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31 March 2007
Entry Level Programmer Jobs For Beginners
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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 Read More...
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19 March 2007
Is My Resume Killing My Career?
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You won’t have believed me if I told you.
But now You, Oh Yes You, are beginning to realize it.
Your resume is the reason why you can’t get a programming interview … despite your best efforts.
And when you talk to recruiters, Oh My, Do They Give You A Run Around!
Someone should have been kind enough to tell you that your resume is killing your career!
You send your resume to soooo many employers and then sit back for phone calls that never happen.
No one wants to hire you! Even though your resume literally screams Hire Me!
What is happening to me you say.
Am I over qualified, under qualified, too old, too young, too Christian, too Moslem, under educated or over educated you ask?
“Please tell me what is wrong with my career and I will fix it”, you cry, staring at your phone.
And then it happens. Your phone rings! And with a surge of 100 percent pure adrenaline you grab it and yell out your full name before the caller has a chance to say “hello my name is Scott and ...”
Surprise! The “Private Number” on your Caller ID is from a debt collector calling to remind you of a 60 days past due bill.
You look up. There, suspended in mid-air, are crystal clear pictures of bankruptcy, repossession and eviction!
Will I ever get a programming job, is my career over, am I the next homeless person you wonder?
As the walls begin to cave-in on you, the only thing louder than your heart beat is your own labored breathing and one very small, very quiet voice that says “now begin to face the truth that your resume is the reason why you can’t get a job”
For example:
You have several years of experience from careers that have nothing to do with computer programming listed on your resume! How does that help your case with an employer?
You have included your entire college or academic results (transcript) on your resume! Why?
You say you love programming and all you want is an entry-level programmer job. Yet your resume is that of a desperate job seeker and not that of a lover of programming.
And you don’t have one lousy programming job where you worked for at least 6 months. How can you be a programmer?
You think that by using the tag “entry level programmer” in your resume, you will become instantly employable! Little do you know what employers are really thinking – “Show Me Your Programming Skills First And Then I Will Show You The Money”!
To cap it! Your resume says you have been searching for work for a really long time - meaning nobody wants to hire you.
Let’s stop this madness right now.
Get with me right now so I can help you straighten out your resume quickly, get it into the hands of hiring managers today, get hired easily and get paid more!
By now you know what you must. Straighten out your resume quickly and get a job fast!
How To
Learn Programming Easily and Get Hired Fast!
The Faster, Easier, Less Expensive Way To Learn Computer Programming and Get A Job.
If you enjoyed reading this post and will like to be notified when I publish another news article, please join my free computer programming career newsletter.
How To Learn Computer Programming Easily
And
How To Get A Programming Job Fast!
Copyright 2006 - 2007, IT-Career-Coach.Com. IT Career Coach - PUSH Your Career Into OVERDRIVE.
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10 March 2007
Beginning Computer Programming
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Beginning computer programming can be difficult. Even after being 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:
Lack of experience: Yes, lack of strong industry experience will keep aspiring beginner programmers looking for work longer than they should. And even after they are hired they may be relegated to positions with no real prospects for career advancement.
Lack of negotiation skills: Negotiation skills which are usually not taught at programming classes are critical to beginning computer programming. Because beginner programmers lack the skills to negotiate a better pay, more challenging programming projects and choice of technology their career suffers as they wait for something good to happen for them. However the relationship between you as a beginner programmer and your employer is that of an adult-to-adult relationship. Meaning that your employer expects you to look after your own interests.
Weak Job Search Skills: Beginning computer programming jobs are often chosen out of fear, lack of self-confidence and lack of market insight. What is a beginner programmer to do? The first offer on the table is grabbed by the desperate, tired and stressed-out beginner programmer who‘s intimidated and overwhelmed by their job search. As a result, beginner programmers may be stuck with under-paying, unfavorable jobs for several years until their career becomes un-livable.
Low self confidence: We have all been there. You are hired and given the tag junior level or entry level programmer. This tag becomes how your fellow programmers see you and therefore how you see yourself. Even though you may be capable of performing at the same level as other mid-level or senior level programmers in your firm. If you believe the tag beginner, entry level, junior or novice programmer, you give someone else the power to tell you what you can and cannot do. And you lose that fundamental ability of a human, "the ability to self-determine one’s own destiny".
Do you see what is going on here? Beginning computer programming can also be challenging because beginner programmers often lack the ability to pain a better picture of their abilities through their resumes, present themselves confidently at technical interviews and negotiate better salaries that are not tied to arbitrary beginner / entry level / junior programmer CAREER TAGS.
While beginning computer programming, I discovered how I could do the same jobs usually referred to senior developers. So, I peeled off the beginning computer programming tags on my career and within 6 months my salary multiplied from $28,000/yr. to $75,000/yr. which is really not bad for starters.
And I amazed when I gete emails from programmers who are paralyzed by their beginning computer programming tag. Here is a recent e-mail. Read it below and see what I mean.
Hi there,
upon reading your article about becoming a programmer I have decided to contact you.
I am working for a web-development company as a trainee.
I have worked for this company for two months now and what was once a passion of mine (web development) has now become my worst nightmare.
Although I am supposed to be a trainee i have received no training what so ever and i am expected to know everything about every language.
When i run into almost imminent problems all the director can do is send me abusive emails where swearing and personal insults are common place.
I am desperate to become a good web-developer and would do anything to become as proficient as my colleagues but this just seems like it will never be the case.
I often study outside work but when i go into the office something else is required of me (just seems like a never ending cycle of doom and gloom).
My probation is up and i will find out if i will be kept on in my role as a "trainee developer".
This does not add to my motivation neither does my directors abusive emails.
My advice to beginner computer programmers who find their careers in a rut like this is:
Focus on the value you offer. Learn how to value your work by your raw ability to perform on the job and get the work done, nothing else. Think meritocracy and give no place to the self-defeating tags of beginner, entry-level or junior that only seek to restrain your performance.
Improve your skills. You are a computer programmer. What you offer is your programming skills, experience and knowledge. If anyone takes away your ability to learn and improve your programming skills, your career is as good as dead. So, find creative ways to develop your skills fast outside of your office or your career will be over before it even begins.
Think like a pro. Like a professional developer, ensure your resume and technical job interviewing skills stand out.
Negotiate what you want. Begin to form a healthy self-image of yourself and then negotiate like you are serious about your career. When you get the pay you want, accept the offer and do a damn good job. And if you still can’t do a good job, better learn how to
Own your destiny. Begin to act like you are in a free market economy. If you can’t get along with your employer despite your best efforts, simply apply for a position with another employer. There are several reasons why you may not get along with an employer. Sometimes, it’s your fault and sometimes it is not. Whatever the reason, don’t give in to fear and stay with a job you hate. Get out, get moving and get hired fast!
How To Learn Computer Programming Easily
And
How To Get A Programming Job Fast!
Copyright 2006 - 2007, IT-Career-Coach.Com. IT Career Coach - PUSH Your Career Into OVERDRIVE.
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05 March 2007
Computer Science Students Learn By Doing
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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.
This brings me to my point. While in college studying computer science, programming languages and software development, do you want to focus exclusively on your course work or do you want to learn how the real world works as well?
If you are interested in learning how the real world works, do a few or all of the following:
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Get a part-time programming job. Get a job writing software code for a company. Get used to the pressures, challenges and requirements of commercial software development.
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Become an expert at a programming language and database software. Don't just use a language because it's recommended by your professor. Find a programming language that is aligned with your career goals and then master it. Remember that as a programmer you are only as good as your skills.
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Put your learning into action. Whenever you write code, observe how your computer science learning affects you ability to write better code or not.
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Begin early to be an entrepreneur. If you want to own your own software or contract programming business one day while wait till you graduate? While not start designing, developing and selling your idea while you are still in university or college? That way by the time you graduate, you will know what works and what doesn't. For example, If you want to be a computer game developer, write software games in college and sell your games online.
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Study what you love. Computer Science Students don't be generalists. If you want to be a computer game programmer, why don't you take a lot of classes on Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics and Algorithms? Why take more general computer science courses when you know what you want to be?
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Study ahead of your class. Don't go to college or university because it will make your parents happy. Go for yourself by digging deep into your studies. Find a branch of computer science that truly fascinates you, then study and develop yourself to the limit of your mental powers.
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Know yourself before you graduate. By the time you graduate, there will be a lot of pressure, expectations and opportunities waiting for you. Wait, just don't go with the path of least resistance, follow your heart instead. If you don't know yourself enough to say why you are choosing one job over another you have have learnt little. On the other hand, if you were able to discover your talents and yourself while at university (college) then you have gained the whole world.
I advocate that you discover your own unique gifts, skills, talents and innate abilities while in college or university studying computer science.
Use your time in college as an opportunity to learn how computer software works and how life works as well. That way when you graduate you are better prepared for the rat race or human race - your choice :-).
To Your Career,
If you enjoyed reading this post and will like to be notified when I publish another news article, please join my free computer programming career newsletter.
How To
Learn Programming Easily and Get Hired Fast!
The Faster, Easier, Less Expensive Way To Learn Computer Programming and Get A Job.
How To Learn Computer Programming Easily
And
How To Get A Programming Job Fast!
Copyright 2006 - 2007, IT-Career-Coach.Com. IT Career Coach - PUSH Your Career Into OVERDRIVE.
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05 February 2007
Software Developers Coaching Service 48 Hour Special Launch
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Well, you asked me to come up with a way to make computer programming less difficult, more rewarding and more meaningful. I just did ! Starting from now until Wednesday Midnight CST, I am launching the new " Software Developers Online Coaching Service"...(read more)
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13 January 2007
Beginning An Entry Level Java Programming Job In Spring
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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...(read more)