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Entry Level Jobs

 
Greenhorn
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I need an entry level job where I can learn Java. Does such a thing exist or do you have to be born with 3 years experience in Java. I mean I have a Computer Science Degree but that doesn't seem to cut it for most employers.
 
Ranch Hand
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There is no such thing as entry level job and a computer science degree is nothing its like graduating from kindergarden and high school these days.
I know we can start in supermarket and get 3 years experience in sales etc
 
Ranch Hand
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CS degrees have now been recognised as not preparing you properly for the real world.
CS graduates are also so common that having the degree is no longer a bonus (at least no more than any other degree).
Go for ANY entry level programming job you can get, they're currently sparse due to the huge number of programmers that have been laid off during the last year or two. Most of those have several years worth of experience and will work for peanuts because any money is better than no money and without a job you're getting out of touch with developing technology very quickly reducing your chances of getting hired rapidly.
In your spare time, learn Java and join an open source team working with the language (be realistic, don't expect to be allowed to join the team working on Tomcat as a beginner for example) or start your own.
That will keep you in touch with the technology even if you're not actively employed using it.
Such things look good on your CV too, so don't forget to mention them!
The market is bleak right now, but the worst seems to be behind us.
Hiring is up a bit, layoffs are down. The big weeding out is just about over and the strong have survived. But the times of 1999 when just about the only requirement to get a programming job was an ability to start up a computer are gone (hopefully for a long time as it gave programming a bad name).
 
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In your spare time, learn Java and join an open source team working with the language (be realistic, don't expect to be allowed to join the team working on Tomcat as a beginner for example) or start your own.


Do you know where I can find more about open source teams working in Java/J2EE?
 
Sheriff
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Head on over to Sourceforge or java.net.
[ September 22, 2003: Message edited by: Dirk Schreckmann ]
 
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Originally posted by Billy Tsai:
There is no such thing as entry level job and a computer science degree is nothing


Billy, again I fail to see how you justify such extreme statements. There are plenty of entry level jobs. For example, here is a listing of employeers activing recruiting MIT students. Those look pretty entry level to me.
The CS degree is valuable. Yes, it is not adequate preparation for a software engineering job, but most employeers whould hire a CS major over, say, a mech e major, all other things being equal.
--Mark
 
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I look for an SE major over any other major. Of course I look for project experience over everything.
Some school projects are pretty good experience. Alas, they seem largely limited to some Masters programs.....
 
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