One of my computer programming coaching clients inquired about the difference between web developer careers and windows developer careers, their different tracks of study and which has a higher demand at this time.
And my response is:
Windows developers create applications known as thick clients that reside on the desktop, while web developers create applications known as thin clients that are viewed through a web browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, etc.).
- Aspiring windows developers have to learn windows application development using tools like Visual Basic, C#, C/C++. Beginning web developers have to learn web application development using tools like Visual Basic, C#, PHP, ASP.NET. Beginning web developers also have to learn browser based technologies including CSS, JavaScript and HTML.
What is the secret path to highly paid contract programming careers if there is one?
Perhaps it is one of the following:
-
College Education
-
Computer Science Degree
The answer does not lie in a college or post graduate education or computer science degree.
The secret path to contract programming riches lies in:
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Your ability to learn new information quickly
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A passion or drive to work hard at computer programming
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Mastery of high demand computer programming languages like Microsoft .NET
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Marketable resume based on hot skills and matching experience
Because highly skilled software developers (master programmers) are highly paid (read previous post on software developers), the question is how do you become a master contract programmer if you aren’t?
Here is what I consider to be a common sense guide to becoming a master software developer:
- Certify now! Use certifications and test preparation material like transcender to sharpen your overall grasp of your technology
- Read books. Read a lot of technical books on your skill set (for example .NET development). You should own a number of these books yourself
.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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
- Friends: The recommendation of their friends or colleagues at work.
- Popularity: Based on the perceived popularity of a programming language
- 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.
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.
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.
In my University years I observed two groups of students.
The first group was ultra-focused on their studies. They attended all their lectures, turned in assingments on time and fraternized exclusively with smart or smarter students.
The second group paid attention to their studies. In addition, they had part-time jobs and projects working for local companies. They cared more about how their studies impacted their world and not just the academia. Sometimes, they were at the top of their class and sometimes they weren’t.
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.
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!
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