Originally posted by Billy Tsai
Even if u got through the selection process and get to the interview some the managers or the technical ppl in some company interviewing and testing u are just out to humiliate u, humiliate u like u r useless without experience, u dont have the enough certs...
Hi Billy
I have to say I really enjoy reading your posts because they often reflect exactly how I feel. I have been programming for about 8 years and have decided to drop it and do something else. There is absolutely no dignity in being a programmer anymore, and dignity is something I value, and that is why I have become so frustrated like you.
While I agree that interviews can be a humiliating experience, I've come to realise that employers aren't intent on humiliating applicants. Its completely impersonal. You/we are merely a commodity with a one-dimensional boring set of skills/certs that needs to be matched with a predetermined laundry list. They arn't out to hurt your feelings because they simply don't care about your feelings.
So, the one way to improve our lot may be to
make it more 'personal'. One way to do this is by networking and selling ourselves and 'getting under other people's skin' so to speak. I find myself having to agree (often reluctantly, because its hard to be open minded when you're p****d off) with Mark, Matt etc when they say things like:
posted by Matt Cao
Since your folks have a computer business, if I were you I would come out to business take the job as salesperson, practice human interactions, practice public speaking, and practice to make a right decision on a split of second
posted by Mark Herschberg
This is why you must actively network on your own. JUGs and other professional groups, alumni networking from your college, local business community events, even social settings are all areas where you can make new contacts outside your company
Practicing social skills like these is really intimidating for people like me, but I realise that it's necessary and there's no way around it. To achieve goals you inevitibly have to interact with people, and the better you are at the gentle art of arm twisting, the easier it will be to get what you want.
And while you're at it, why not shift your focus and try becomming an employer instead of an employee i.e. go 'where the real cheesecake is'. Here's an idea: why not act as a broker/middleman between programmers in India and clients in Australia/NZ. You can undercut the price of local programmers just enough to keep Indian programmers employed and youself deeply in the green for many years to come. This may sound unethical, but life is tough and only the fittest survive. After all many of us are the victims of this very type of activity, so I think Its time to
stop being victims. Check out
this (advertised on Javaranch, go figure) website for some ideas.
Rory
