Career question RE: IT computer science field

[shitgoose]

I am interested in getting some job training in web development/computer coding career field. I have very little techie ability but am very interested in learning. Been reading up on some of these web development boot camps that teach you all this nerdazoid stuff in 9-12 weeks.

Example http://www.devbootcamp.com

Does anyone here have an opinion or experience about such job training?

Comments regarding anyone's experience in the career field is also encouraged. TIA

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by crossbow

The computer industry is a separate world of its own. It has its own language, history, and culture. You will be entering a job market and competing with people that have been interested in computers since they were able to read and type.

Not saying you can't be very good at it, just saying expect a large learning curve to catch up to people that have been doing it for fifteen years and only went to school for the sheep's skin cuz they already knew how to do it.

In other words: You won't even know how much you don't know. You won't be able to get what you need from one online course. Do you have any database, lan, wan, experience? Do you understand retail terminology? How are your math skills? Can you link tax tables into a order form? Do you understand network security, firewalls, secure sessions, TC/IP?

I grew up in the 80s, had a commodore 64 and traded pirated video games - but never coded or anything. I didn't start programming until I was 29 and have made a nice 15-year career out of it so far. Being a good programmer takes a certain kind of brain. You have to be good at solving puzzles and deductive reasoning. Generally either you can do it or you can't, and you find out right away.

Not that experience isn't huge. But even with little experience, if you have the aptitude you can be as productive as a crappy experiences developer - and it goes up fast from there.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

OP, get an entry-level programming book, download some frameworks and create some hello-world apps. Delve further into whatever interests you, find some open source projects, download the code and try to make your own changes. If you think you have something worthwhile, try to contribute it to the project. Go to meetups of devs, user's groups etc. Find people to act as mentors. Post on stack-overflow. Etc. etc. etc.

This. If you don't want a long degree program, pick up some books and get learning.

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

The problem with the I.T. field is that HR departments are doing the screenings for job applicants and they don't have a ****ing clue.

Yeah, HR's a bitch, at least until you get that magical 2-3 years of experience with a cover letter/resume full of the right keywords.

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by Dayze

get into the wireless/cell tower equipment world.(Samsung (current 4G equipment provider for Sprint), Alcatel Lucent)
constant upgrades (3G to 4G), fiber insertions, cabinet swaps, antenna swaps/upgrades; new network deployments etc.

work will never go away.

learn japanese too

[mcaj22]

I agree with all the HR posts. Sometimes it becomes like a challenge/game that you should feel proud if you punch through any HR just to get the actual interview.

[RedDread]

I did Centriq and got my foot in the door making as much as I was after 6 years and 2 promotions at a shit job. They'll give you a crash course (4 months of days or 8 months of nights). After they teach you the material. It'll be up to you to match your class time with an equal amount of self-study to pass the certs. Certs will get you in the door, experience will keep you in the industry.

[RedDread]

Oh and I guess it goes without saying that once you're in you either have to know what you're doing or pick shit up very fast. Companies will not carry dead weight.

[suzzer99]

I had good luck early in my career with staffing companies and ahem "augmented resumes". The staffing cos don't ever do much due dilligence and they help you get past the first wave of HR. Then just nail the interview and don't suck on the job and no one cares if you lied on your resume or not.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I had good luck early in my career with staffing companies and ahem "augmented resumes". The staffing cos don't ever do much due dilligence and they help you get past the first wave of HR. Then just nail the interview and don't suck on the job and no one cares if you lied on your resume or not.

Every interview I've done and had to do in the last 10 years or so were solid interviews. No way to fake your way past. Just my experience.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Yeah, HR's a bitch,

Agree we everyone else. HR is a bitch and have no clue on I.T.

Originally Posted by Bearcat

at least until you get that magical 2-3 years of experience with a cover letter/resume full of the right keywords.

Don't forget the certifications. HR loves certifications. I.T. managers and team leads just care what you can do, not if your "certified" or not.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Every interview I've done and had to do in the last 10 years or so were solid interviews. No way to fake your way past. Just my experience.

I definitely screwed the pooch early on in that regard... didn't go through mock interviews provided by the school, looked through basic DOs and DON'Ts, but didn't really prepare, didn't practice answers at all. And yeah, you can't fake it, unless I guess the interviewer doesn't give a shit or otherwise sucks at their job.

As much as it sucked to leave an interview feeling like I couldn't have done any worse or at least being unsure of how it went, after lots of experience failing, I'm pretty much a pro.... I've nailed the past few and knew it the second it was over. Great feeling.

Google 'interview situational questions'
Come up with enough situations so you don't repeat yourself, and practice explaining the situations.
Ask questions.
Profit.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Agree we everyone else. HR is a bitch and have no clue on I.T.
Don't forget the certifications. HR loves certifications. I.T. managers and team leads just care what you can do, not if your "certified" or not.

Yep. I didn't have a degree or any certs. when I got my first gig.

Just got a referral from a network admin and just showed them I knew my shit. Some of the worst co-workers I had were the most "qualified" lol

OP: If you do decide to get in the IT world, here's a piece of advice. Go to an actual college and not a DeVry type of place. You'll get ripped off and to be brutally honest, we throw resumes that list them directly in the trash.

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Yep. I didn't have a degree or any certs. when I got my first gig.

Just got a referral from a network admin and just showed them I knew my shit. Some of the worst co-workers I had were the most "qualified" lol

OP: If you do decide to get in the IT world, here's a piece of advice. Go to an actual college and not a DeVry type of place. You'll get ripped off and to be brutally honest, we throw resumes that list them directly in the trash.

one of the smartest people I have ever worked with was a devry grad

for what it's worth

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Yep. I didn't have a degree or any certs. when I got my first gig.

I don't want to come off as saying certifications are worthless. I have 18 technical certifications. But, I used them to learn new stuff, not get a great job. They are usually essential to get past HR.

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

OP: If you do decide to get in the IT world, here's a piece of advice. Go to an actual college and not a DeVry type of place. You'll get ripped off and to be brutally honest, we throw resumes that list them directly in the trash.

I think a degree is only required if you want to get into management. You can rise to a team lead, manage smaller shops without any degrees if you have the substitute experience.

It's still experience that trumps everything.

[GloryDayz]

**** it, Chiefs Planet has already been invented. Give up...

< / thread >

[cookster50]

It's all about Hadoop.