Eric:
Before I begin - keep in mind that my comments are to be considered constructive - and helpful as you continue you computer career.
OK, Where do I start?
1. Call/Beg/Get the website job you were just offered. Given your level of education - this will be one hell of an opportunity to get your foot in the door. Who cares about the commute. Move if you have to. Guaranteed, if you get into the industry ($50-$80/yr) you will be moving
alot. At least travelling a lot.
2. Easy way to convert between hourly and yearly. Take the hourly amount - double it - and add three zeros.
Example: $15/HR -> 15*2 = 30 -> = $30,000/yr.
Example: $18/HR -> 18*2 = 36 -> = $36,000/yr.
3. On your resume - get rid of / delete the references. Put them on another sheet - and at interview time - you can put them in with the application you will have to fill out. Let the employer ask you for references. They know this - it's the game.
Reason: You do not want to "burn out" references. Not that anyone calls - but you never know.
3A. No one cares about your guitar playing - or anything personal about you. It actually hurts the resume. Get rid of it. You may love guitar playing. I love/adore fly fishing. But it does not belong on a resume.
3B. To formally end your resume. You can put "References On Request" at bottom and center. This indicates to the reader that they are at the end of the resume.
4. Get the job - get your butt back in college - and get a BS-InfoSci or BS-CompSci. And not at a community college - it's gotta be a real one. This will help you out a lot more than just certifications.
Community College experience is great - but it's used more to get you a leg up on going to a 4 year college. Considered by the industry to be more preparation for 4-yr college/education than anything.
5. Certifications with CS Degree will be a major plus - and will especially help you grab an internship - in a major way.
5A. The reason I stress a college education is this: - It's part of "paying the price". The first thing recuiters ask "after b.s.ing about the weather" is your college education.
Only about 10% of them ask for QPA. All will eventually ask for transcripts - usually on 1st day of work.
Granted, 80% of the courses you take in college are going to either have nothing to do with Comp. Sci. or are going to be so abstract and theoretical that they have no bearing on the real world. But, in America, corporate culture dictates that you have a degree.
Naturally, there are going to be exceptions to the college education rule. But I am comming at you from my own personal experiences. BTW/ I am on my 4th round of doing interviews in 5 years.
6. The job market is slow right now. I said slow - not dead. Another reason you should grab the job.
7. $30-$35/yr in Illinois - if not in Chicago is very dooable. Especially if you are single. If they pay for college - you may want to go contract to permanent hire.
8. Remember, the c.s. field is a career - not a job. Meaning, you gotta work your way up. At your level, there are a ton of college grads, certification types, and of course the H1B folks competing for these jobs.
So grab the job. That's my advice.
-----------------------
To put things in perspective. I have 5 years in this field (1 PC Production Support, 2 IBM Mainframe Support, 1 yr teaching Java, 1 yr programming Java). I also have 2 - BS Degrees (CS and Math) and 1 - MS (CS) Degree. I am in middle of job search - and it's tough - even for guys like me.
Hope this helps.
Have fun.
John Coxey
(jpcoxey@aol.com)
[This message has been edited by John Coxey (edited April 13, 2001).]
