I'm getting there

Dirk Higbee

Hey everyone, Been laying low working on learning development. I'm getting there and seem to be doing better at Java and HTML than anything else. I was wondering, as my skills finally get to an employable level, how do I get my foot in the door as a new developer? Who hires entry level? It seems I see a ton of jobs for experienced developers. Once I get the experience I should be good to go, but I need to get a job for a novice. Thoughts and advice?

My reality check bounced.

AspDotNetDev

I always worked for startups or individuals (e.g., a lawyer who wanted to automate some of his processes) when I started. I also worked for my college to make part of their website... was "work study" and they paid me a whopping $8/hour. I also actually worked as QA when I was a very competent developer, but I figured that was close enough that I could put it on my resume. For all those first jobs, somebody who knew somebody else introduced me. For example, the QA job was for a company that gobbled up all kinds of computer science students at the college I attended. And my teacher introduced me to the lawyer. And my first college advisor got me setup with the work study opportunity. I don't remember exactly how I came across the startup... maybe Monster.com or something like that. You might put up a portfolio website to display all your neat non-work stuff to show you are capable. For example, mine is here. Put a link to yours on your resume.

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Ennis Ray Lynch Jr

Most of the jobs advertised are grossly misadvertised. A "Senior" .NET developer with 2 years experience is a laughable requirement. Taking side jobs and small projects are great ways to develop veracity. Many organizations will gladly exploit you at low rates while you get the resume built up honestly. Just look.

Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost

Dirk Higbee

Cool, thanks.

My reality check bounced.

Sandesh M Patil

As a fresher(In India we call for entry level developer) you have to place your resume on a job portal. If u have good academic record you can get good company job. I didn't have good academic record so i started my career from a small firm where i have to develop inventory softwares for local clients and also gave support to them. I learn lot of things there like client interaction at the base level, saving money since earnings are not that much, all the modules like analysis,design, code & test and delivery of the software. These things are most helpful to me even now. I look the developers working around me who worked for big firms and now are my colleagues. They dont have expr in designing the html page... Simple css writing they dont know... :)

0x3c0

To a large extent, it depends upon your home country. I like in the UK, so some of these might not apply to you, but they helped me a month ago (ish)

Go for local companies. If you've built up a reputation in the area, the closer the company is, the more likely they are to have heard of you
Apply on Monster or other job website. Quite often, companies have recruitment contracts with Monster, and this means that you're more likely to get the job (fewer job websites over a smaller area will often mean less competition)
If you have articles on CP, add them to your CV. If they've received awards, list the awards. The fact that you've had the initiative to provide tangible proof of your skills will show that they don't just have to take your word for it
Be honest on your CV, and if you've made a mistake admit to it. Don't try to explain your way out of it - you'll often just end up digging yourself in a bigger hole
Turn up for interviews in a suit. Hopefully that's fairly obvious
Interviews are practice. Assume that it's practice for another job interview, and that gaining a job is simply an excellent side-effect. This will also help you to beat any last-minute nerves.
Although it's good to be formal, don't hold yourself back. If they ask you to explain what you've worked on, treat it like a conversation and treat them as equals in it.
Research the company. You're unlike to get a pop quiz in your interviews, but take the history and background of the company into consideration when you answer
Turn up early, and make sure you have backup transport arrangements where this will still be the case. It's probably not such a good idea to turn up an hour early, but half an hour is fairly reasonable
Bring your sample work, in a format most people can read. You don't want to be caught on the back foot if they ask you for proof.
The sample work you bring should be brilliant. Pick out the top quarter of your designs, and make them outstanding. If you use code, it should be clean, elegant and well-commented. If you use HTML, make it standards-compliant.
Make certain that there's nothing a Google search could bring up which could spoil your chances. Facebook profiles, old forum accounts, everything. If it doesn't portray you as an intelligent, sensible person with a touch of humour, hide it.
A degree will help, but many companies will go primarily on experience. If you have neither, then have a good expla

CalvinHobbies

Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:

Most of the jobs advertised are grossly misadvertised. A "Senior" .NET developer with 2 years experience is a laughable requirement

I'm used to seeing the ones that ask for juniors or intermediates with "years of experience".

///////////////// Groucho Marx Those are my principles, if you don't like them… I have others.