Neetu:
- Read the other posts on this forum, they will give you some
suggestions/help. My linker doo-dad doesn't work - so just read through the last 10-15 discussions on this forum.
- If you just recently completed BE (I am assuming that's a Bachelor's of Electrical Engineering) in the USA, then hit up the career services department at your university. Don't underestimate them - they are great for helping you get entry level jobs, and for resume writing, and interviewing skills.
- Don't worry about all these rumors - Java slowing down, or economy going to poop. Your main job is to stay focused and get your name/resume in the job market. It's almost impossible to time a job market - projects and requirements change on a daily basis.
- The SJCP just by itself will not get you a job. However, it's a tool/step that you can use in selling yourself. In other words, it's part of the process.
- Also, if all you have is the SJCP, recuiters are not going to be of much help. Talk to them, but don't expect a whole lot from them at this stage of the game. Their business tends to focus on people with 2+ years actual experience.
- So the issue now becomes - how do you sell yourself.
- If you have SJCP and technical degree - if you can, hit up your college career services center.
I would even try the local state job services center (not the one for govt jobs - but the one where you go when you are unemployed). These places are depressing, but once in a while have some leads.
- Next, start writing demo programs (2000-4000 lines) - a simple 10 line
applet does not count.
- Enroll at a local college - you do not have to pursue a CS Degree, just take some real-world classes. You may even get a discount if you don't want to get a grade/credit in the class. They call this "auditing a class". You will also get a chance to work on some decent size projects that you can later demo to a perspective employer. An added bonus, you will have access to the school's career service center.
I would recommend: Data Structures, Database Theory, and OOA&D.
I would also recommend that you learn on your own:
Servlets,
EJB, XML, and UML. (one of these will be fine for now).
- You may want to take a position in a help-desk center. You have a college degree - so should be a cinch to grab one of those types of jobs. Just so you can put something on your resume that relates to the computer field. And they may have some leads or small in-house programming tasks - again, great
items to throw on a resume.
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- Other advice: Stay away from these 12-18 month schools that promise you a job as a WebMaster, or Network Admin. Most are a total ripoff. See
www.jobcircle.com - look for the discussion area link (left side of page).
- Some interview books to read: Martin Yate's - Knock Em Dead.
This has great managerial type questions/answers. He also has one on resume writing.
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- Regarding your resume. Gear it towards the computer field. Look elsewhere on this forum for notes I have written on this.
- Regarding your age, etc. - who cares - as long as you're breathing and have the job skills. People ask
alot about these things on this forum.
- Bottom line. The computer field is not trucking - it's a career and not a job. Your job search, if you do it right, will end up being a full time job. Everything you do (in education/work) should be geared towards advancing your career.
And in this field, you get rewarded (quite well) as you advance your career.
Good luck and let us know how things turn out.
John Coxey
(jpcoxey@aol.com)