Written on 4:27 PM by Robert
I've been working as an intern now for about 6 months, and I have to say that it's been the best career choice I've ever made. I would not have been here if it wasn't for the fact that I decided to go back to school for a Master's degree. In 6 to 9 months, I should have my degree in hand. I will also have a solid year of C# experience under my belt. Which one of these two are most valuable? I suppose it's a matter of debate.
In one of my previous posts, "
Is a Bachelor's Degree Enough Nowadays?", I explored the possibility of higher education being more valuable than work experience based on what I was seeing as a job hunter at that time. That article ignited some debate about the validity of that statement. I have to clarify my position and stating that a combination of both "upgrades" are important when looking for new opportunities.
A computer professional (whether they specialize in hardware or software) searching for a lucrative position should look at his or her situation objectively. You need to ask the following questions:
- Have I learned something new this year?
- Will another degree benefit me?
- Am I focusing on the right things in this field?
Learning the latest and greatest technologies (hardware or software) will give you an edge in the job pool. Mentioning these skills in your resume will get you noticed above all others.
If you don't have a degree, think about getting one. Applying for an available position is a very competitive process and you need whatever edge you can get above the other applicants.
If you like what you do but are getting bored, then maybe you need to learn a new programming language (for example) and try coding with that for a while. You are still doing what you love to do, but adding a new twist and breathing new life into your skillset.
A degree, as well as experience, are just tools - means to an end. The same can be said about certifications. We can debate about which one is more valuable than the other, but the bottom line is getting THAT JOB by any means necessary. Go into that interview room with added confidence knowing that you added that little extra something to your resume.
I've mentioned internships, degrees, certifications, and new skills as ways to enhance your situation in the job market.
So what other things can an unemployed computer professional do to help them with their job search situation?
Posted in
career,computers,degree,education,jobs,programming,unemployment
|
Written on 11:18 AM by Robert
I keep saying this is my final post on this blog, but here I am writing another one! lol
So what have I been up to since my last posting? That's a good question. My newer blog never got off the ground after my second or third posting because I just never had the time to research topics to teach about. I was continuously trying to get that ever-elusive job offer. Then I got a call to interview for a position I had applied to months earlier.
The position was for an IT Support Assistant for a 3 month contract in a local college here in Brooklyn. The pay was horrible, but I was willing to break my long streak of being unemployed with anything I can add to my resume. The interview went incredible smoothly and I had the immediate feeling that the job was mine. A day later, I received the phone call that I can start on the next Monday.
The job was super-light compared to what I was used to working in the Manufacturing industry. All I had to do was answer the phones and provide level 1 support for a college web application. I also helped out with technical support in the computer lab, but the problems were very few. I gave myself the added responsibility of creating a VB.NET / ASP.NET application for them in the ample spare time I had and added that fact to my resume.
The application was basically a combination of an inventory listing of every PC in their main computer lab, as well as a troubleshooting log. The log showed the trouble history each PC had and how the problem was resolved (and by who). The list was sorted by "Station Number", but behind the scenes (using SQL Server Express), the data was linked by MAC Address. It was a simple application that gave me some more hands-on experience with ASP.NET.
When that assignment was over, it took about 2 weeks for me to land my latest venture. I'm now an intern for a major New York City government agency's IT department. It does pay something (even though its a small salary) and the experience gained from this position will elevate me to the big leagues in no time. The shop uses all sorts of technology, including VB.NET, C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server, and Oracle. I know I have tons to learn, but that's why I'm here!
So, while I sit here on my first week of my new job, my only advice to any of you still trying is to NOT give up, and to try any job (including internships) to get your foot in the door at a great company.
Good luck, and let me know about your IT job-hunting stories you might have!
Posted in
ASP.NET,career,government jobs,internship,jobs,programming
|
Written on 11:53 AM by Robert
It's been a while since I've blogged about my journey through unemployment, but now I have a few lessons to share about my experience. Hopefully you can apply some of these ideas in your situation.
- Learn Open Source! If you're a programmer, or aspire to be one, learn some Open-Source languages. Get that under your belt and add it to your resume. These are some of the only programming languages that are ok to learn without having the work experience to back it up.
- Be a temp! Find a local staffing agency that may be willing to utilize these new skills as a temp or a consultant. This will add to your resume and give you credibility so you can have a better footing when the job market turns around.
- Go back to school. Whether you need to complete your Bachelor's degree or continue with a Master's degree, elevate your educational worth by making this investment. Obviously you can't afford it now, so get a loan and head to an inexpensive but well-known school. This will also increase your career's net worth.
- Map out your career. I've never done this while I was younger, but you need to know where the future lies careerwise. Start from the bottom and work your way up - but always keep your eyes on the goal. I just found this PDF from the Workforce Development Council of Seattle, which spells out the career paths of several careers, including Infornation Technology.
- Use LinkedIn! I went to a very informative workshop at my school last week by John Crant, a job search guru, among other hats he wears. I've learned that you should spend less time in the day on job boards like Monster and more time researching companies on LinkedIn. You can find people on LinkedIn with the position you might want, and see what companies they currently work for, as well as the companies they used to work for. From there, you can search for the hiring managers at those companies, then contact them directly.
I still have a lot to learn and need to implement some of these great suggestions in my own life.
If you decide to follow some of these suggestions, or if you disagree with something I've said, or even if you have something to add, just post a comment to this entry so we can all discuss it! I'd love to hear other suggestions!
Posted in
career,degree,education,jobs,programming,school,unemployment
|
Written on 12:48 PM by Robert
I know it's been a while since I posted anything. Although I'm still unemployed, I am happy to report I completed the requirements needed to receive my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Does that change anything in my status? Not at all - not yet. I still believe you need more than a Bachelor's degree to make an impact in the job market in IT.
My road to success is a long and difficult one, but one where I see light at the end of this dark tunnel I seem to be stuck in. Phase one is complete, with my 4-year degree in hand. What's next?
1) .NET Certification - I have VB .NET experience. Unfortunately, the experience is in Windows programming. I know the industry is focused on web programming, but the fastest road to certification is to be certified in something you are already familiar with. After I'm certified in Windows programming, I can set my sights on web programming certifications down the road.
2) Continuing my education - I decided to get into my school's Master's degree program in the Fall. This means I need to prepare for the GREs fairly quickly.
3) Keep learning - I need to keep up with the latest technologies, particularly open-source programming languages. A great site to start would be Dev Shed, a site for programming tutorials. The more you learn, the better chance you have to land a programming or developer position.
4) Keep putting yourself out there - It's frustrating to keep applying to jobs that seem to be filled before you get to interview for them. I need to learn to set up informational interviews. I need to be more active on LinkedIn groups, on Facebook, and on Twitter in order to attract some attention from the right people. I need to keep refining my resume, contacting more recruiters, and going to career fairs.
Why should you care? Well, if you are in the same boat I'm in, use my example as a template to follow for your own personal situation. The U.S. unemployment rate for May was 9.4% and being one of the thousands out of work is little comfort. The bottom line is that you should have your own "economic recovery plan" so we could start pulling ourselves out of this hole we seem to be in. Good luck!
Posted in
career,degree,education,financial,jobs,layoff,money,programming,school
|
Written on 4:47 PM by Robert
Thirty years ago, when someone would graduate from college with a Bachelor's degree, they were pretty much guaranteed they would get a well-paying job in their field of expertise. Anyone with a Masters degree or higher were probably doctors or lawyers. The pride of saying that you had a Bachelor's degree was a privilege not many people had. The fact that the drop-out rate for high school graduates was high at the time was also a factor.
Today, there are less people who are satisfied with a high school diploma. Most people who graduate from high school go on to get a Bachelor's degree. What exactly does that mean? Well, it means that if you are one of those people with a Bachelor's degree, you have a LOT of competition out there. If you are coming out of college with a degree and no experience, then you'll be like the hundreds of others who just graduated, and is after that job you want to land. It's depressing, to an extent - that the 4-year college degree has less worth than it did decades ago.
So what can you do to stand out in that sea of academic clones in the job market?
- Get your Masters Degree (or PhD). Yes, it will take more time and money, but if you read over the course descriptions of the required classes you will be taking, you will find that these courses are more relevant to the job requirements found in the real world.
- Internships. Apply for whatever internships are advertised at your school. That could be the step in the door you need to work at that place in the future.
- Get a job while you're in school. If you're lucky enough to get a full-time job in your field of study without a degree, make sure you complete your degree at night. It's easy to fall into the trap of being caught up in the job and forgetting about the degree and career path. When a degree is achieved, you will have that experience under your belt already and will have a leg up on the competion.
The choice you make may not be the best choice for everyone, but its important to remember that there is always a choice.
Can you think of another option? Please add whatever else you think should be added to this list.
Posted in
career,degree,jobs,school
|
Written on 1:06 PM by Robert
This is a followup to my previous topic about Visual BASIC, since I wanted to clarify a few things and expand upon that discussion.
Visual BASIC is not the same a Visual BASIC .NET. For one, The .NET Framework allows the VB program (with major modifications) to interface with web capabilities that VB6 could never do. A VB6 programmer will have some minor learning curve migrating his applications over to VB .NET (Winforms), but will quickly adapt to the new syntax changes. I was one of those people who became used to VB .NET rather quickly without formal training. Sure, I had to Google for a few solutions, but this is expected when working with a relatively new language.
Most graduates of a Computer Science program are adept at using C++ in more than one of their courses, whether it be in a Windows or a Unix environment (or both, in my case). When working in the real world, these college graduates will gravitate towards languages that are similar in syntax - like C#, Java, and Javascript. Obviously, these languages are not the same, otherwise we wouldn't have different names for them! I believe there are two reasons these languages are so popular. Most people are familiar with C++ and find it easy to work with similar languages. The other reason is that Windows itself is written in C++, which is a subliminal reason to stick to what works.
I have found, in my experience, that there was nothing I couldn't accomplish using VB .NET that was asked of me to do. There may be advantages to using C#, but I personally wouldn't know. On that path of thinking, recruiters should realize that if someone is familiar with C++, then they can easily grasp C# and Java. Someone familiar with VB .NET can also easily grasp C# and Java if they have a college degree in Computer Science. It seems unfair that those who chose to start their career using VB and VB .NET have a harder time to achieve a C# position if they have never had any previous professional experience using it.
Any thoughts?
Posted in
career,computers,jobs,programming
|
Written on 11:12 AM by Robert
Most employed people that I know work for a private company and are fairly familiar with that environment. However, many people have never held a government job. What are the advantages (and disadvantages) of holding a government position?
Here are some of the advantages:
1. A pension. This is arguably better than a traditional 401k plan.
2. The financial services of a credit union or similar institution. Mortgages and other loans with great interest rates are always a welcome perk.
3. Your position is a measure of company status. Raises come at regular intervals (based on the economy, of course).
4. The higher your position, the more administrative power you hold - not always true in the private sector.
5. It is much harder for a government employee to be let go than a similar job in the private sector.
6. Some government agencies encourage hiring your relatives.
7. A more relaxed working environment.
8. A great benefits package.
Here are some of the disadvantages:
1. Government jobs offer a lower starting salary.
2. Promotions are few and far between.
3. Pay increases are smaller than they would be in the private sector.
4. Regulations. Government jobs come with tons of rules to follow.
If you had a choice between pubic and private sector jobs, do your research. Find out what would be a deal-breaker for you.
Anyone working for the government who wants to add something to this list? Any comments?
Posted in
career,government jobs,jobs
|
Written on 1:39 PM by Robert
I compiled a partial list of upcoming career fairs in the New York City area in the next few months. I hope this helps people who have been scrambling to find a complete list of these events as I have been.
CUNY Big Apple Job Fair - March 20 (11am - 4:30pm) at Jacob Javits
City Career Fair
- March 26 (11am - 4pm) 102 North End Avenue
Brooklyn Diversity Job Fair
- March 31 (10am - 1:30pm) Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
NYC Career Fair
- April 2 (10am - 3pm) 125 W18th Street
NY Career Fair - April 14 (11am - 3pm) 49 W32nd Street
Bilingual Job Fair
- April 16 (10am - 3pm) 125 W18th Street
Job Expo
- April 23 (10am - 3pm) 371 7th Avenue
Diversity Job Fair
- June 3rd (10am - 3pm) 371 Seventh Avenue
Do you have any more to add to this list? Please post them to share!
Posted in
career,job fairs,jobs
|
Written on 1:55 PM by Robert
I just came back from a career fair hosted by HACE (Hispanic Alliance for Career Advancment). It was held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, NYC.
It was a great event, and it wasn't as crowded as some of the more well-known career fairs in the city. There were quite a few companies represented there, but the most popular, by far, was Time Warner Cable. They also had Career Coaching tables there for those who wanted to have their resumes critiqued. It was a well-organized event and didn't seem intimidating at all.
I actually went to meet with someone at Time Warner Cable. But based on my experience, they didn't have any positions available at this time. Sounds like I've heard that before. But it wasn't a total loss. The recruiter gave me the name of the HR representative I can contact directly about future openings.
It was good practice for me to get out there and give my 30-second speech about myself. I still need to refine that, though. I emphasize my hard skills too much, and not enough of my soft skills. Everyone should Google to find out what the difference is, if you don't already know.
One thing I DID do before going, which is something everyone should do as well, is check out the jobs being offered by the companies that are attending the job fair. It will help you weed out the employers that are not hiring in your area or in your field of expertise.
Also, observe other people and learn what NOT to do. One woman is on her cell phone while introducing herself to the recruiter and asks her what positions are available. HELLO! Do the research online before stepping up to a recruiter at a job fair and give him (or her) your undivided attention. Shut off your phone! It's only for a few minutes!
Are there any other career fair tips or stories you'd like to share?
Posted in
career,HACE,job fairs,jobs
|
Posts
