Career Advice

Have degree, need experience

[Miata1476]

I graduated with an AS degree in Web Development about 1 year ago. I have been trying to do some small to meduim websites for local businesses to get some experience, but I have found that I am not outgoing enough to contact local companies and I am not a sales person. At this point, I have not done any sites. My Sister-in-Law has contacted me two weeks ago about building a website for her business, but I haven't eard back from her yet.

I am counfortable saying that I know HTML, PHP, MySQL, a little CSS, Perl, a very little Java, Apache configuration, and Unix/Linux System Administration. I feel that I am good at the programming side of things, but not so good with design. I don't have a problem learning more or becoming an expert in any technology, but I'm not sure where to go from here.

I have been looking at job ads for PHP and Perl programmers since that is what I can do the best, but everyone wants experience or a Bachelors Degree or both. I would like to be ready to seriously look for a job in about 1 to 2 years.

Right now, I am working at a decent paying job in manufactured home construction so that I can pay off the debt that I ran up by going to school full time and working part time. I live in a fairly small city with very few entry level tech jobs and I don't want to commute the 1 to 2 hours each way to get to a large city where there are a lot more jobs.

I want to find a good stable job with a company that has a good track record. I know that if I do my part, money will come and I am more concerned with finding a job that I like than making lots of money.

My options as I see them right now are:

1) Get a Bachelors Degree, probably in Computer Information Systems since I am about 4 classes away from an AA in CIS so I am about half way there already.

2) Continue to rework some of the PHP and Perl projects that I did for my classes and some of my own projects and put them on the web as sort of an online resume.

3) (Re)Learn and really work on another web language or another programming language like Java, ASP, Javscript, AJAX, XML, etc.

4) Try to find some sort of desk job now until I am in a position to move closer to a big city since I realize that a job in construction does not get me any closer to a job in computers.

I know that this post is long, but I thought that in order to get the best advice possible, you would need the most information that I can give you. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[vincevincevince]

5. Take the time to study established websites, build a plan for my own website, and then build it. Learn a lot from building it, make money from the website, and have something great for my C.V. Repeat until experience is great enough for dream job or income is high enough to give up day job.

[cameraman]

One or more of the following:

• Put together a web site for yourself that showcases your work. Put as much of your capabilities into it as you can - sample 'employees only' admin area, dynamic calendars, etc. If you allow them to post content either monitor it almost constantly to remove the mischief or set it up so that only the posting IP address sees it. When I say 'put your capabilities into it' I don't mean make it junked up with every bit of flash or fluff you can think of, I mean showcase your strengths. Get some colored paper at the office supply and print up some 'flyers' with the web address to send to a few businesses you want to target (It doesn't have to be a mass mailing of 1000 places, just do a half dozen at a time). That way your work does your introduction for you, and talking to them afterward should they contact you gets a lot easier. Each site gets added to your resume. Don't undersell your work - the 'you get what you pay for' mentality works against you.
  
• Do some free web sites for charities. Let them know in the beginning that you'll put x hours of work for free into it so that doesn't become your life's work (although they may subsequently hire you for additions/improvements). Each site you do gets added to your resume and you'll build contacts - volunteers do often have day jobs.
  
• Companies tend to overestimate their requirements, partly because they don't know any better and partly to 'raise the bar' on the applicants which respond. Ignore the requirements and send a resume - what are they going to do, come sneeze in your face? Target the ones with the lower salary offering - they ain't gonna attract many PhD's..
  

[axgrindr]

You can also get lots of experience on the freelance sites. There are all kinds of jobs on these sites from extremely simple to very complex. Doing this would also give you an idea of some the skills that people are currently asking for out there as well.

I feel that I am good at the programming side of things, but not so good with design.

Maybe you can hook up with someone who is strong in design. Many of the programmers I work with have someone they turn to for their design tasks.

[rocknbil]

..... I have found that I am not outgoing enough to contact local companies and I am not a sales person...... My options as I see them right now are:

1) ..... 4)

5) Concentrate on my weaknesses and improve my skills in presenting my services to local companies.

This is your problem. You need to overcome this, if you feel confident in your skills as you've said, you need to be able to express this to prospective clients.

Your post seems to search for more experience and something to hold you over until you get your "big break." The truth is, you apparently have the skills, you just don't know how to sell them. Why do you think there are so many amateurs making money in this industry? Because they can sell, and often, sell what they can't deliver.

This is where you should concentrate your next skillset, if you must take classes, take something that helps you through this problem.

Artistic skill (design) is seldom completely learned, it can be developed from an innate talent, but is hard to develop from scratch without some sort of artistic vision. I tend to agree with the post above, if you feel your design skills are lacking, join up with someone who's design work you respect. They might even be able to help you through the presentation issues, or field the initial contacts as part of your agreement. This will allow you to concentrate on your strengths.

Marketing your skills is not all that hard if you believe in what you do.