-ordination. That?s you must be able to come up with color schemes that blend and stand-out at the same time.

  • You need to be able to plan a website. Not as easy as it may sound because some websites consist of thousands of pages.

  • You need to be able to mock up a web page, design it and then develop it.

In addition to the skills listed above, exceptional web designers also know:

  • How to design accessible websites.

  • How to design websites with usability in mind.

  • How to design search engine friendly websites.

  • How to integrate websites with databases using Server Side scripting and programming languages like JSP (JavaServer Pages), ASP.NET, C#, Visual Basic .NET, PHP, Ruby, Perl, etc.

In previous posts, I mention that you don?t really have to be writing code 100% of the time to have a career in computer programming. As a web designer, your time will be spent between writing code and doing creative web design work. Each company or client will differ in how much code they expect a web designer to write.

Note that while some companies want a web designer who can do everything, others are purists in their approach and would like you to do 100% web design work. So, here is a career success tip for you.

And if you are considering a career in web design, according to this MSNBC article, this year is going to be a really good year for you :-)

To learn more about well-paying careers in web development, information technology and software development, visit here.


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