Rahul Ramachandran:
Take a programming course or two at your local university/college. Note: I am talking about a real 4 year college, not one of these community colleges.
Your strategy will be twofold.
PART #1 - TAKE CLASSES
1. You need a data structures class (stacks/queues/linked lists/etc).
You should be able to write these in your sleep - both from a conceptual standpoint as well as a coding standpoint. If I give you a blank piece of paper - you should be able to write the code for said data structure. YES!!! You need to know this material that well.
2. Grab an OOA&D class. It not only looks good on a resume' - but it will help straighten out any loose ends.
3. If they have it - grab an relational (as opposed to object-oriented) database class. Preferrably if it deals with database design using a modern day database such as MS-SQL Server/etc.
PART #2 - NETWORK WITH PROFESSORS / CAREER SERVICES
Your problem is - you have no experience.
There are two ways to get experience while in college.
1. Do a project / Teach a class for a professor. If you already have a degree - let professor know this. If professor have no Java job for you - then raise hell with department chair. Find out what the department is doing. If they are not doing anything - then go to another college. Period!!!
2. Jump into either a CO-OP or an Internship. You will have to talk with both your professors as well as career services. Hit the market from both perspectives. Remember, the west end of the campus does not know what the east end of the campus is doing. Hell, the probably don't even know each other exists. So you gotta do the legwork and be agressive. And Lord, how many students get lazy and fumble the ball on this one. "Geeze, there's no jobs out there for me"
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While at career services - sign up for interviews. Talk and network with everyone. You never/ever know where your next job is going to pop-up at. Just keep plowing the ground.
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This is my advice.
John Coxey
(jpcoxey@aol.com)