Laid off? Need a new technology? Free Microsoft Training and Education

Are you a developer who's been laid off? Have you been faced with checking the job boards to find your skills are nearly obsolete and there's nothing available? If you have the ability to program in an old technology, you can learn a new one. It may seem daunting at first, because you don't have the money to invest in new tools and training classes, but I assure you, you can learn ASP.NET and find a vast amount of free help without spending a dime.

About a year ago I purchased the newest version of a non-Microsoft product that I had purchased about 5 years earlier. Back when, there was a Tutorial installed on the menu. But not so today. In fact, not only was there not a tutorial, but to get any type of tutorials, you were directed to a pay site, where you had to pay a monthly membership to gain access to any type of training. This seems counterproductive to me! Why would anyone buy a product they can't learn to use without dishing out thousands more dollars?

I Love Microsoft

I love Microsoft. Say what you may about them, they make it easy for you to learn. What other software company offers fully-functional, non-expiring development software free? If you're into asp.net development, none of this is news to you, so move along. This is for those who are checking out Microsoft technologies. And with the recent rush of lay-offs, which have affected many of my developer friends using older development technologies, I can imagine many are now looking to update their experience by learning a new technology. Don't lose hope, Microsoft makes it easy to learn, use, and develop for free. So are you jobless and in need of learning a new technology, something that constantly shows up on the job lists? I'd recommend Microsoft's ASP.NET. Go to any job board and you'll see there is never a limit in the number of available jobs.

Free Development Software

For free development software, check out Visual Web Developer Express Edition. I used this for an entire work-at-home 4-month contract with a client. At the time, I didn't have the money to invest in Visual Studio. But I found there was no limit to what I needed to do for this project. The client was aware I was using it, and there was absolutely no problem. You'll want to download both the framework and the express edition.

"But," you say, "I'm laid off right now, I can't afford to pay for a website host or database!" No worries, you can develop a website locally and create a local database as well. All still free. If you're picking a new technology, use asp.net. You won't be sorry.

Free Training

"What about training?" you ask. Perhaps you're not the best at being self-motivated to hit the books. No worries again.

Get Started here then check out all these free step-by-step videos to Learn ASP.NET.

"But I need to get started right away!" you say. Check out these free, full-blown web site Starter Kits. Also, check out Dynamic Data to quickly get your admin pages up and going. With a little more effort, you can get your site off to a quick start.

Free Support

"But what do I do if I have questions? I can't afford Microsoft support." Check out these great ASP.NET forums. I recently had a tough problem, and a Microsoft employee stuck it out with me for several days until the problem was resolved. Didn't cost me anything.

Free Online Events

Need more training? Check out Microsoft's cutting edge event training on the latest breaking technologies from Microsoft Events. Just create a free account, and you're on your way to learn, whether you're an IT Tech, developer or business professional, or more. You can sign up for Live Webcasts, or past On-Demand Webcasts. Software to view these webcasts is downloadable free as well.

Free for Web Designers

Are you more of a designer, less of a developer? Check out Silverlight and the Getting Started  and Learn pages. Ask questions and learn more in the free Silverlight forums.
 
I don't work for Microsoft, but I wouldn't pick any other technology to learn and use. I feel your pain and hurt as you go through this trying, emotional time. The thought of having a family to support and feeling you're letting them down. Don't get discouraged. You can do this. It won't happen in five minutes, but it will happen. Just each day, learn a little more. And as you learn, keep notes of what new things you've learned and then you can look back and say, "Well, I'm this much farther than I was yesterday."
 
Too Old?
 
You might be in your 40's, 50's or even 60's and think, can I learn a new technology? Yes, you can! With diligence and self-motivation you can do anything! Are there companies out there who would hire someone your age? Yes, there are. Of course, there are some companies who want the fresh out of college age kids who are willing to work 80 hours a week for peanuts, but you don't want to work there anyway. You may have to take a cut in pay from what you were earning before the layoff, but look at it this way, you'll get paid to learn! Plus, you don't have to be stuck in a permanent, low-paying job. Hire on with a recruiting agency and just take a six-month contract. They'll ask if you would consider hiring permanent after the six months. Of course you would! You may love it there. But you're not forced to, and you don't have to. It gives you a chance to check them out and them a chance to check you out, and after six months you can stay or leave. But if you choose to leave, you'll be a step closer to getting paid more because now you have six months more experience under your belt.
 
The Job Interview 
 
What about that job interview when they want several years of experience in this technology? Create a sample web application of your own design. If you have a laptop, take your laptop with you on the job interview, I always do. Then show them what you've done in your source code and on the screen. This is easy to do with Visual Web Developer Express Edition. Just walk through your code and point out what you've done. They'll see your talent and skill.
 
Admit that you don't know everything but show them what you do know. Most companies are not looking for know-it-alls. They want someone diligent, who is self-taught and who is teachable. With the combination of your previous experience and your ability to learn new technologies on your own, they should be impressed. If not, then it's not meant to be, and there's something better out there for you. Just keep learning.
 
Create your own development company. Then try to get jobs you can do for your church, or a friend, or your neighborhood association. Then, even if you didn't get paid for those jobs, you can show your potential new boss that you have actually worked on a full-blown, fully-functioning web application. (Just be sure to let these freebies know that once you get a job, you can't upgrade and maintain the site for free (unless you want to), and that this is something you are doing for free now in hopes of landing a job.)
 
You may be discouraged right now, but NEVER let it show in your job interviews. Plan and prepare what you are going to show and tell them! Don't wait for them to ask you questions, because they may ask about something you don't know, and then you'll be too flustered to talk about what you do know. Instead, ask if you can show them on your lap top (or a print-out of your source code and screenshots, if you don't have a lap top), what you have done. Then in advance, prepare, step-by-step the demo you are going to show them and what you are going to say. Practice on a spouse or a friend. That makes it easier for the interviewer to learn what you know anyway, so they'll love it. Don't let them know you're worried and discouraged and lost and forlorn and all the negative emotions you're feeling right now. Instead, put on your positive attitude and positive face. Say a prayer and go out and get that job!
 
Don't give up. God is there for you and you can do this!

1st Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

May your dreams be in ASP.NET!

Nannette

 

4 Comments

  • Great post, Nannette...

    I've blogged multiple times about my transition from Me 3.0 to Me 4.0 and then 5.0. Why wait until you're laid off? ... as professionals, we should be charting that path way ahead of time!

    I always point people to the 'Express' version of the tools and the free downloads of Silverlight and the Expression tools with a 180-day license.

    Local user groups and Microsoft events are also great for this.

    -Dave

  • Thanks for your encouraging remarks.

    I'm not laid off but thinking about learning a new and modern platform and wondering where to start. Your blog was very useful. Thanks again!!

  • Terry,

    I'm sorry you are going through such a tough time right now. I have said a prayer for you that God will help you find the new skill-set that you need for a future career and will give you strength as you learn it. It's tough, but it is possible. Hang in there.

    Thank you for your encouraging words. It's good to know that my time spent putting these together is appreciated.

    God bless,
    Nannette

  • People always hate to talk about when they are laid off. But as it has become every day's news headline since Yahoo started it with cutting 1500 of its task force last year, now a need of platform has been in demand where people can express their selves in words how they are feeling about their company, whey the got laid off was that justified or not.
    And every thing they want to tell anonymously.And www.layoffgossip.com is providing you that platform.

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