What is the best way to get an entry level programming position? I've been looking for a few months with no luck. Any suggestions?
What is the best way to get an entry level programming position? I've been looking for a few months with no luck. Any suggestions?
Me too. When you figure it out let me know.
Fill out an application?
-Govtcheez
[email protected]
Wait, you mean "I" have to do something? Doh!
If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to see it, do the other trees make fun of it?
ROFLDid all that. Everyone wants 1-2 years exp. Ack, ack, ack!
I have computer experience, just not programming experience. I'm about to graduate college and need to get a job soon.
Well you live in Mn so you might want to check www.retek.com out. They usally look for people in all levels. Send them an application and see what happens.
you mean there still aren't any jobs in art history?
I suspect most employers are going to want an educational degree or demonstrated experience or both, particularly during an economic downturn. Although I hear marrying the bosses kid has worked more than once, too. Taking internships, creating a port folio, moving to another country where employers aren't so finicky, hocking the family jewels and clearing out the south wall of the bedroom to set up your shop have also been successful strategies for other "lucky" individuals. Working with guidance counselors while at school has even been known to provide longterm benefits, beyond a good fifteen minute snooze.
Quite unfortunatly, companies don't like to train ppl so they expect a certain amount of "hit the ground running" from someone they hire. If your going to a half-way decent college there should be a work credit, or internship program the college uses to help it's students gain work experience. Try to get into that.
You may have to work at KFC for awhile before you have enough experience to tempt any companies to hire you. Once you have something under your belt, besides the knowledge, it's amazing how the companies start to like you.
Find some website you like and offer your services for free, try to find something that's going to be around for awhile, find an open source project to get involved with at : www.sourceforge.net
It's depressing when your just starting out, but if you put some effort behind your skills you'll get a job easy. MAKE SOMETHING- DO SOMETHING. Make a MOD for a computer game that already exists. Playing a game and making a game are different tasks, it's the same in making software, one is fun the other is not - your gonna get paid for the not fun part. <YOU DIG>
My Avatar says: "Stay in School"
Rocco is the Boy!
"SHUT YOUR LIPS..."
Put up a very basic web site
a simple cheap host that is reliable that has a
reliable connection time and history and basically
make apps, have people download them as your
demonstrations/qualifications
and do freelance work
have them fill out a form to request work
put a 'no $ down til you are satisfied , as long as you agree to pay me when x work is done for this project' clause and fax it to them and ask for it back
Do this for a few customers, kiss their ass and make them happy. Use their testimonials
Make a free ebook teaching people to do what you do
set up a board
build a referral system, not advocating spam, just letting people recommend it
build some credibility
do this while in school
or in limbo
you can do it, it's worked for many
the point is get something physical out for people to see
and ask for referrals
seriously...
and target small companies
think like this
"I can contact 20 local websites, and mention if they refer any work to me, I refer x % to them" or
There are 2 schools, I can write a simple app for and get their referrals
be proactive, it can help
all while you wait for the job
because this is real world experience, and it will help
I am not trying to waste your time
I hope you find that job in time
until then, no harm in getting people to know about you and your ability and gain real world experience
you never know...
Having got an entry level position in a few different fields.
First you have to get an interview, then impress them with your ability.
Get a good resume / CV. Get someone in human resources / personel to teach you the best formats and tricks. If your CV is crap, no interview. No age, photo or long paragraphs (don't let them rule you out cause you look like you have 4 ears).
Send out lots by email. Costs very little.
Apply for everything you can even if you don't qualify, may have something else.
When you get an interview, look up the company, so you can ask informed questions (everybody likes to hear about them selves). Impress them with your enthusiasm, which may make up for lack of experience. Its like a audition / performance.
Offer / ask companies for work experence, ie slave labour. Got me a great job and then they paid me for the time anyway, after they saw I had potential.
"Man alone suffers so excruciatingly in the world that he was compelled to invent laughter."
Friedrich Nietzsche
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars......the rest I squandered."
George Best
"If you are going through hell....keep going."
Winston Churchill
You mean asking ANY company?
>>> You mean asking ANY company?
Asking shows keeness. Can't do you much harm. Target firms that work in your best skilled area(s). Be prepared to do some really grotty work to build up some real experience for your CV.
If you get a "No", try, subtly and VERY politely to find out where you went wrong and fix it before next time, (used to be easier - these days when someone calls to find out why you rejected them, you start thinking of some kind of discrimination writ following a day or two later! Safer to say "we had a better qualified applicant").
Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.
you just gotta know where to start out:
Ghetto University: www.kettering.edu
I now have 3+ years of experience and I still have a year and a half of schooling.. (if you can get past the lack of women at this school, it's not a bad deal
