Thanks for Employment Advice.

Ian,

No apology is needed. Just remember that a posting like the one you did
could get you "black-balled" by the group. I understand your frustration
for not going anywhere. But a little modesty goes a long way, and it will
help your career advancement.

I agree with Chris, except the part about Microsoft. Microsoft was, is, and
will continue to be a major player in the technology industry. You don't
have to learn VB if you are not going to write business application for
Windows environment, but as a computer professional, you should know the
Microsoft technologies. And I am a big advocate of learning multiple
tools/languages..... there is no reason why you should limit yourself to
just one or two. And I am an even bigger advocate of C++. I am very biased
on this one, haha, but I believe anyone who calls himself/herself a serious
programmer should know C++. Besides the fact that learning C++ will help
you understand the object oriented theory.

Judging from your reply, I assume that you don't have a college degree. Of
course, working experience is paramount important, but a computer science or
related engineering degree provides you the foundation that is normally very
hard to build with "on-the-job training".... unless you are a great learner
with great self-discipline and great drive, like Chris. However, I have the
gut feeling that Chris' college education must have played a major role in
the transition from management/accountant to software architect, consciously
or subconsciously.

Most corporations in the US, just like those in UK, will not talk to you if
you don't have a related degree. And yes, they should hire you based on
your working experience and not education. Unfortunately, we are not living
in a perfect world. Companies have bureaucratic rules and they have to
follow their rules. Otherwise, they will open themselves up for tons of
lawsuits.

Another important thing about college degree (and most people have
overlooked this) is that, you will be passed up for promotion if you do not
have one. Depends on how far you want to go, middle and upper management
almost always require a graduate degree. So unless you are not upwardly
mobile and don't care about moving into management, the lack of degree will
come back and haunt you.

Anyway, my advice to you is to follow Chris' advice and get some working
experience. Meanwhile, try and get a college degree, preferably a computer
science degree. Most companies will pay for the tuition, so all you have to
give is your time and commitment.

Hope this helps.

simon.

Ian Johnstone <caplock2@lineone.net> wrote in message
news:3a31401e@news.dev-archive.com...
> Thank You Chris. I will be following your suggestions, re learning more
> about good design along side C++. I doubt if my occasional lapse into
> sarcasm, ( despair?? :-) ) has prevented me from getting a job, since the
> employers in uk apparently don't even give interviews to anyone unless
they
> have a degree. Regardless of the fact that many of my friends who are
> graduates invariably seem to stick around for 3-6 months and then get
bored
> and opt to try another industry,country or company !
>
> Simon I have seen your name attached to many helpful replies in this group
> and certainly wouldn't wish to cause offence, so apologies if i did.
>
> ian j
>
>