Cowboy Coder Or Agile Programmer
Are You A Cowboy Coder Or Agile Software Developer?
Software Developers facing a new programming project sometimes start coding before thinking through or planning an approach.
Coding without first planning or thinking through is a programming method known as cowboy coding.
Cowboy coders approach work with the mindset of coding without estimating or planning.
And they are at a complete lost when the results achieved by their cowboy coding tactics does not meet expectations.
Cowboy Coding Is Dead, Long Live Cowboy Coding
While many programmers publicly ridicule cowboy coding, they privately practice cowboy coding because it is the easier thing to do.
how to: ace technical interviews and land jobs
This question was submitted by Vijay who needs advice on “how to ace programming interviews and land the next job!“
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 Vijay’s questions below!
Question: How To Impress Hiring Manager at Programming Interviews
Here is the question submitted by Vijay:
On my last job I was given a technical test to write nested SQL queries.
Learn Hot Programming Languages
Learning new software development languages can be fun.
That is one of the reasons why software developers like their careers … they get to learn or solve problems with new software development languages.
However, learning a software development language is a real-world exercise because programming is learnt by doing.
That’s why computer programmer job interviews are designed to test practical programming skills or abilities.
Apparently, some college graduates have a hard time grasping this concept because they seem clueless on how to get a programming job despite their computer science degrees!
Choose a Freelance Career
This question was posted by Mallory who needs advice on “how to begin a freelance software developer career!”
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 Mallory’s questions 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.
learning multiple programming languages?
This question was posted by a reader who needs advice on
“how to learn many programming languages!”.
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.
Develop Your Personal Brand - Become A Leader
Develop Your Personal Brand And Become a Leader
This course teaches you how to develop and use your competitive advantages in the workplace, job market and industry using the PULL method.
You will learn how to become a leader in your industry by developing and taking advantage of your personal brand using PULL techniques.
By the end of this course, you will have learnt how to select the best leadership projects for your industry based on your background, skills, education, training, job history and interests.
Top Paying Skills in High Demand
So, the question is, “How Do You Gain Hands-On Experience For Microsoft.NET Corporate Programmer Jobs Outside Regular, Full-Time Employment?“
How To Get An Entry Level Corporate Programming Job
You can transition from a Mainframe to a Microsoft.NET Software Developer Career in phases which allows you to achieve career success in manageable steps or phases.
Become A Leader-Get The Job You Want!
Become a Leader And Get The Job You Want!
Getting a job by sending out resumes to employers is known as the push method because it depends on you pushing the employer to hire you!
The problem with the traditional method of getting a job is that everyone who is out-of-a-job is probably doing the same thing … pushing their resumes to hiring managers or employers!
Getting hired in a competitive job market doesn’t mean … “do what other job applicants are doing” … it means “do more than your competition!“
Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who wants to overcome obstacles posed by employment gaps in an Oracle Programming Career!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who wants to become a Microsoft .NET Developer!
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using 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:
First, a little bit about myself.
Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who wants to become a computer programmer!
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
Here is the Question:
hi
Ask a Burning Question
This post answers a reader’s question about how to become a competent or highly skilled software developer.
If you have a Burning Question or a Challenge you need help with, be sure to ask your question as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering the question below!
Finally, don’t forget to participate in the “Tell a Friend” program because you earn either points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
Here is the Burning Question:
Hello Kingsley,
Top Paying Skills in High Demand
HTML programming skills are in high-demand for freelance consulting gigs, web design jobs, web development careers or internet businesses.
HTML web design and programming skills are some of the most frequently asked for skills in out-sourced or freelance computer programming projects.
Why HTML Skills Training?
HTML web design skills are among the most frequently asked for computer programming skills because almost every business has a website that needs to be maintained, redesigned or developed from scratch. In bigger corporations, the HTML web design or development jobs are taken care of by a specialized web design or web development team.
Top Paying Skills in High Demand
CSharp (C#) software developers with as little as six months of computer programming experience can get full-time jobs, consulting or contracting positions from any state, province or city.
C# developer salaries range from $60,000 to six figures. Though, six figure salaries are more common for C# software development consultants than full-time employees, they are still available for really good C# developers.
Why CSharp (C#) Skills Training?
C# programming skills are by far the top-paying, in-demand computer programming skill. C# programming skills are in-demand in most cities or states because it is a modern, object oriented programming languages (OOP).
The article you are just about to read is based on a question posted by one of my subscribers who wants to know “how to put together a compelling ASP.NET programmer resume from watching ASP.NET software developer videos“
Let me begin by saying that you cannot put together a compelling resume just by watching ASP.NET Videos … you will have to get some hands on programming experience.
The key thing that hiring managers are looking for on your resume is not your programming certifications or your degrees or computer science education but your hands on programming experience. After that then they may consider the other things (training, certification, degrees, education, qualifications, etc.)
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.
In 2009, there will be technology changes that business analysts, software developers and database developers should note for the purpose of advancing their careers. Social Media and Agile Development are two of the major trends that IT workers would do well to utilize in the year 2009.
2009 Tech Predictions
Happy New Year!! Here are some technology predictions for 2009 that are worth a read for software developers, business analysts and database developers who want to position themselves for success in 2009:
1. Pay attention to Social Media says CapGemini:
“2009 will be the year when use of social networking tools within companies will be the talk of the town. Yes, it has been around for a while but to be honest, nothing much has really happened apart from that Serena Software uses Facebook internally.
No doubt you already know how the recession affects the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Unemployment Rate or Stock Market. So, I won’t waste your time by repeating all that bad news.
What I would talk about is what really matters:”how you or your loved ones can protect your finances by staying employed in this recession!“
The best way to keep your job in a recession or to find a new job easily is to become “The Most Over Qualified, Under Paid Professional” on your team.
Here is why becoming over-qualified and under-paid work hand in hand to protect your career:
How you value knowledge tells me a lot about who you are … because knowledge capital is the most important resource in any organization.
In the digital age, what makes one employee more valuable than the next employee is simply stated … the amount of knowledge, skill, expertise, training and learning they have managed to acquire and put to use.
Now, managers are not interested in employees that know it all … only in employees that constantly put their knowledge capital to work by solving corporate problems or challenges … those employees are the gold mines in any organization.
I just received a question that has to do with age discrimination for a Java programmer and I would like to share it with you.
Reader Question:
I would like to find an IT Career Coach in San Diego CA.
I am a certified Java Programmer, and have an academic background in applied mathematics, but I did not work with J2EE and data bases, I would like to know what type of career is available in my age 55, what additional training is necessary.
Sincerely.
Here is my answer to this question:
Hi :
If you want to excel in an information technology career, you need to make a
career plan or plot a career road map that will take you from your
current skill level to a professional, highly skilled or expert level.
You will also need to create a plan for maintaining your skills at the level of
top performers or experts in your field when you get there.
Whatever your current career (business analyst, data analyst, software
developer, report writer, database developer, web designer, etc.), you need to
sharpen your skills using one or more of the following training options:
Have you taken advantage of the online training for computer programmers?
If you want step-by-step computer programming training that covers what a professional software developer needs to know, then this online training program is for you:
http://www.softwaredevelopercoaching.com/ Here are some of the details of the online training program:
Training Duration:
The online computer programmer training service is a 16 weeks (4 months) to 24 weeks (6 months) program.
Training Prerequisites:
You must be completely comfortable with using the computer. You need to know how to perform routine tasks with your computer like, installing a software program. You don’t need a Bachelors or Graduate degree. You don’t need a math or technical background.
One of the reasons why you may find yourself struggling with your career is that you have too many goals. So, I’m writing this article “pick a technology and master it” to help you achieve your goals more easily.
Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of choices you have to make?
Perhaps, you’re married, you have 2 kids, you have a job, your spouse has a job, you spend quality time with your family every day and you want to become a better software developer or business analyst.
If you are having a hard time choosing between a business analyst career and a computer programming career, perhaps it is because you can’t tell the difference. I want to help you out by explaining the major differences between business analyst and computer programming careers.
These differences include:
1. Technical Skills
2. People / Leadership Skills
3. Educational Requirements
4. Learning Curve
5. 2007 and 2008 Job Market Outlook
6. Salaries, Wages and Compensation
7. Job Satisfaction
I’m finally done with it … the book that’s 10 years in the making and tonight I”m releasing the How To Ace Programming Job Interviews Book.
Why The Programming Job Interviews Book Took Ten Years To Write
If you are my customer, by that I mean you’ve bought one of my books, you will realize that i’m pretty thorough and not one to release a half-baked book. You will also realize that my computer programming books and business analyst books are practical, comprehensive and based on tactics, strategies and information that gets results in the software development industry.
Now that how to become a business analyst book is released, I’m also releasing the business analyst interview questions book and here is the reason why.
It’s Proven Difficult to Prepare for Business Analyst Job Interviews
Presently, it’s challenging to study for business analyst interviews because job boards, job descriptions, hiring managers and human resources (hr) specialists are not consistent in what they are looking for in a business analyst.
While some emphasize communication skills, others emphasize leadership skills in business analyst job postings.
While some business analyst job openings emphasize requirements gathering, analysis and documentation, others emphasize software development skills, reporting skills or data analysis skills.
One of the challenges I faced when I peeked inside my first programming book more than 15 years ago was the difficult of understanding the programming concepts taught in the textbooks I was reading. Think about it for a moment – if you walk into a store and buy a book on “how to master a programming language”, you should be able to read the book once or at most a couple of times and understand it correct?
Well, I’m afraid that’s not how it works in real life. Computer programming books are notoriously scary and difficult to read.
If you have read my books by now, you probably know a few things about me already.
I am a Software Development Consultant and a Software Developer Mentor living in Saint Louis, USA.
Over the last decade I have been contracted to develop enterprise software applications for Fortune 1000 and small business organizations.
I also coach individuals who want to learn leading-edge computer programming skills or get hired into full-time software developer or contract programmer jobs just like me.
Since this website (IT Career Coach) is about careers in software development, it makes sense for me to discuss at some point, the benefits of becoming a computer programmer.
So, I will contine along the lines set by part 1 of benefits of becoming a computer programmer, by discussing further, the advantages or benefits of choosing a career in computer programming.
1. Lots of different companies hire computer programmers
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 got the reply C++. I asked the question because I badly wanted to become a successful programmer. So, I reasoned that if I could prove myself by conquering the hardest programming language, my success in computer programming would be guaranteed.
How To Become A Business Analyst
ON BECOMING A BUSINESS ANALYST – THE BUSINESS ANALYST JOB DESCRIPTION
A business analyst is an information technology worker who improves the efficiency and productivity of business operations.
The business analyst achieves this by closely analyzing the business processes in an organization for inefficiencies.
When inefficient business processes are discovered, the business analyst makes recommendations for business process improvements.
If the recommended solution is approved, the business analyst works with computer programmers, lead software developers, software managers and other information technology workers to implement the recommended solutions.
A few days ago, I granted an interview to a student writing a research paper on The job of a computer programmer. During the interview, I was given ten questions to answer about careers and jobs in computer programming. I’ve decided to post my replies, since a lot of people will benefit from it. You will find this entire interview interesting.
Please read it for your own benefit.
1. How did you get into the field of computer 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.
Do you realize that you don’t have to be a computer programmer to be involved with software development?
Does this statement sound strange coming from a software developer coach?
If you think that my job is to get you into software development or to get to you to the top of your software developer career, you are partially right.
My job as a coach is to help you succeed by providing you key information that will save you a lot of time, a lot of pain and a lot of money.
One of my blog readers emailed me the question below about the feasibility of changing careers to computer programming in Malaysia.
Question:
Hi,
I am 34 years old, currently working as an electronic technician and am thinking of a career change and take up programming as a career.
I am interested to know if you have come across anyone like in my situation from Malaysia who has done your course and managed to get a job as a computer programmer?
I 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.
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:
I am answering questions on computer programmer careers. This tutorial or guide is about how to get an entry-level computer programmer job as a beginner programmer or computer science student.
Here is the question:
Dear Mr. Tagbo,
Now that the spring has finally arrived, I am ready to search for programming jobs available for college students. So far I have mastered the fundamental concepts of programming such as function: Subprocedures, Arrays, and Classes.
I feel competent enough to pursue a career in Programming as well as Mathematics. Please send me an e-mail regarding the availability of programming jobs.
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.
- How do I study difficult computer programming books?
- How do I overcome the fear of programming interviews?
- How do I succeed at programmer interviews easily?
- How do I transition to becoming a contract computer programmer?
Why do some careers pay significantly higher salaries than other careers? And what do top paid professionals including doctors, lawyers and computer programmers have in common that makes them earn significantly higher income than other lower-paid professionsals?
The one thing that top paying careers have in common, are skills that fetch top dollars in the marketplace. Simply stated, how much you earn after a hard day’s work is determined by the market value of your career.
What do you know about low paid jobs, Kingsley? You are a contract programmer with a decade of skills and experience aren’t you?
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:
Kathy Sierra a Java Instructor says that some authors are making their programming books harder than necessary because they are too focused on themselves instead of their readers.
At Sun, Kathy discovered that some techie instructors who know their stuff were getting poorer evaluations compared to their less skilled colleages.
The reason? The experts focused on proving their smartness instead of helping their students get smarter assuming that students want their instructors to establich their credibility by proving that they are experts.
My programming career started in Tulsa, Oklahoma when I mastered a programming language in high-demand by employers within 1 month, scored 93% in my computer programming job interview and within 6 months was billing an entry level $76,000/yr. contract programming fee.
Hi, my name is Kingsley Tagbo. I am a Contract Software Developer, an IT Career Coach and Author of the book on “How to Master High Paying, Highly Sought-After Computer Programming Skills Easily and Quickly“.
The Hallmark of my signature coaching services and books is this: I help people develop their personal ability to master highly sought after computer programming skills in the fastest, easiest, least expensive way possible
I would like to hear from you. Tell me, why did you become a computer programmer?
And if you are not, why do you want to be a programmer?
Tell me what you do, what you like about it, what you don’t like about it.
Tell me how long you have been doing what you do?
And what part of the universe you are from 
Leave your comments on this post or email them to me.
Kingsley Tagbo, IT Career Coach
If you enjoyed reading this article, Subscribe to Software Development/Programmers Boot Camps Newsletter
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:
Hi,
I will be introducing an important computer programming career development package anytime from now. It will be along the lines of making it easier, faster and better to master computer programming or software development from any place, at any time and pace.
Anytime from now I will announce it. And with it comes a 48 hour special that allows you to take advantage of the new offer.
So, be sure to check back on this website for the announcement and special offer that comes with it.
Thanks
If you enjoyed reading this article, Subscribe to Software Development/Programmers Boot Camps Newsletter
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:
I’m still taking questions from my readers. Today’s question is about finding entry level computer programming job working with the Java programming language. Here’s the rest of my reader’s question:
Dear Mr. Tagbo,
I am sending you this e-mail to ask you if there will be any jobs available in the spring starting April 2007 because I am interested in becoming a Computer Programmer.
One of my personal strengths and experiences so far is tutoring other students at my former school in Algebra Math, and doing favorably well in a Java Programming course.
This post is for my readers who have unresolved questions, concerns and problems about their programming careers.
If you want to master your programming career or become a better skilled computer programmer, tell me how I can help you succeed.
Tell me who you are now and who you want to become in your computer programming career this year.
If you’ve read my e-Book, “The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programming Careers” and the bonus e-Books that come with it, tell me what more information, topics and questions you want me to cover in the next release of the e-Book.
A few days ago I asked you to email me your questions about how to succeed at your computer programming career. I received this email which I’ve edited to preserve my reader’s identity.
Hi Kingsley Tagbo,
I have an Engineering degree from India. Currently I am working in a well known software company with Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005.
My problem is that I don’t have any interest in computer programming and I cannot even sit for 1 hour to code.
I need your help to build interest in computer programming. I very badly wanted to shine as a software programmer. Please help me.
Happy New Year and Welcome to 2007.
What better way to start your new year than with a “one-time happy new year $600 super bonus gift” that helps you become a highly skilled, marketable, well-paid computer programmer?
As your computer programming career coach, I’ll like to jump start your career success in 2007 by inviting you to my private computer programming mentoring group.
Here’s how to join my private mentoring group. Order a copy of my “Computer Programming Careers e-Book” on or before midnight of Thursday, January 4, 2007 and you get additional 3 months of my computer programming career mentoring worth $600.
A few days ago I asked you to email me your questions about beginning your programming
career. Some of you between 30 and 40 years old wanted to know if their age will stop them from getting hired by employers.
Here are my career success tips for beginning a programming career when
you are over 30 years.
-
The golden rule for career success in computer programming. Take a pen and write this down. In the computer programming industry, employers and hiring managers will judge you by
href="http://www.it-career-coach.net/book/" target="_blank">“how you perform on the job”. And not by your skin color, your sex (male or female) and certainly not by your age.
You can make more money by helping others begin their programming career, learn a programming language, find a well paying programming job or become highly skilled.
Begin by joining my affiliate program and in a minute you will be earning a fat 50% commission on your e-book sales.
Here’s how to join my affiliate program
- Register with Clickbank (an independent retailer of digital products) at http://www.Clickbank.com.
- Go to this URL and enter your Clickbank ID: http://www.clickbank.com/info/jmap.htm?vendor=kdkeys
- Leave the tracking field blank if you don?t know what to put there. Clickbank will give you the URL to promote for a 50% commission on each e-Book sale. It will look something like this:
A few days Ago, I asked you to email me your most pressing questions on beginning your computer programming career. Read the previous post here:
I received a question from Matthew, an IT Student about how to succeed as a Visual Basic programmer and here is my reply:
- Get A Job: Matthew, the most important thing I want to tell you is to get a job as a Visual Basic programmer while you are still in college. You can work the job along with your full time studies or as an intern.
IT-Career-Coach.Com announces the release of Your Complete Guide to a Programming Career in 4 e-Books available for immediate download. This hi-tech career handbook provides you with the experience, insight and information on computer programming careers and hi-tech jobs that will cost you years to discover otherwise.
Reducing trial and error by learning from professional programmers is key to career success
By reducing the trial-and-error involved in becoming a professional computer programmer or finding a hi-tech job, you can learn a programming language fast, begin a high demand programming career easily and find a high paying job early in your programming career.
Dear Mr. Tagbo
My name is Jose Perez. I am currently in the 12th grade of High School and I plan to be a programmer. I would like to hear from you since you have a blog on helping computer programmers.
I live in Miami, Florida and I’m planning on going to the University of Florida to get a Bachelor’s in Computer Science. I would like to know if being a programmer is a good idea.
I’ve researched upon the subject and I have found that as a programmer I would receive a good starting salary and workplace comfort.
I have been receiving a number of questions from my readers about how much time it takes to become a computer programmer.
Looking back in time, I realize, I had this same conversation with a coach figure 12+ years ago when I was considering a career in computer programming. His advice was that it would take me at least 2 years of concentrated work to learn any new career. My coach figure at that time was a successful lawyer with more than 30 years of experience practicing law, so I took his advice to heart.
.NET Developers (dot net computer software programmers) are in big demand with big pay in the major cities of the USA according to a 2006 survey at CNNMoney.com.
According to the survey, if you are willing to become an expert or highly skilled .NET software developer, you can command between $75,000 to $85,000 as an expert or highly skilled dot net (.NET) Microsoft software programmer and you can get an additional pay hike of 15% or more (which brings your pay to $86,000 to $98,000 and more) if you are willing to specialize in a field and then change jobs.
Career development planning for professionals who want a high paying job in a high demand career has never been easy.
This website addresses this difficult challenge by providing career coaching and guidance on how to get into the fastest growing occupations, top paying careers, jobs in high demand and skills in high demand.
The foundation of our career coaching is the Street Smart Guide to High Paying Computer Programming Careers? book and more than a decade of Information Technology (IT) experience in various high demand careers including Business Analysis, Database Development, Project Management, Software Consulting, Software Sales, Contract Programming, Web Development and IT Management.
Newsletter
Facebook
Twitter
