ITCareerCoach Training - Coaching » programming interviews exposed 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 Can a 55 year old female become a programmer? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/08/10/can-a-55-year-old-female-become-a-programmer/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/08/10/can-a-55-year-old-female-become-a-programmer/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:56:27 +0000 ana http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=3236

This question was submitted by Anoush from Glendale, California … Hello, I am a 55 years old female, I have done mainframe programming for more than 25 years before and I was very good in that.

However i have left my job for 10 years now helping my husband in accounting firm.

Do I have a chance to be hired if I learn .NET and create a software?

  1. Do What You Love – Do You Love Computer Programming?

    Your long term success as a computer programmer depends more on how passionate you are about learning programming than it does on your age!

    If you love learning programming languages you will put in the hard work that it takes to be the best programmer you can be.

    This will involve putting in long hours to learn a suite of marketable programming languages and then going the extra mile to build practical applications that showcase your passion.

    If you do not love computer programming, you will not succeed long term because you won’t be able to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change in the industry.

    The real issue here is not your age but whether you have the drive, passion and desire that it takes to be a highly skilled computer programmer.

  2. Become The Best Computer Programmer You Can Be

    Computer Programming is a talent driven industry which means that your chances of getting hired depends more on how skilled you are than it does on anything else.


    If you are a highly skilled, competent, trained or experienced developer and your skills are in marketable, hot, in-demand programming languages like ASP.NET, C# and SQL Server, you will get a good job regardless of any age discrimination in the industry!

  3. Can You Perform? Prove It

    More than anything else, it is your performance that will decide how far you will go in the programming industry.

    Kids barely out of high school are building websites and starting jobs / businesses as web designers despite their age because nobody really cares about age, when you can perform!

    So if the wisdom it is possible for these young kids to succeed at web design, I dare say that older people have at least an equal opportunity for success.

    The real truth of the matter is that age is just a self-limiting barrier, so don’t let the negative, biased behaviors of others dictate what you can or cannot do!

  4. Success Principle – Do Not Worry Or Focus On Things You Can’t Control

    In “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey 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, the deal is “why focus on your age?”, when you can do nothing about it?

    Why not focus on things like your skills, your learning, your attitude over which you have complete control!

  5. Multiple Career Paths For Computer Programmers


    As a computer programmer, you also have the option of starting your own web design or web development business or freelancing for multiple clients.

    This is perhaps one of the best ways to control your destiny or deal with age discrimination concerns once and for all!

    AS a freelance computer programmer, you can work for work online for clients that are located all over the world or network using LinkedIn for potential clients.

    As a freelance computer programmer, your age is even less of an issue because potential clients can try your services with little risk and then hire you on for a longer term commitment, if they find you competent.

Computer programming is a talent driven, performance minded industry where you can succeed at a freelance, contract or full-time software developer job as long as you have a passion or drive for programming.

My final advice: don’t let the negative bias of others decide what you will or will not do with your life.


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This post was submitted by ana.

]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2011/08/10/can-a-55-year-old-female-become-a-programmer/feed/ 2 Career Roadmap For Programmers: Keeping Your Skills Current Or In Demand http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/06/14/keep-your-skills-current-or-in-demand/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/06/14/keep-your-skills-current-or-in-demand/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:24:42 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2932

Keep your Skills Current or In Demand

Keep your Skills Current or In Demand

It is a commonly held belief that once you learn “how to code in one programming language“, you can easily transition your programming skills to another.

Yet many computer programmers never quite make it because they get lost in the transition from one programming language to another.

This is true of computer programmers transitioning away from legacy programming languages like Cobol or relatively more modern programming languages like classic Visual Basic.

When a computer programmer falls behind the technology (programming language) curve, the developer may experience:

  1. Loss of job security
  2. Difficulty in finding new employment
  3. Loss of income

This article focuses on how to keep your programming skills current, relevant or indispensable in a constantly evolving marketplace.

Always Be Learning: Computer Programming Languages

There are several reasons why computer programmers seem to forever be learning new languages. Some of these reasons are:

  1. New Programming Languages:Computer programming languages become obsolete and new ones are introduced to replace them (Fortran has pretty much been replaced by more modern, Object Oriented Programming (OOP) languages).

  2. Updated Programming Language Versions:Programming languages are constantly being updated to newer versions by their vendors (for example, classic Visual Basic has been replaced by Visual Basic .NET).

  3. New Software Application Markets: New software applications markets create a demand for specialized programming skills (IPhone application development needs fueling a demand for Objective C and Cocoa programming languages).

So to be successful, computer programmers have to accept that learning new programming languages comes with the territory or they will fall behind the technology curve.

So, given that the demand for programming skills is constantly evolving from a technology / market standpoint, here is how to make the jump from one programming language to another:

Believe In Yourself: Be Confident In Your Ability To Learn

Believe that if you know how to code in one programming language, you can pick up another one.

Learning a new language may require some time, effort or dedication but you can do it again because you have done it successfully before.

The fear of learning new programming languages seems to be higher with legacy application developers, e.g. cobol or mainframe programmers.

This may be because legacy (cobol, mainframe etc.) programmers have not faced the challenge of updating their skills in a long a while and because of that see learning new, modern object oriented languages like .NET Framework as being more difficult job than they really are!

Career Path for Programmers: Keep Your Skills Marketable

Since the demand for programming skills changes all the time (for example, the shift from desktop to web applications), you have to update your skills or you risk ending up with unmarketable skills or losing your job.

Right now the marketable programming skills include Microsoft .NET Framework (ASP.NET, SQL SERVER and C#), PHP/MYSQL and Cocoa / Objective C (Iphone application development).

So, in terms of a Career Roadmap for computer programmers, you need to have one of these marketable skills.

Learn By Doing: Build Practical Software Applications

Programming skills are not learnt by getting certifications or more educational qualifications. They are gained by building applications outside the classroom.

So, build small applications in the programming languages you are learning … even if you have to build it for yourself!

Don’t get over yourself and end up tackling a project that is so complex that your skills are quickly overwhelmed because that may cause you to lose confidence in your budding programming skills.

The Software Developer Boot Camp builds on this by presenting you with graduated, step by step, beginner to advanced programming lessons. Here is some additional information:

Build New Programming Skills Repetitively

Programming skills have to be exercised repeatedly before they are transferred from the conscious areas of your brain to your optimized, sub-conscious mind.

That is why in the Software Developer Boot Camp, we present you with a number of single or multiple-choice questions that helps you understand, retain or recall the concepts presented in the videos.

Learn Programming In Steps

One of the major challenges facing programmers learning new programming languages is that they often bite of more than they can chew. When this happens, developers will more often than not, pin their wheels or quit the project altogether.

In the Software Developer Boot Camp, we prevent this type of failure by making sure that all the Programming Lessons are graduated and that you don’t learn a more complex topic like Object Oriented Programming (OOP) before learning the building blocks of the topic (like using Methods vs. Procedures).

Follow these tips to make a successful transition from one programming language to another.

The best time to learn a new programming language is now regardless of your situation (with/without a job): because it keeps you employed and marketable.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/06/14/keep-your-skills-current-or-in-demand/feed/ 2 Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/02/09/programming-interviews-exposed-secrets-to-landing-your-next-job/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/02/09/programming-interviews-exposed-secrets-to-landing-your-next-job/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:50:32 +0000 Vijay http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2779

how to: ace technical interviews and land jobs

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.

I did not write the nested SQL query in one statement rather I created a temp table and then later join the results.

Even though the rest of the interview went ok and was able to answer other technical questions on face to face interview.

I am looking for an entry level job and I have been practicing my programming skill in C#/ASP.net and SQL queries, but in the last interview I missed the nested query question and I am thinking that it is because of this that am not selected.

So how should some one impress the hiring manager if they have not performed well on the written technical questions.

How can somebody cover the weakness in one skill while other skills are stronger and impress the hiring manager.

Thanks

Vijay

Answer: Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job

Knowing how to ace technical interviews is important because it determines whether you land the next job or not.

With this in mind, here is some advice on how to ace your next technical interview or get a job.

  1. Self Confidence at Programming Interviews: failing to get one technical / programming question is usually not enough to fail you at the interview.

    The real reason is that you lost confidence after missing one (1) technical question and the hiring manager noticed that!

    It may not be realistic to expect that you will pass all your technical questions. What you need to do, is to continue in a self assured or confident manner as that signals that you know what you are doing!

    For more information, read this post titled: “Fear And Self Confidence In Programming Interviews“.

  2. Kaizen Principle Applied To Programming Interviews: there is a Japanese quality improvement term known as Kaizen.

    Kaizen practitioners achieve significant results through small, incremental improvements.

    What this means for you is that, you can land the next computer programmer job making incremental improvements in your performance at the job interview!

    Bringing it home, you should make a note of all your weak technical skills like nested sql queries and then practice and improve on it before your next programming job interview.

    Also, you should keep a journal of all the questions that find challenging at job interviews and then research, practice and improve on them.

  3. How To Impress Hiring Managers: note that it is hard to impress the hiring manager if you fail to perform at the job interview.

    So, a better question to ask may be: how do I impress the hiring manager at a programmer job interview?

    If you really want to impress the hiring manager, start your preparing for technical interviews really early … before you have to take them!

    Why? … Because making significant improvements in skill level takes time. So, it cannot be treated like you are ordering fast food or buying soda from a vending machine!

    So start preparing intensively for your programming job interview really early and you will have the knowledge needed to impress hiring managers!

This post is one in a series dedicated to answering questions submitted by readers.

If you have a burning question or challenging situation in your career … be sure to post it as a comment on this page and we will take care of it for you!


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This post was submitted by Vijay.

]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/02/09/programming-interviews-exposed-secrets-to-landing-your-next-job/feed/ 1 How To Become A Highly Paid Corporate Programmer http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/08/02/how-to-become-a-highly-paid-corporate-programmer/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/08/02/how-to-become-a-highly-paid-corporate-programmer/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:49:37 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2138

highly paid corporate programmer

highly paid corporate programmer

Becoming a corporate software developer is not the same thing as becoming a freelance programmer or a systems programmer.

  • Corporate programmers are hired for coding skills in programming languages like Microsoft .NET (ASP.NET, C#, VB.NET, SQL Server) and they tend to work regular, office jobs as contract or full-time programmers.

  • Systems programmers tend to work with programming languages like C/C++ and they also work for companies like Microsoft that build operating systems or systems software.

  • Freelance programmers work on their own hours and they tend to focus exclusively on web development, web design and user interface (UI) jobs using programming languages and platforms like PHP, WordPress or Microsoft .NET.

Microsoft .NET is the recommended programming language for Corporate Programmers.

However, transitioning careers to Microsoft .NET programming may seem like a daunting or impossible task because you need solid Hands-ON experience which is hard to get without a full-time Microsoft.NET job!

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

Start by transitioning into a Microsoft.NET Software Developer Career in manageable steps or phases which allows you to achieve career success.

Your first step in becoming a highly paid corporate programmer is to learn Microsoft.NET Programming.

The next step after that, is to gain solid hands-on programming experience!

Both steps must be completed before you can achieve the goal of becoming a corporate programmer!

First Step: The first step in your career transition is to learn the ins and outs of Microsoft .NET Programming. This would include learning ASP.NET, C#, SQL SERVER and the Microsoft.NET Framework.

You can’t bypass the requirement to learn Microsoft.NET programming because you’ll be asked programming questions at your technical interview which you will have to ace before you are hired!

Second Step: The next step involves getting solid, hands-on Microsoft.NET programming experience.

Handson experience is a requirement for information technology jobs because this is a handson, practical industry where what you can do is valued even more than your educational qualifications.

Click here to read more about how to get handson computer programming experience!

  1. Become a Freelance Microsoft.NET Software Developer:

    You may consider starting your career as a freelance programmer before you get hired for corporate / full-time programming jobs.

    The experience or skill-level required for some freelance jobs is not as extensive as that of full-time programming jobs because clients can easily work away if they don’t like your job or try your services and see if they like working with you first before hiring you on a longer-term basis.

    Freelance Programming Jobs are not necessarily as lucrative as full-time or contract programming jobs but they do allow you to gain the mandatory hands-on programming experience by working on real-world software development projects for real-world clients.

    Becoming a freelance programmer while in training as a Microsoft.NET Programmer may also provide you with additional income, which is helpful whether you’re just transitioning careers or looking for a full-time programming job.

    Your initial focus should not be to earn a high income but to gain the hands-on programming experience which is required for programming positions.

  2. Become a Highly-Paid Corporate Programmer:

    After you’ve completed learning Microsoft.NET, C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server and worked on some freelance computer programming projects, you may transition into a regular full-time or independent Contract Programming job.

    Independent Contract Programmers are highly paid corporate programmers with billing rates ranging from $45/hr. to $60/hr. and even more!

    However, Independent Contract Programming is not for everyone because you have to pay your own employment taxes or provide your own benefits or face some downtime in-between projects meaning that your income may fluctuate.

    As an independent contract programmer, you also have to market your skills consistently to compensate for any downtime in-between programming projects.

    The good news is that “the demand for contract programmers is quite high” and each programming project usually lasts for a while (between 6 months and two years).

  3. Become a Full-Time Computer Programmer:

    Finally, after you’ve gained strong freelance or contract programming experience or you’ve worked on a number of corporate consulting gigs, you may be ready to become a full-time, salaried computer programmer.

    The upside of a full-time, permanent, salaried computer programming job is that you’re guaranteed medical benefits, a good paycheck and some stability in your employment.

    You won’t have to pay your own taxes or be on the look-out for the next consulting gig or wonder where your next paycheck is going to come from!

    The downside of a full-time, salaried programming career is that you may not earn as much as a corporate programmer because you don’t handle as much risk.

    Also, you don’t have the flexibility of deciding who to work for or the ability to switch programming projects or teams when you want!

If you’re interested in learning more about the differences or distinction between full-time and contract programming jobs, read this article titled: “full time programming compared to contract programming jobs …”

How To Overcome Hurdles In Transitioning To A Computer Programming Career

  1. Transition your Career in Phases

    Break up your career transition into phases and set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable and Realistic) goals for each phase.

    Transitioning your career in steps helps because you set achievable goals and build up the momentum that helps you follow though on a plan that leads to career success.

  2. Take Your Software Developer Training

    Transitioning to a new career begins with learning new skills.

    So, don’t neglect to acquire the required skills and don’t be looking for alternatives that promise a career transition without learning or acquiring new programming skills!

  3. Give Employers What They Want!

    Employers require hands-on programming experience which may seem unfair because you need their jobs to gain experience.

    However, don’t waste time hoping that employers will change their requirement for hands-on programming experience because you will be more successful at giving employers what they want than at getting them to change their minds.

So, you may transition into a highly paid computer programming career by following this step-by-step plan that allows you to build on past successes or achieve your goals in stages!

You may also enroll for the Software Developer Boot Camp Training and the Sql Boot Camp Training, since both SQL and Microsoft .NET programming skills are required for Software Developer Jobs.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/08/02/how-to-become-a-highly-paid-corporate-programmer/feed/ 0 How To Slam Dunk Job Interviews http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/02/05/how-to-slam-dunk-job-interviews/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/02/05/how-to-slam-dunk-job-interviews/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:30:13 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=841

How To Slam Dunk Your Next Job Interview

How To Slam Dunk Your Next Job Interview

This post is an answer to a question asked by Chris who is attending his tenth (10) job interview. You may click here to read the original question or add your own question or comment to the discussion.

The original post is a No Holds Barred Discussion on challenges, problems or issues facing my readers. If you have a Burning Question or Challenge you need help with, be sure to add your question to that page and i will answer it fully just as I am answering Tom’s question below!

The definition of the word “slam dunk” below is from Wikipedia and the rest of the article is my anwer to Chris’s challenge with Job Interviews!

A slam dunk (or simply a dunk) is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim.

The term “slam dunk” was coined by Los Angeles Lakers announcer Chick Hearn and is one of the highest percentage shots one can attempt in basketball.

50 Ways To Slam Dunk Any Job Interview

  1. Dress appropriately for your job interviews

  2. Never be late for your job interviews

  3. Verify the interviewer’s timezone ahead of your job interview

  4. Verify the location of the interview ahead of time

  5. Print a mapquest or step by step driving direction to the interview location

  6. Before going for the interview, find out more about the culture of the company, what they like in employees or consultants or why they are hiring

  7. Greet the receptionist and other people in the lounge or interview room courteously and with a smile

  8. Research your potential employer using the internet before the interview

  9. Research your potential employer by finding out about their products, services, industry and corporate history

  10. Take samples or proof of your expertise to the interview

  11. Demonstrate to the interviewer how portions or sections of the job posting relate to your resume and skills

  12. Do not negotiate compensation before you get an offer

  13. Do not talk down your current or previous positions

  14. Be prepared to answer the “what are your strengths?” question

  15. Be prepared to answer the “what is your weakness?” question

  16. Be prepared to answer the “do you prefer working in teams or alone?” question

  17. Give the appropriate level of technical detail for each interviewer. A senior business analyst or a tech lead will need detailed technical answers while managers or directors may need concise summaries.

  18. Be prepared to answer the “what is your greatest accomplishment?” question

  19. Be prepared to answer the “why are you looking for a position?” question

  20. Be prepared to answer the “how do you handle stress?” question

  21. Answer each interview question with specifics, examples and illustrations from your career

  22. Answer each interview question quickly, completely and to the point

  23. Answer each interview question and ask your interviewer if you provided enough information

  24. Answer each interview question with confidence, command and authority

  25. Answer each interview question by looking the interviewer in the eye

  26. Answer each interview question by looking briefly at each interviewer in the room and returning back to the originator of the question

  27. Answer each interview question with a smile and a relaxed, calm demeanor

  28. Say you don’t know on interview questions, that you don’t have any idea about

  29. If you interviewer corrects you on your answers, be courteous and thank the interviewer for taking the time to correct your response

  30. Take the phone interview as seriously as a face to face interview because may even get hired on the phone without another face to face

  31. Take you phone interviews in a quiet, distraction free room

  32. Give an alternate phone number to the employer as a backup ahead of your phone interviews

  33. Practice taking phone interviews while standing up or sitting down and then choose the style that works for you

  34. Start your interview preparation a month or more before you take the interview

  35. When preparing for a job interview, first prepare a list of frequently asked questions and answers

  36. Prepare the questions to ask the interviewer about the job position before your interview date

  37. When preparing for job interview, rehearse or practice answering the questions 10 or more times beforehand

  38. When preparing for job interview, rehearse or practice before an audience that will give you immediate feedback

  39. After taking a job interview, let the interviewer know that you really want and care about landing the job

  40. After taking a job interview, ask the interviewer what are the issues that must be tackled immediately and effectively by you, if you are hired

  41. After taking a job interview, ask the interviewer what personal attributes or traits are common among the sucessful employees or consultants

  42. After taking a job interview, ask the interviewer who you will be reporting to if you are hired

  43. After taking a job interview, thank the interviewer for their time and interest in hiring you before leaving the room

  44. After taking a job interview, ask the interviewer for their contact information

  45. After taking a job interview, send a thank you email to your job interviewers when you get home

  46. After taking a job interview, decline to discuss your pay until you get a job offer

  47. After taking a job interview, let the interviewer know that you are flexible when it comes to pay

  48. After taking a job interview, ask the interviewer how long you it will take for them to get back to you

  49. After taking a job interview, prepare a list of the challenging questions you had to answer

  50. After taking a job interview, research, document and rehearse the answers to all the challenging questions you answered


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/02/05/how-to-slam-dunk-job-interviews/feed/ 8 How To Ace Programming Job Interviews http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/10/04/how-to-ace-programming-job-interviews/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/10/04/how-to-ace-programming-job-interviews/#comments Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:43:12 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/10/04/how-to-ace-programming-job-interviews/

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.

So, after a decade of taking software developer job interviews for both full-time programming positions and well paying contract programming jobs, I’ve decided to come out with the book that says it all: The Ultimate Guide to Computer Programming Jobs and Software Developer Job Interviews.

I Interviewed for Programming Jobs for Over a Decade

I’ve taken dozens of programming job interviews with various IT departments ranging from small software development shops to Fortune 500 IT departments to non-profits to consulting firms to staffing/recruitment agencies.

I’ve been interviewed and hired for both management and non-management software developer positions. I’ve personally interviewed software developers and also coached software developers who’ve gone on to wow their interviewers and ace the programming positions they want.

I’ve been in several situations where to get the next assigment, I interviewed with several firms and received multiple competing programming job offers.

I’ve been in situations where firms competed for my programming services by trying to hire me away or go out of their way to impress me with pretty good offers.

I’ve been hired for high visibility programming jobs in large organizations with one single phone interview without going through a face to face interview. I’ve taken more programming interviews than I care to count, closing and getting job offers 9 times out of ten.

I’ve even taken and aced programming phone interviews while driving and while on vacation.

I’ve been interviewed by a team of technical people several times during my career and sometimes without any warning and still wowed my team of interviewers without any prior preparation. As far as programming job interviews are concerned, I’ve been there and i’ve done it.

I Have Something To Say

I have a lot to say about programming job interviews and I’m asking you to learn from me, so that you can truly be the master of your own fortune because you desire to be the best that you can be.

Are you are ready to be all you can be, break out of your personal limitations and experience the success you want? Begin by learning from an expert on “how to ace programming job interviews”.

Are you teachable and open to learning? If you are, Click Here To Get Your Own Copy of How To Ace Programming Job Interviews.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/10/04/how-to-ace-programming-job-interviews/feed/ 0 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 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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