ITCareerCoach Training - Coaching » help 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 What Is The Most Difficult Challenge Facing Your Career? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/02/12/what-is-the-most-difficult-challenge-facing-your-career/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/02/12/what-is-the-most-difficult-challenge-facing-your-career/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:33:53 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2820

The Most Difficult Challenge Of My Career

The Most Difficult Challenge Of My Career

Hello,

“What is the most difficult challenge facing your career right now”?

Your most difficult challenge may be about how to get a job or how to improve your skills or how to get promoted on the job

Perhaps your most difficult challenge is about how to transition out of or into a business analyst or computer programming or database developer career.

Whatever your challenge is, just go ahead and post it as a comment on this page and I will deal with it for you.

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

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

Thank You,


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/02/12/what-is-the-most-difficult-challenge-facing-your-career/feed/ 70 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 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 What Is The Challenge Facing Your Career? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/05/18/what-is-the-challenge-facing-your-career/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/05/18/what-is-the-challenge-facing-your-career/#comments Mon, 18 May 2009 15:42:55 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=1468

Ask a Burning Question

Ask a Burning Question

Dear Friend,

What is the “Toughest Challenge Facing Your Career Right Now“?

Your toughest challenge may be about how to get a business analyst job or how to improve your computer programming skills or how to become a database developer

Perhaps your challenge is about how to move out of a dead-endbusiness analyst or computer programming or database developer career. Whatever they are, go ahead and ask your question and I will answer it for you.

Post your issues, questions or challenges as a comment at the bottom of this post and I would be glad to answer it for you. I may answer it by writing a new article that addresses your concern or by posting a comprehensive reply to your comment.

If your question or issue or challenge is a pressing private issue … I may also answer it without posting your contact information or any publicly identifiable information

Ask a Burning Career Question On:

  • How to Transition into a Business Analyst or Computer Programming Career

  • How to Gain Real-World Business Analysis or Data Analysis Hands-On Experience

  • How to Secure your Career By Performing On The Job

  • How to Improve Your IT Skills, Get Cutting Edge Experience or Get an In-Depth Knowledge

  • How to Become a Freelance IT Business Analyst or Database Analyst Consultant

  • How to Survive a Layoff Financially

  • How to Start Earning Real Money Without an IT Job

  • How to Improve Your Resume or Your Interview Skills

  • How to Improve Your Networking Skills or Become a Sought After IT Consultant

I want to take care of the concerns or challenges facing your career, so go right away and post your burning question using the Comment Form below:

Thank You


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/05/18/what-is-the-challenge-facing-your-career/feed/ 2 What Software Skills Do Business Analysts Need? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/03/25/what-software-skills-do-business-analysts-need/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/03/25/what-software-skills-do-business-analysts-need/#comments Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:29:43 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=1292

Have you noticed the increasing demand for business analysts with stronger software skills or a wider range of skill sets?

Because this is a top hiring trend, business analysts have expressed concern about the range of skillsets requested for on job postings.

Some of these strong concerns are often worded as:

  • What software skills do business analysts need?

  • Should business analysts be made to learn computer programming?

  • Which software programs are required for business analysis jobs?

Along the same lines, one of the concerns expressed is; should business analysts have in depth knowledge of SQL, Access, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and Reporting writing software?

This article provides the needed guidance for the questions bordering on “what software skills are required for business analyst jobs“.

And while you are reading this, you may also want to read this article on why IT Managers are looking for business analysts with a wider range of skill sets.

Are Software Skills Required For Business Analysis Jobs?

The answer to the question: are software skills required for business analyst jobs … is yes and no.

Some companies hire only for the core business analyst competencies, while others include a wider range of software skills in their job description.

The core business analyst skill sets does not include knowledge of specific software skills. However, in the current job market, IT Managers are cutting costs by hiring business analysts with a broader range of software skills.,/p>

Traditionally, business analysts have had to learn the specific software used by a business after they get hired. Now, IT Managers are changing track by making some of these software skills required for hiring!

Which Software Skills Are Required For Business Analyst Jobs?

I will divide the software skills needed for business analyst jobs into three groups.

The first (A) group refers to the software skills required for ALL business analyst jobs.

The second (B) group includes the software skills that are a nice to have or frequently asked for.

The third (C) group represents the software skills that are not usually required.

  1. Software Skills Required For ALL Business Analyst Jobs (A List):

    These include office productivity software tools like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Outlook.

    These software tools are frequently used in the day to day tasks of a Business Analyst.

    These software tools are also required for a business analyst position whether they are stated clearly on the job description or not.

  2. Nice To Have Software Skills For Business Analyst Jobs (B List):

    The nice to have software skills include Relational Database Skills, SQL skills, Data Analysis skills and Report Writing skills.

    Next to office productivity software skills, database software skills are in-demand for business analyst positions.

    Organizations looking to cut costs or reduce It staff may combine the business analyst job role with the data analyst job role or report writer as the IT Manager or Director sees fit! When this happens the IT department will post business analyst job descriptions listing software packages traditionally required for data analyst or report writer type jobs.

  3. Highly Specialized Software Skills Needed For Business Analyst Jobs (C List):

    IT Managers are also hiring business analysts with the specific skills needed for custom or specialized software packages!

    The list of software skills in this list is infinite as it depends on the personal decision or needs of the hiring manager.

    An example is the IT director who wants to hire business analysts with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software skills or computer programming skills!

    Now, it is impractical to worry about or focus on this list when preparing for the business analyst job market because the expectations and needs are diverse, wide and unpredictable.

    If you are a business analyst with a specialized software skill wanted by a hiring manager, you should highlight that in your resume. If you don’t already have a specialized software skill, you are better of working on the business analysis skills in the nice to have software skills (B List)!

Should IT Managers Hire Business Analysts with Highly Specialized Software Skills?

Since only office productivity software skills are required for all business analyst jobs, why do IT Managers then include specialized software skills in business analyst job descriptions?

  1. IT Managers are looking to cut costs by combining the job descriptions for business analysts, data analysts, software developers and report writers.

    With this in mind, business analysts need to be flexible in their approach to the job market.

  2. IT Managers and staffing specialists may write up business analyst job descriptions based on an imperfect knowledge of the core business analyst roles and responsibilities.

    If your boss writes up an imperfect business analyst job description based on misconceptions, about the roles and responsibilities of business analysts, you may providing some guidance by sending your IT Manager or Director the business analyst professional development curriculum downloadable here.

Who Are The Business Analysts With A Broad Range Of Software Skills?

Some business analysts really want to stay out of computer programming or data analysis or report writing or learning specialized software programs.

If a business analyst with that mindset is hired for a role that requires learning or working with a broad range of software skill sets, that business analyst will under-perform.

If you are an employer hiring for business analysts with software skills, you may want to first hire for business analysts with SQL or Relational Databases or Data Analysis skills and then train the new business analyst hire on the list of highly specialized software skills needed by your company.

More Information On How To Improve Business Analysis Skills

The Business Analyst Boot Camp training is a practical, job-focused, web-based, instructor-led, video-based training program for business analysts.

The Business Analyst Boot Camp training is a complete, end to end training program that covers both beginner and advanced business analysis courses including requirements analysis training, UML training, Use Case training.

The Business Analyst training program is designed for the practicing Business Analyst who wants to learn or master business analysis skills for the day-to-day job requirements.

The Business Analyst training program has an in-built diagnostics, testing and certification process and an online reporting tool that features your grades or scores as you (the Business Analyst) work your way through practical business analysis activities or watch the various business analyst training videos.

The Business Analyst training provides real savings and return on investment (ROI) for individuals or corporations looking to manage business analyst training costs.

The cost of business analyst training is easily $5,000 or more for a series of business analysis courses that only covers one core skill or business analyst competency (e.g. UML Training).

Therefore, an IT Manager or business analyst looking for business analyst training that covers all the core business analysis competencies will have to invest in excess of ten thousand dollars.

That is why, we are only guaranteeing the current price of the Business Analyst Boot Camp for a limited time!

Right now, you can get the complete, end to end, beginner to advanced training across all business analyst competences in the Business Analyst Boot Camp for a discounted price.

We also have a discount program for corporations sending 2 or more business analysts for training. Click here to learn more.

For a limited-time, we are running a special for Business Analysts who want to broaden their skill sets or learn more software skills. For example, with the current special, you can register for both the Business Analyst Boot Camp and SQL Boot Camp for close to the price of one (2-for-1 special). A number of people like yourself are now taking advantage of this offer so, click here to get more information


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/03/25/what-software-skills-do-business-analysts-need/feed/ 19 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 Programming Job Interview And Resume Writing Success Story http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/04/05/programming-job-interview-and-resume-writing-success-story/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/04/05/programming-job-interview-and-resume-writing-success-story/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2007 18:51:49 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/04/05/programming-job-interview-and-resume-writing-success-story/

I am taking more questions on computer programmer careers in today’s tutorial.

If you have questions you need answered, email it to me or post it as a comment to this article. Here are the questions I am replying to:

  • I am interested in learning more about the program that will help you get a job fast

  • How long does it take to learn programming?

  • How can I learn programming fast?

  • Is it hard to get a programming job?

The answers to these questions are hidden in the amazing short story I am about to tell you next.

BACKGROUND

Matt was an electrical engineer who had been a stay-at-home parent for four years. When his youngest child started kindergarten, Matt wanted to return to work doing what he loved: Computer Programmingwith cutting edge technology.

KEY ISSUES

  • While Matt was at home, technology and software development processes had changed. Matt needed a re-orientation on the Software Development industry and guidance in picking the right programming technology to focus on and a curriculum for covering the core areas of that technology.

  • Matt’s resume did not express in full detail his breadth of programming skills experience and needed major revision.

  • Matt needed interview coaching on a wide breadth of questions especially in the area of object oriented programming which is currently the area of focus for many developer interviews.

  • Matt needed a plan for practicing in a real-world way all the new programming concepts and skills he was learning. This way, he could be confident of and demonstrate his experience to potential employers.

THE COACHING PROCESS

The first few coaching sessions focused on bringing Matt up to date with the latest changes in the software development industry. Matt learned the details of the new programming skills that employers were looking for in contractors and full-time hires. I developed a list of skills he needed to learn over the next few months and a plan for refreshing his knowledge of computer programming and getting real-world experience.

Over the next few months, Matt brought himself up to speed using my curriculum and taking advantage of my extensive email coaching. Then he was ready to move to the next step. job search coaching.

Matt’s resume needed a major revision because it did not detail the programmer skills he used in a way that would catch the employer’s attention. Also, it did not give credit to the hot, in-demand technologies that he had used on previous projects. Matt also needed to list his experience in a way that demonstrated his passion and aptitude for technology and the fact that he was very results-oriented.

Once I introduced Matt to a couple of my preferred recruiters, I got him started on my interview coaching program. I looked at the job descriptions of the positions he was considering and gave him an overview of what the potential employers would be looking for. I then oriented him on the technical recruiting process, skills testing, phone interviews, face-to-face interviews, code sample demonstrations etc.

My partner and I coached Matt on the programming concepts that he needed to master and discuss off the top of his head in order to impress the hiring manager. We also ran him through a two hour mock technical interview where we coached him on how to frame and phrase his answers.

THE RESULTS

Because of Matt’s commitment to the coaching process and our attention to detail, the results were immediate and outstanding: Less than two weeks after his resume was mailed out to my preferred recruiters and after just ONE interview, Matt received a job offer for a Senior Developer position. The amazing part is that the hiring manager was so impressed, he extended an offer within an hour of the job interview.

IN MATT’S OWN WORDS:

“There is such a wealth of information out there that it can be overwhelming to someone trying to figure out what they need to know.

When you look in your local bookstore you won’t find resources that will give you the inside information about how to write a resume specific to programming that will make you stand out from the crowd. You also won’t find the inside information about what interview questions to expect and more importantly – how to answer them!

Kingsley supplied all this information and more. And not only that, but it was structured in such a way that it was easy to learn. Each step builds on what I learned in the previous step so I never got overwhelmed.

I went on my first interview and it went very well. I was prepared for every question and answered each one beyond expectation. The interviewer said that with each answer I gave, I also answered the next two questions on his list. I walked out of the interview at 9:15am and by 10:30am my recruiter called to tell me they had offered me the position.

I’m ecstatic with my results. I couldn’t have done it without the guidance I received from Kingsley! I owe him my career. He has given me the keys that have allowed me to unlock my potential as a professional programmer – and I will forever be grateful. Anyone considering a career in programming simply must get his coaching. It would be a bargain at 10 times the price!”

THE NEXT STEP

You just read Matt’s success story! It began for him when he bought a copy of my “software developer career book” which came with a one month free programmer coaching program valued at four hundred dollars. The result is that Matt learned modern object oriented web development with me and got hired in a few months!

Now, it is your turn to “master computer programming skills easily” , “get a programmer job fast” or get coached on your toughest programmer career challenge free for one (1) month!

You know what you must do! Take advantage of my free software developer career coaching program here and instantly discover programming success.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/04/05/programming-job-interview-and-resume-writing-success-story/feed/ 0 Fear And Self Confidence In Programming Interviews http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/04/02/fear-and-self-confidence-in-programming-interviews/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/04/02/fear-and-self-confidence-in-programming-interviews/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:49:02 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/04/02/fear-and-self-confidence-in-programming-interviews/

I am taking questions on developer careers.

This article is on how to handle fear at programming interviews and become self-confident.

To succeed as a contract programmer, full time developer or freelance programmer you need to master the “developer interview”. Because your technical job interviewing skills are key to getting job offers, do not ignore them or you will quickly be un-employed in any competitive market.

The one critical skill that can make or break your programming interview is fear and here is why:

  1. Fear shuts your mind down! Have you ever experienced a feeling of loss of control in a programming interview? That feeling usually increases in intensity as you get more nervous at a job interview.

    The fear then begins to express itself in your job interview as an inability to hear your interviewer’s questions, recall the right answer to an interview question or articulate a coherent reply. The end result is that fear makes you look bad and incompetent to the interviewer.

  2. Fear stops you from getting hired! Fear makes you look unconfident and interviewers don’t want to hire programmers who are unsure of themselves. The general thinking is that if you are not sure of your programming skills, then you are probably not qualified to do the job.

  3. Fear shuts down your career. Fear of job interviews ultimately causes you to miss good job opportunities, keeps you longer at positions you dislike and keeps you un-employed for a longer time because employers are un-comfortable with hiring.

Here are a few tips, suggestions and tools for overcoming fear of programming interviews and becoming more confident in your programming skills.

  1. Preparation Breeds Self-Confidence! The quality of your preparation for your programmer interview will affect the confidence with which you answer questions.

    Begin by acknowledging that “interviewing skills” are not the same thing as “programming skills”. So you can’t assume that because you know how to program computers, you are also good at answering questions on your programming language.

    So, prepare hard for the questions and answers programmer job interview regardless of how well you can code.

  2. Act Confident And You Become Confident! Learn how to manage nervousness and fear at job interviews. Begin by acting self-confident because the mantra “fake it till you make it” works.

    Here are specific actions you can take at your interview to increase your level of your self-confidence and reduce or manage nervousness and fear:

    • Look the interviewer in the eye as you walk in smiling

    • Shake the hand of your interviewer firmly

    • Maintain eye contact as you answer questions. Control the urge to look around or away.

    • Speak up, speak at a measured pace and speak clearly when answering questions. Resist the urge to mumble or rush over your words.

    • Take a deep breath whenever you feel your control slipping.

    • Isolate and focus on the interview at hand. Don’t listen to negative or distracting thoughts that may try to assail your mind. You should either be listening intently to your interviewer’s question or focusing your mind completely on your reply. Don’t let your mind wonder.

    • Make a joke to break tension. If you feel yourself getting too tensed, relax, take a deep breath, smile and then make a non-offensive joke about something when it’s your turn to talk. The practice of smiling and joking can stop the tension that easily turns into more nervousness and fear.

  3. It’s Not The End Of The World. Do not treat your programmer interview as a life and death affair. Realize that as you work on techniques that help you overcome nervousness and become more self-confident, you perform better at job interviews. This means that you are improving your chances of getting a programming job. So, just do the best you can and realize that in the end, “doing your best is what counts”.

In this article, I have been talking about “how to overcome nervousness and fear in programming job interviews” and “how to succeed at technical interviews through self-confidence“.

This post is part of a series of answers to questions sent in by readers. If you have a question about your programmer career, post it here or email it to me.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/04/02/fear-and-self-confidence-in-programming-interviews/feed/ 0 Time For Programmer Career Questions Again! http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/29/time-for-programmer-career-questions-again/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/29/time-for-programmer-career-questions-again/#comments Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:21:00 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/29/time-for-programmer-career-questions-again/

What are the computer programming career challenges, issues and problems facing you today?It’s time to have your tough, important and difficult questions on your programming career answered.

To make myself clear, let’s go over some typical programming career questions. You may ask any of these or another more urgent and critical programmer questions.

  1. How do I study difficult computer programming books?

  2. How do I overcome the fear of programming interviews?

  3. How do I succeed at programmer interviews easily?

  4. How do I transition to becoming a contract computer programmer?

  5. Am I too old to become a computer programmer?

  6. What do I need to learn to become better, competent, highly skilled at computer programming?

  7. I can’t get a programming job, what is wrong with my resume?

  8. Am I under qualified for programming jobs?

  9. Do I need a college education to become a programmer?

  10. Do I need to take classes and courses to learn programming?

  11. Should I relocate to find a programming job?

  12. What is the typical salary, wages or billing rate for junior, mid-level or senior programmers?

  13. Should I become a full time programmer or a contract programmer?

  14. I love programming but I hate my job, what do I do?

  15. What do I need to do to become an expert, successful programmer?

These are just examples of programmer career questions. The floor is yours. Ask me for advice, tips, suggestions, help on any programmer career related issue. Make your question as detailed or as brief as you want to.

Begin by posting a question using the comments form below. And introduce yourself first before asking your question.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/03/29/time-for-programmer-career-questions-again/feed/ 0 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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