If our local community college had a computer science course back in the early 90s, I would have gotten something in computers. Now, being in a crappy job in my 40s, I'm doing the next best thing, getting a cert and trying for an entry level job and work up from there.
Ffffff. I just found out I need to present a CV for these internships/research jobs I'm applying for. I have almost no research experience, which is not helping.
I wouldn't so much want to be the American F1 driver as the American voice of F1. I suppose it's not too late to try, but right now I want a slightly nicer job than Best Buy retail slave before I try to go to a school that trains for such things. My dream job, though it would've required me living an entirely different kind of life than I have, would be to be a professional wrestler. Even if I tried it and flamed out, I could say I tried. As I am right now, I am in no kind of shape for such a thing, unfortunately.
So, right now I got an interview at Company A for Jan 31th. It would be in BEIR as a Bacteriologist. Very close to the QC lab where I used to work. I continue working at Company B in the mean time. My supervisor at Company B told me that if it were for him I would have being hired as a full timer 3 days after I started work there 7 months ago. I was hoping that the position that my co-worker left would have being opened by now and that I would be offered that position but nothing yet. So far they are just keep waiting for an award. I am getting a little tired of waiting for such award myself and I already told my supervisor that I am looking for other openings. My current job is about 1hr away from home while Company A is about 5 minutes from my home. I am not sure how much I would get from Company A but I have an idea that I would Company B would lowball me. I am not sure what to tell my supervisor, should I just go with honesty and tell him that I have an interview, or should I tell him that I have to take the day off and think for an excuse? I personally believe that honesty is the best policy but I would like to know what would you guys do?
Ehh, I think that taking a "personal day" is, until you have something definite, the best policy. I've been honest with employers in the past, and it doesn't sit well with them. Either they want to immediately hire me on/give me a raise/keep me, or they pretty much fire me on the spot. Employers are finicky like that.
I am not sure what to tell my supervisor, should I just go with honesty and tell him that I have an interview, or should I tell him that I have to take the day off and think for an excuse?
Make up an excuse or don't tell him anything other than that you need to take the day off for personal reasons. Due to the way most industries and people react these days, being honest about this particular issue can only hurt you 99% of the time.
I am not sure what to tell my supervisor, should I just go with honesty and tell him that I have an interview, or should I tell him that I have to take the day off and think for an excuse?
Do you have any vacation left? If so, you don't have to lie. Just say you are taking the day off.
Similar topic - Did I once here Scott say in a podcast of the last 6 months that 'anyone can find a job in this country' or did I imagine it?
I dipped my toe in the water of the NYC 'java/web apps' world about a year ago and couldn't get an interview. No previous experience in financial software seemed to be the problem. The quality of the people I interview for jobs in the DC area for the above is terrible.
Java anything is one of the most easily outsourced fields in existence currently, especially if it involves Websphere or Tomcat. I get spammed by resumes for very skilled people daily, despite not having any positions open for that sort of thing.
I don't consider generic Java working to be a high skill position. In retrospect, it's actually sort of stupid to refer to it in terms of skill. Skill is relative. If suddenly a zillion rocket scientists appear, then that will be considered low skill since so many people can do it.
So yeah, it boils down to a pretty stupid and obvious statement that there are lots of openings for positions where the labor supply is very low. Learn some in-demand skills that nobody else has, and a job will be yours. Alternatively you can just become really really good at another kind of skill. If you're an astonishingly good Java developer, there's plenty of jobs, just not if you're ordinary.
If you're an astonishingly good Java developer, there's plenty of jobs, just not if you're ordinary.
Most employers screen resumes based on whether they have experience in X,Y and Z. In the case of most jobs I came across in NYC for java developers it was some sort of e-commerce experience. I don't have that. I could be the worlds best java programmer and my resume would be skipped.
I don't consider generic Java working to be a high skill position
In the world at large all programming positions are considered highly skilled labour.
In the world at large all programming positions are considered highly skilled labour.
Not in New York. Mid-level programmers are a commodity here.
Most employers screen resumes based on whether they have experience in X,Y and Z. In the case of most jobs I came across in NYC for java developers it was some sort of e-commerce experience. I don't have that. I could be the worlds best java programmer and my resume would be skipped.
So if you want those jobs, get that. Build a Magento server in your spare time and learn the APIs for things like Google Checkout. Work on a related open source product. Add the skill to your resume legit.
Not in New York. Mid-level programmers are a commodity here.
World at large was the phrase I used.
So if you want those jobs, get that. Build a Magento server in your spare time and learn the APIs for things like Google Checkout. Work on a related open source product. Add the skill to your resume legit.
If you have the time, the resources yes. Also, that doesn't rebut my statement. It requires the 'best java programmer in the world' to get other skills to get the job.
My general point is that 'anyone can get a job' is a highly insulting statement to make. You may be able to get a job tomorrow if you loose your current one. That doesn't mean anyone can get a job. 'Get the right skills' is not a legitimate answer as not everyone has the aptitude or resources to do that.
What kinds of jobs are available also largely depends on the area. I imagine that if I tried to get a job, as a recent graduate, to do Java programming in NY, it probably would be more difficult (I'm taking Scrym's word on that). However, over here in the Seattle area, Java developers are pretty rare since Microsoft and .NET rule the roost. You can't throw a rock without hitting a C# or VB developer.
'Get the right skills' is not a legitimate answer as not everyone has the aptitude or resources to do that.
I should qualify that. For tech workers, "get the right skills" is within reach of most people with baseline technical competence. Already a programmer, but can't find work? Spend your spare time learning a new tool that's in demand.
For other industries, it's much more difficult, and the barriers to advancement are much higher. I'll concede that.
Comments
Fuck it. I'll wing it.
But, try!
My dream job, though it would've required me living an entirely different kind of life than I have, would be to be a professional wrestler. Even if I tried it and flamed out, I could say I tried. As I am right now, I am in no kind of shape for such a thing, unfortunately.
I am not sure what to tell my supervisor, should I just go with honesty and tell him that I have an interview, or should I tell him that I have to take the day off and think for an excuse?
I personally believe that honesty is the best policy but I would like to know what would you guys do?
Similar topic - Did I once here Scott say in a podcast of the last 6 months that 'anyone can find a job in this country' or did I imagine it?
The quality of the people I interview for jobs in the DC area for the above is terrible.
So yeah, it boils down to a pretty stupid and obvious statement that there are lots of openings for positions where the labor supply is very low. Learn some in-demand skills that nobody else has, and a job will be yours. Alternatively you can just become really really good at another kind of skill. If you're an astonishingly good Java developer, there's plenty of jobs, just not if you're ordinary.
In the world at large all programming positions are considered highly skilled labour.
My general point is that 'anyone can get a job' is a highly insulting statement to make. You may be able to get a job tomorrow if you loose your current one. That doesn't mean anyone can get a job. 'Get the right skills' is not a legitimate answer as not everyone has the aptitude or resources to do that.
For other industries, it's much more difficult, and the barriers to advancement are much higher. I'll concede that.