HN Explorer

No place for passionate students?

6 points by cldrope ↗ HN
I saw a post earlier today where a guy was looking for a job in another state. I have a much simpler request of HN. How can I become more appealing to a company? I understand OO concepts, TDD, and have been taught C#, C++, CB.NET, Java, XHTML, CSS, in class, and outside of class I've used C#, Java, JSP, Servlets, and Hibernate on my own for self-study and trivial software contracts. I'm approaching the end of my degree though and I've been applying at places but I get similar responses everywhere.

Nearly all of the positions I'm applying for are entry level, with some of them outright stating "No Experience Required!". Yet I'm getting passed over despite being told that my drive is great, or that the code samples I submit are good, or that I seem qualified. Often they'll suggest an internship with them at a later time, but all are turning me away for what reason I cannot divine. It's very discouraging when I note how I have a (much) higher proficiency and love for the craft than others in any of my classes and often end up tutoring them. Some of them are so incapable in fact that it ASSURES me that I'll have a job.

Advice? (I'd really love to be a web application developer, JSP, ASP, or Python I don't care, although I do enjoy Java)

12 comments

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cldrope
My apologies, I also understand and utilize the importance of regular builds, prototyping (and being willing to throw away prototypes/codes based on analysis of work needed to reuse it), I push myself to learn the toolchain for everything I know so that I can write in Notepad++ and use G++/Make and work my way up into an IDE, and I love learning new technologies. I also use versioning software (mercurial right now), and am familiar with design patterns such as the facade, builder and others.
cldrope
I'm applying at out of state and area places right now, in the meantime which development stack do you think it'd be easier for a student to get into a decent position with?
romanows
Are you limiting your job search to specific locales? Are you applying at top companies only?
cldrope
I'm applying where ever there are openings, and the only restriction is that it's in the Saint Louis area. I live in Fenton, MO.
polyfractal
Why limit yourself to MO? It probably isn't a hotbed for developer activity. You might consider applying to companies anywhere in the States...you can probably negotiate in some moving expenses once you get hired.
cldrope
I really didn't want to since my wife has family here. I have no attachment but she does. I'll do it anyway since we've joked in the past that if I got some knockout offer out of state we'd take it, especially somewhere warmer.
romanows
Location often determines how quickly you can expect to find a job. I don't know what the St. Louis job market is like, though, but probably not fantastic? You can consider determining whether the bug is with St. Louis or with some (improvable) aspect of your employability.
cldrope
Would you suggest testing this theory by just applying at extended locations?
ohashi
Why not? Seems like a natural step. If you get an offer and your wife still won't budge, at least you know you're employable and that it could very well be a geographic issue.

You could also check hiring freelancers or remote work ok jobs.

cldrope
I would be ok with both of those but I was hoping to rely a little on the development culture of the work area to help me get settled into how professional development works.

If I take a freelance job, they'll likely expect me to do frontend work or GUI work which in all honesty I am terrible with.

ntkachov
Try to learn one of the hot techs(JavaScript, Ruby) and write a small app in one of those. I've noticed that despite having serious knowledge of Java, C#, C++, my JavaScript skills are what people go after.

Secondly, what do you have to show for your skills? Github? Profile? Blog?

arthole
search for user groups in your area on the tech you are interested in/good at and go to them. it's a good way to make contacts. and be open about that fact that you are looking for a job. you will probably have more luck finding something through a contact than through an ad.