ITCareerCoach Training - Coaching » skilled programmer 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 How to Become a Freelance Programmer http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/09/13/how-to-become-a-freelance-programmer/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/09/13/how-to-become-a-freelance-programmer/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:02:07 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2445

Choose a Freelance Consulting Career

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!

Mallory’s Questions Are:

I have started an account on scriptlance which is for programmers. However I am not a professional programmer.

I joined because I was looking for genuine data entry jobs i could do as a freelancer.

Do I need to be a professional in order to get jobs on that site or will they use newbies.

My second question is how can I go about learning my first language.

I am familiar with excel and microsoft word which are software.

Mallory, Here’s How To Start A Freelance Computer Programmer Career

You can start a freelance computer programmer career if you have at least one of these qualifications:

  1. Computer Programming Skills:

    If you’re a skilled computer programmer or you know how to develop software programs using one of the frequently asked for programming skills like PHP, ASP.NET, C# SQL SERVER, MYSQL, HTML, XHTML, CSS, JAVASCRIPT then you may consider starting a freelance computer programming career or business.

    If you choose the path of learning computer programming before starting your freelance software developer business, learn a popular, modern object oriented programming language like ASP.NET, C#, VISUAL BASIC.NET, SQL SERVER. You may also consider learning PHP, MYSQL, HTML, XHTML, CSS.

  2. Marketing or Project Management Skills:

    Consider starting a freelance computer programmer business if you have project management, marketing, advertising or pubic relations skills.

    You don’t have to learn computer programming or become a computer programmer if you’re starting a freelance computer programming business.

    Learning a programming language is not a requirement for a freelance computer programmer career because you can compensate for lack of computer programming skills by working on business tasks like accounting, marketing, public relations, advertising, project management, customer service or by hiring others to write he code for you!

You may learn computer programming languages and then start a freelance software developer business or you may utilize business management and marketing strengths to start your freelance programming business without learning a computer programming language!

Comparing Full-Time to Freelance Developer Careers

Starting a freelance computer programming business is not the same thing as starting a full-time or contract software developer career and here are some of the reasons why:

  1. In a full-time or contract programming job, you focus on the programming skills because your employer takes care of the business, management, marketing or money issues.

    In a Freelance Computer Programming career, you focus on the business, how to market your business or how to earn an income because you’re the employer!

  2. In a full-time or contract computer programming job, the employer expects you to write code all day along and not to outsource or delegate programming tasks!

    In a freelance computer programmer business, your clients expects you to get the software program written according to specifications!

    Unlike full-time or contract programmers, freelance computer programmers retain the right to delegate programming tasks and may choose not to do it by themselves!

  3. Full-time or contract computer programmers grow their careers through promotion to more senior development work.

    Freelance computer programmers grow their careers by adding on more clients, projects or computer programmers!

You succeed as a freelance computer programmer by working on your business and not by treating it like a regular 9AM to 5PM job!

The Benefits of Starting a Freelance Computer Programmer Career

  1. High-Demand: There is a high-demand for computer programming services. Elance, a top freelancers website reports that software development services like database programming, web design, web development are the most sought-after in the freelance job market!

  2. Flexible Lifestyle: You work from the comfort of your own home, on your own time and at a pace you’re comfortable with.

    You may run a freelance programming career at the time of day or night that suits your family, person or lifestyle

  3. Resume Building: Freelance Computer Programmers who write computer code by themselves can build-up their resume for full-time or contract software developer jobs quickly.

    Freelance computer programmers may transition into full-time or contract programming jobs because as they become skilled at solving problems.

    The benefit of solving problems for an industry is explained in this article: “become a leader and get the job you want!”

  4. Stops Unemployment: Starting a freelance career is a good way to deal with unemployment issues or handle the downtime between jobs!

    It starts you earning an income, gets you building skills that you can trade-in for a full-time job and keeps you doing productive work!

How to Succeed at a Freelance Computer Programmer Career

Starting a freelance programming career is not “a bed of roses”.

You have to deal with client’s demands, pressures or concerns, unpleasant computer programming bugs, the quirks of fellow computer programmers and competition from everyone else who wants a piece of the golden pie!

Here are some challenges that you would have to face or master to succeed at freelance computer programming:

  1. Positioning: You have to develop a position early in your business because of competition for freelance dollars!

  2. Marketing: How well you can market may be more important than how well you can code!

  3. Accounting: Sending invoices, tracking payments, managing accounts receivables, estimating and paying taxes and your cash flow will make or break your career!

  4. Project Management: You have to learn “how to delegate work” because you can’t learn every programming language or work on every project!

  5. Business Analysis: You may not be able to hire business analysts, so you have to elicit, analyze, validate or document requirements correctly and by yourself!

  6. Software Development Methodology: You need to establish processes for checking in code, collaborating with your clients or working on the same project with other team members!

  7. Specialization: Whether you write the code yourself or delegate all programming tasks, consider specializing in web design, web development or in a suite of software development tools.

Choosing a programming language is not your only consideration or even the major one!

There are tools, processes, methodologies and systems that you also have to put in place for your freelance computer programming business.

If you’re interested in starting a freelance career Click here to read or download a FREE Report on the TOP 100 most in-demand skills In The Freelance Industry … or contact us for more information.

This post answers the question of “how to become a freelance computer programmer”.

If you have a question, concern or challenge click here to post it and I will answer it for you!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/09/13/how-to-become-a-freelance-programmer/feed/ 12 HOW TO BECOME A BETTER, MORE CONFIDENT, EXPERT PROGRAMMER (PART 1) http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/09/17/how-to-become-a-better-more-confident-expert-programmer-part-1/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/09/17/how-to-become-a-better-more-confident-expert-programmer-part-1/#comments Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:31:17 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/09/17/how-to-become-a-better-more-confident-expert-programmer-part-1/

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.

In my roles as a software developer coach and consultant, I come across a lot of folks who are close to giving up the ghost on their programming career because of the difficulty of understanding programming textbooks. I took this to heart some time ago and wrote an article titled “Why Are Computer Programming Books Hard to Study”.

However, this question has been coming up in my private software developer coaching sessions and I think it’s time to address it again.

HOW TO STUDY HARD-TO-UNDERSTAND OR DIFFICULT PROGRAMMING TEXTBOOKS

Software development and computer science textbooks are the primary means of learning new programming languages for beginner, intermediate or expert programmers. To become a better, confident or expert programmer in any programming language you have to read a lot of literature (books, magazines or articles) published on the programming language. What would you do then, if you can’t seem to get a grip on the textbooks written on the programming language you are learning?

What If?

1. You are unable to independently solve the exercises in your programming books

2. You always seem to be stumped whenever you try your hand at challenging programming exercises?

3. You lose confidence in yourself when you get stuck with a problem as you hear a voice in your head saying “as a good programmer, you should be able to solve this problem but you’re no good, that’s why you are failing”?

4. You seem to be able to understand programming theories and concepts but fail at solving real-world programming puzzles, challenges and exercises?

5. You are scared that the reason why you can’t seem to understand programming books is because you don’t have a technical background or your technical background is not as strong as it needs to be?

6. You are scared of technical job interviews because you’re afraid you will be found out to be an impostor?

7. Your commitment, courage and motivation towards software development wanes because of the challenges mentioned above?

8. Your tenacity and resilience at solving programming problems seems to be low and you want to build yourself up by improving your problem solving skills?

You and I both know that programming textbooks are notoriously difficult to study especially when need to master a new programming language. The good news is that there’s an answer waiting for you.

The solution is described in a downloadable book made instantly available to you when you order “The Street Smart Guide to Computer Programming Careers” titled “Effective Study Skills for Computer Programmers”.

WHAT COULD YOU ACHIEVE IF YOU COULD DIG INTO PROGRAMMING TEXTBOOKS EASILY OR SOLVE DIFFICULT PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS COMFORTABLY?

The Fastest Way To Learn Programming Guaranteed

1. For one, you will be able to study for and pass programming job interviews. You won’t be scared of failing or not sounding knowledgeable because you will actually know what you are talking about.

2. If you became competent at solving solve real-world programming challenges, your confidence level will increase and you will be able to apply for the top programming jobs knowing that you are better than other programmers applying for the positions you are interested in.

3. Your peers, managers and clients will notice your increased level of self-confidence and competence and increase their demand for your help and services.

To get started on the road to becoming a better, more confident, expert programmer, click here and order a copy of the book now and you will instantly begin to learn “how to study programming quickly and effectively” and “how to become an expert computer programmer“.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/09/17/how-to-become-a-better-more-confident-expert-programmer-part-1/feed/ 2 Learning C++ Programming Language Is Bad For Your Career … C++ Programmers Can’t Find Jobs http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/25/learning-c-programming-language-is-bad-for-your-career-c-programmers-cant-find-jobs/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/25/learning-c-programming-language-is-bad-for-your-career-c-programmers-cant-find-jobs/#comments Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:41:07 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/25/learning-c-programming-language-is-bad-for-your-career-c-programmers-cant-find-jobs/

Learning A Marketable Skill?

Learning A Marketable Skill?

Hi,

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

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

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

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

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

Do You Want To Learn The Hardest Programming Language?

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

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

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

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

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

Continue reading and you will find out for yourself soon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHY C++ PROGRAMMERS CAN’T GET JOBS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Do Employers Care About?

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

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

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

Is C/C+ Dead?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Who is a contract programmer?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How long do contract programming projects last?

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

How much do contract computer programmers bill?

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

What factors determine the contract programmer’s billing rate?

The factors that determine a contract programmers billing rate include:

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

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

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

Who should be a contract programmer?

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

What is the future or outlook for contract programmers?

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

How do you become a contract programmer?

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

  1. Expert programming skills

  2. Well-crafted resume

  3. Effective job interviewing skills

  4. Aggressive Resume Marketing

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

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


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/16/the-secret-path-to-contract-programming/feed/ 0 Software Career Tips On How To Choose Your First Programming Language http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/08/software-career-tips-on-how-to-choose-your-first-programming-language/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/08/software-career-tips-on-how-to-choose-your-first-programming-language/#comments Mon, 08 Jan 2007 07:19:39 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/01/08/software-career-tips-on-how-to-choose-your-first-programming-language/

One key to learning how to program computers is to begin with the right computer programming language. In my discussions with readers, I notice that both beginning programmers and experienced computer programmers often choose a programming language based on:

  1. Friends: The recommendation of their friends or colleagues at work.

  2. Popularity: Based on the perceived popularity of a programming language

  3. Difficulty: As strange as it sounds, some choose a programming language because it’s hard or difficult to master. They want to prove themselves by tackling languages that will raise their profile in their community.

  4. School: Some choose a language because that’s what they’ve been asked to learn for a diploma.

  5. Hobby: Some pick a language for recreational purposes or form a perception of which language to work with based on what hobbies they like.

In a bonus e-Book that accompanies the “The Street Smart Guide To High Paying Computer Programming Careers“, I discussed the computer programming languages best suited for specific software projects.

Because each programming language is designed for specific tasks and scenarios, it performs poorly in other scenarios. Without much ado, here are a few reasons for choosing one programming language over another.

  1. Ease of learning: Some programming languages are easier for beginner programmers to master. Others have a steep learning curve and are notably more difficult.

  2. Speed of Execution: Programming languages are used to create software. In some software projects, the speed of execution of the software is critical and one has to use the fastest programming language.

  3. Marketability: Some programming languages are highly in-demand by employers. If you master them, you will be in-demand by employers. So, if you are just beginning your career, you may want to consider the marketability of one programming language vs. another.

  4. High Pay: Employers do not pay the same salary for all programming languages. Some command a lot more than others. You may not want to spend 5 years mastering a programming language only to discover you’re under-paid compared to your colleagues who are working with another language.

  5. Industry Standard: Some programming languages are used extensively in an industry, profession or environment. For example, engineers tend to use FORTRAN. Cobol was once a standard for business application. JavaScript is the standard for browser specific programming. Prolog is used in artificial intelligence software applications.

One of the marks of highly skilled, expert or professional computer programmers is that they understand the performance of each programming language. They can evaluate which programming language is best suited for their career based on the type of software applications they’ll be creating and how well they want to be compensated.

In the e-Book on “How To Become A Professional Computer Programmer“, I discussed the suitability of specific programming languages for specific career goals and software projects.

Take a piece of paper working with the list of programming languages below, answer the next 3 questions.

PHP, Ruby on Rails, C#, Python, Classic Visual Basic, Visual Basic.NET, Pascal, Assembler, FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, PL/I, C, C++, LISP, PROLOG, Ada, Java

  1. How many of these programming languages have you heard of?

  2. Which type of software projects are these programming languages best suited for?

  3. What type of programming careers are these programming languages best suited for.


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