How does a Classic ASP/VB programmer become an ASP.NET

[chuckd0138]

I have been a classic ASP and Visual Basic 6.0 programmer for some time. My company went belly up and now I am unemployed. I want to stay in my home town. All the jobs that are available all want 1-3 years of .NET experience. This is rediculious. Is it some kind of way to keep the old guys out of the market. Come on, I use to program mail frame, and taught myself the PC area. Does anyone know how to break thru the gate, get pass the palace guard? I have read a good number of books on the subject. Loaded up MS .NET Framework on my PC. And written a few programs/systems. Anybody have any helpful suggestions> Chuck :omg:

[pra net]

I passed through the same situation and can understand your grief. Come to the ground situation and start believing that VB6 and ASP are history now. Take my suggestion and get a good book on VB.NET and ASP.NET today itself and start working hard. Or take some good tution from some good institute. It would be hardly a matter of 3 to 6 months before you get back on to the track. Good Luck :rose:

[Kevin McFarlane]

chuckd0138 wrote:

All the jobs that are available all want 1-3 years of .NET experience. This is rediculious.

Welcome to the world of IT recruitment. It will always be this way. Consequently there will always be "skills shortages." (Though in this particular case companies can find plenty of people who meet this spec.)

chuckd0138 wrote:

Is it some kind of way to keep the old guys out of the market.

To some extent. For example, occasionally you will see jobs advertised that are more relaxed in their skills requirements and perhaps offer cross-training. But the salaries will be low and/or they will be aimed at graduates with a few years' general commercial experience. Basically, in this industry I've discovered that the older you get the more important it is to acquire commercial experience in the latest skills, whether you want to or not.

chuckd0138 wrote:

Does anyone know how to break thru the gate, get pass the palace guard? I have read a good number of books on the subject. Loaded up MS .NET Framework on my PC. And written a few programs/systems.

Just keep on doing what you are doing. Also try applying it to a web site or something and then put it on your Resume. Eventually someone will give you a chance. I've been where you are (and I'm an "older guy" too):). It's frustrating but hang in there.

[kubben]

If you are really serious about getting into vb.net asp.net then I suggest you try to get some microsoft certification. Something like the MCAD.net or MCSD.net. The MCAD.net is for .net 1.1 and there are three required tests. The MCSD.net includes the 3 MCAD.net tests along with two addional tests. If you can achieve that certification, then you can go into a job interview and say hey I have the certification and I am building my experience. NOTE these tests are not easy to pass and require a lot of study. The tests are cheap either $125 a test. Also the processes can be long it took me a good 6 or 7 months to pass all 5 tests. NOTE there are newer certification for .net 2.0. I have found these tests to be even harder then the 1.1 tests. Hope that helps. Ben