Waiting for "the" job and not settling for "a" job

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Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:47:49 GMT

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re: Waiting for "the" job and not settling for "a" job

Jeff — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:38:49 GMT

I don't think you're understanding where I'm coming from. I've very much been there done that at this point, and there isn't a shortage of jobs, as I said. I've been using .NET since it was beta.

I've interviewed a lot of cats with CS degrees who were very nearly useless in every way. In my former profession as a broadcast monkey, I experienced the same thing. As I've said before, there's a certain respect I have for computer academics, and I'm not trying to take anything away from them. But once you get a step down from those big thinker types who invent things like C#, we're essentially doing a trade for really clever people. Everything can be learned, and I know this from experience and from mentoring others.

Long time readers know this is near and dear to my heart, that the profession in the general sense sucks at peer to peer training and enrichment. .NET isn't nearly as bad as some areas (think Java), but it also doesn't have the rapid knowledge transfer of something like PHP. (Say what you want about the "script kiddie" language... those kids are owning us.)

Education is not indicative of ability. Smart interviewers know this.

re: Waiting for "the" job and not settling for "a" job

Ryan Ternier — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:15:32 GMT

Unfortunately in today's business world, if you want to get hired by a big compnany, school is necessary.

Why? Because it shows (it's not the only thing that shows) that you are committed to something. You might know more about a topic than Joe over there, but most of the "gray hairs" out there ,want to see a degree + job experience.

Now for smaller companies (<40 people) the CTO/CIO will most likely be less strict when it comes to degrees.

I've only worked at smaller companies because I can't stand the politics at larger companies. Apparently i tell people what everyone thinks they should hear and that's not a good thing... apprently :P

The lead programmer where I work doesn't have any formal university credentials - but he knows his stuff inside and out. I have a diploma and I know my stuff inside and out. If you can show it, prove it, you have a good shot. And yes, knowing the jargon of an ASP.NET developer is needed. Encapsulation, Polymorphism, etc. are all terms you should know.

Spend a few years at a smaller company, work your way through the ranks and get known in the community. When I was very active on the ASP.NET forums, I got 3-5 job offers a week... however since hunting season opened and my son was born... forums and blog posts kinda took the bench :P

re: Waiting for "the" job and not settling for "a" job

Ben — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:28:43 GMT

I related with your post so much. Especially your comment to "not getting anything out of going back to school".

Glad someone else feels my pain.

Interesting Finds: September 8, 2008

Jason Haley — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:07:11 GMT

re: Waiting for "the" job and not settling for "a" job

Jeff — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:49:50 GMT

No chance of that. I'm not going back to school because I'm not going to get anything out of it. My very point is that the education gap is very nearly completely irrelevant as it relates to skill.

re: Waiting for "the" job and not settling for "a" job

Adel — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:44:01 GMT

You can start by talking some CS courses, you may know somehting or two, and also will help convince the client that you have the desired background.