Computer
Programming Careers
Thinking of computer programming as a career?
this page will give you a some information on what a programmer does
and what the job opportunists are.
WHAT IS COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?
If
you have a personal computer, you have probably already used the
software for word processing, to solve problems, or set up
spreadsheets. We thought maybe you would be curious about how
programmers write the software you have used.
A
Program– is a set of instructions that tell the computer, step by
step, how to perform the tasks you command it to, and produce the
results you have in mind. There are three great reasons for learning
computer programming:
Learning basic programming will show you
whether you like programming and possess an analytical mind, which is
needed in computer programming. If it should become apparent that
programming is not your cup of tea, you will find that an understanding
of the programming process will increase your knowledge of the computer
and your appreciation for the tasks that programmers and computers can
perform.
Computer
programming is a set of rules that tell a computer what operations
the user needs it to perform, this is a programming language. There
are many computer languages and they are listed later in this ebook.
What
a Programmer Does
The
programmers job is generally to solve problems by formulating
instructions for the computer. The programmer will prepare the
instructions for the program and run those instructions on a computer
to test the new program to make sure it is working properly. If they
find the program does not give the correct outcome, they must make
corrections and then test the program again. The programmer will also
write a report on the program in the form of use instructions.
A
programmer could probably perform this programming by themselves, but
they usually interact with others. If a program is part of a system
containing several programs, the programmer will work with other
programmers to assure that all the programs will work together. A
programmer may also have coordination meetings with managers, system
analysts, and computer users.
Developing
a program means using steps as you would in any problem solving task.
These are the steps in the programming process:
Analyzing
the problem– A programmer will meet with a client to check out the
system and find the problem, or consult with a systems analyst who will
outline project needs. To analyze the problem you must identify what
you know, and figure out the outcome you want to obtain. The programmer
will then formulate a written agreement with the client that outlines
the programming plan.
Planning
the best way to form a solution– there are a couple of common ways to
plan the solution to a problem, one is to draw a flowchart and the
other is to write pseudocode. A flowchart is a picture of a step by
step solution to the particular problem. The flowchart uses arrows to
show the direction the program takes and other symbols to show the
action the solution will take to solve the problem. Pseudocode is a
nonstandard form of the English language used to explain the steps to a
solution, with more precision than it could be explained in plain
English, and less precision than when using programming language. This
language is not compatible with the computer and meant only as a
planning tool.
Writing
the program– This step is where you write the new program in a computer
language by translating the information on the planning tool to the
computer. You will be writing the program in the computer language
compatible with the computer operations you are working on. To get your
program to work you will need to follow the rules of the language you
are using. Using the language correctly is not a guarantee that your
program will work. The correct use of the computer language is the
firsts step, then your written program must be keyed by using a
computer in a form the computer will recognize.
Testing
the program for bugs– Newly written programs usually contain a few
errors. This is a bit disappointing, as programmers tend to be a
careful, precise, detail oriented lot who take a good deal of pride in
their work. If mistakes are found during testing, the program will need
to be gone over and changed. This process will be repeated until the
desired outcome is reached.
Writing
instructions for the new program– Documentation is a necessary process
that can be quite boring to programmers who wish to move on to the more
exciting task of working on a new project. This is a detailed
description of the program you have written, containing the origin of
the problem, the cycle and facts about the program, what tools were
used (flowchart etc.), program listings, data record descriptions, and
test results. Any comments on the program are also considered essential
to the documentation. Documentation is used by others who may have an
interest in the program, such as other programmers who are part of a
programming team. Other programmers that may need to make changes to
the program down the road, can use this documentation
SOFTWARE LESSONS FOR
BEGINNERS
There
are quite a few websites that offer computer lessons for beginners.
These are CDs and tutorials that will teach you how to use the
programs on your computer with ease. You will be surprised at how
fast you will learn from these straight forward lessons.
Video Professor: Offers free computer lessons, all you need to
pay is the shipping and handling. They offer computer training on a
number of computer programs for a nominal price (no more than $6.95
each) for shipping and handling. The lessons are easy to use and you
will find you know about the program in record time. These lessons are
great, whether you want to learn how to use a program to get a
promotion at work, or simply wish to improve your computer skills.
Video Professor is a leader in computer software tutorials that you can
learn at your own pace.
They
offer lessons in Access®; Money Quiken®; ebay®; Office
Integration; Windows;
Excel®;
Outlook®; Wireless Networking; Photoshop®; Frontpage®;
Word; WordPerfect®; HTML PowerPoint®; Internet; Publisher;
Works; Lotus®; and Quickbooks®. Visit the Video Professor
website to order.
Hewlett-Packard has online tutorials in Everyday Computing.
Once you have signed up for a lesson you will have access to the
lessons on the website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The instructors
at HP online, are experts on the subjects they teach, and really enjoy
teaching and student-teacher interaction.
When you enroll in
a class you will receive a conformation by email that your enrollment
was a success. They will also send emails to advise you when new
lessons are posted.
Lessons
include:
Digital
Photography
Beyond
Auto Mode– understand how to use your camera’s auto settings
Professional
Digital Photography Made Simple
Digital
Imaging From Camera to Printer– Photosmart Essential
Digital
Entertainment
Is
Your Digital Media Collection Outgrowing Your PC?
Getting
Started With LightScribe
Streamline
You Digital Media With MediaSmart TV
Tune
Up Your PC
Understanding
Windows® Vista Home Basic and Home Premium
Security
Solutions
Security
Boot Camp
Protect
yourself from spam and spyware
Home
Office
Getting
Started With Microsoft® Excel 2003
Scanning
Basics
Stay
Connected While You Traveling
And
more!
Another
companies offering smaller lessons is CustomGuide, these lessons
allow a computer user to master topics they choose, in a matter of
minutes. The online lessons and the course CDs can be customized to
fit any training situation. A student is able to use the course and
online lessons separately, or combine them to blend their learning
experience. This is a very easy and convenient way to learn.
CustomGuide
allows the user to interact with the online lessons. They are able to
type and click along with the lessons, and learn by hands on
experience. This helps to bring the skill home to them better than
watching someone else perform the action, on a video. These lessons
are quite affordable. You will receive quality training and not break
the bank.
The training titles
include:
This company offers
Content that is focused– completely covers the
essentials for the beginner. One price, paid up front. No monthly commitment.
Shipping costs are reasonable.
Volume One will
answer the most vital questions. All information is given in straight
forward manner. The important details are covered as if you had never
touched a computer before. The key security issues are discussed so
you will be able to use the internet safely and securely. These
lessons will teach you about email use quickly. You will be writing
emails and sending them within a few minutes. This volume is 1 hour
41 minutes long and is packed with outstanding information.
Volume two will show
you how to customize your computer to fit your needs. This group of
lessons will teach you how to personalize the operation, look, and
feel of your PC to make it work best for you. You will also learn to
keep old programs that you don’t use off your computer by removing
them, and how to add new programs. You will be shown how to speed up
a slow computer using maintenance tools already installed on your
computer to get rid of clutter that can slow down your PC. This
volume shows you how to find and play internet radio, listen to CDs,
find essential internet sites, and even access blog and learn about
blogging. Running time is 1 hour and 23 minutes.
.
Other Places to Find Computer
Instruction
Many
Libraries, local school districts and community colleges offer
courses in basic computer learning, if you prefer to attend classes
yourself. These classes are longer and take more time, but are a good
excuse to get out of the house and learn something new. Some of the
topics of these classes are, keyboarding, basic computer operations,
safety and security, among others.
Many
of these classes are free, especially when you are taking them at the
library, and the local school district. You will need to check in
your area for any computer classes you may be interested in, and what
the cost to you might be.
Colleges
will teach you the basics, and they also offer courses that go beyond
basics for those who wish to learn more about the computer so they
may find a job, or gain a promotion through their present job. You
may also major in computer Science to get your degree. These classes
will cost you a bit of money and none of them are free of charge.
UNDERSTANDING
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
Computer
programmers are the people who write, test and maintain all
information, that a computer follows to perform tasks, called
programs. Programmers are also responsible for the conception,
design, and testing problem solving structures the computer uses. The
role of the programmer has been redefined and been changed in the
face of technical innovations in programming, sophisticated new
languages and programming tools.
Each
organization may have their own names for programming jobs within
their company. The overall definition of a computer programmer is: an
individual whose main job is programming. Computer Programmers are a
group with a big range of responsibilities and educational
backgrounds.
Computer
programs tell the computer what to do next, what information to
identify and access, what equipment to use, and how to process the
information. There are many varied programs depending upon the type
of information that needs to be accessed. Each has their own set of
instructions on how to proceed to perform the tasks needed.
Simple
programs take only a few hours to write, other programs using complex
mathematical formulas that need to draw data from other existing
programs may require more than a year to write. In this case there
are usually several programmers that work together in a team that is
supervised by a senior programmer.
Programmers
write programs for the specifications set down by computer software
engineers or system analysts. After the design process is finished,
the programmer is called upon to convert the design to a series of
instructions that make sense to the computer. The programmer codes
the instructions in a conventional programming language. Different
programming languages are used according to the purpose of the
program.
Programmers
are usually familiar with more than one programming language, and
because many computer languages are similar, programmers will find it
easy to learn a new language. Programmers are usually referred to by
the type of programming language or type of programming they perform,
such as database programmers or Java programmers.
Many
programmers update, modify, expand and repair existing programs. When
there are changes made to a section of code, programmers make other
users aware of the task the change is to perform. This is
accomplished by inserting certain comments in the coded instructions
so that the program is understood by other users. Many programmers
use computer software engineering tools to automate a great deal of
the coding process. These tools automate various parts of the of the
program being built so the programmer is able to concentrate on
writing the more unique parts of the program. The tools can generate
entire sections of code automatically, rather than one line at a
time. There are also libraries of basic code that can be modified to
fit each program. This eliminates many steps for the programmer,
increasing productivity.
Programmers
test the program after they have created it, by running it to make
sure the instructions are correct and the program performs the
desired outcome. If errors are found, the programmer must make
adjustments to the program and retest it. This is process is repeated
until the desired outcome is achieved. Programmers will repair these
problems throughout the life of the program, this is called
debugging.
Programmers
who work in a mainframe environment, involving a large, centralized
computer, might work out instructions for a computer operator who
will be running the program. Programmers may also add information to
a manual for those who will use the program.
Computer
programmers are usually grouped into two types, systems programmers,
and applications programmers. Systems programmers write programs to
control or maintain computer systems software, such as database
systems, operating systems, and networked systems. These programmers
make changes in the instructions that control the workstations,
network, and central processing unit, to handle the various
processing jobs and communications knowledge of the computer system.
Application
programmers write programs for a specific job. They specialize in
customizing generic application according to what the company or
client needs, and writing programs the company needs to run their
operations. Systems programmers will help applications programmers
find the source of problems in their programs, because of their work
with other equipment like, disk drives and terminals.
Programmers
working at companies that develop software, may work directly with
experts in the field they are writing the software on. These programs
are either designed for a client or packaged software for public use,
and range from educational software and games, to programs for
desktop publishing and word processing. There is a great deal of
growth in the programming of already established software in the
computer services industry.
In
small organizations programmer analysts are responsible for work in
programming and systems analysis. The advancement of programming
languages and the capability of object specific programming have
increased the productivity of both users and programmers. The move
from mainframe to personal computers, has softened the description of
programmer and user. Once a user learns the ropes they are able to
program their PC to do what they require eliminating the use for
outside programmers. The use of packaged software has grown to allow
users to write simple programs for their own use.
COMPUTER LANGUAGES
Computer
language is a set of codes used that enable the computer will
understand the commands of the user to perform certain tasks. Below
you will find a list of computer languages.
ABC
Ada
ADL
Algol
60
Algol
68
APL
AppleScript
Assembly
AWK
Basic
Befunge
BETA
Bigwig
Bistro
Blue
Brainfuck
C
C++
Caml
Cecil
CHILL
Clarion
Clean
Clipper
CLU
Cobol
CobolScript
Cocoa
Component Pascal
C-sharp
Curl
D
DATABUS
Delphi
DOS Batch
Dylan
E
Eiffel
ElastiC
Erlang Euphoria
Forth
Fortran
Fortress
FP
Frontier
Goedel
Groovy
Haskell
HTML
HTMLScript
HyperCard
ICI
Icon
IDL
Intercal
Io
Jal
Java
JavaScript
Jovial
LabVIEW
Lagoona
LaTEX
Leda
Limbo
Lisp
Logo
Lua
M4
Maple
Mathmatica
MATLAB
Mercury
Miranda
Miva
ML
Modula-2
Modula-3
Moto
Mumps
Oberon
Objective Caml
Objective-C
Obliq
Occam
Oz
Pascal
Perl
PHP
Pike
PL
Pliant
PL-SQL
POP-11
PostScript
PowerBuilder
Prograph
Prolog
Proteus
Python
R
REBOL
Refal
Rexx
Rigal
RPG
Ruby
SAS
Sather
Scheme
Self
SETL
SGML
Simkin
Simula
Sisal
S-Lang
Smalltalk
Snobol
SQL
Squeak
Tcl-Tk
Tempo
TeX
TOM
TRAC
Transcript
T3X
UML
VBScript
Verilog
VHDL
Visual
Basic
Visual
DialogScript
Visual
FoxPro
Water
XML
XOTcl
YAFL
Yorick
Z
Computer programmers
work with some or all of the languages on the above list, as you can
see there are a number of them.
Definitions:
Computer Programs
FORTRAN– This was the first High-Level computer language
and was developed by IBM and introduced in 1954, the name is short for
FORmula TRANslator. In the early days the computer was used mostly for
mathematical, engineering and scientific research. This computer
language is still popular, and is very apt at serving the use it was
created for. It is suited for the execution of very complex formulas
like those used in engineering and economic analysis. The capabilities
of this language have been greatly improved.
COBOL– This computer language is business oriented.
The US Department of Defense was interested in formulating a
standardized computer language. The department called together
representatives from various industries (including the computer
industry) and government agencies. CODASYL (COnference of DAta SYstem
Languages). In 1959 this organization introduced COBOL ( Common
Business Oriented Language). The government insisted that anyone
wishing to win a contract with them had to use COBOL. COBOL was
standardized in 1968 and new standards were issued for another version
called ANSI-COBOL in 1974. There was some controversy over the new
version and 7 years later the standard known as COBOL 85 was approved.
This made COBOL a more usable form of software.
BASIC–
Short for Beginner’s All purpose Symbolic Instructional Code, this
computer language and is very easy to learn. Developed in 1965 at
Dartmouth College, it was intended for students. In the late 60’s it
became widely used in time-sharing in Universities and Colleges. The
use of BASIC has been extended to business and personal computers.
Basic is used by programmers and non-programmers alike, such as
business people who use it for problem solving. Newer versions like
QuickBASIC, include vast improvements.
Pascal– was developed as a teaching language in
Switzerland in 1971. This language has become very popular, in Europe
and the US, mostly in Colleges and Universities in the computer science
departments. Pascal is a much simpler language than most, and has fewer
features. It has been used as a more sophisticated alternative to
BASIC. This language has been improved over the years and the newest
version has less drawbacks than the original. Turbo Pascal is often
used by the business community and is often chosen by nonprofessional
programmers who desire to write their own programs.
Ada– This software was sponsored by the
pentagon, and was intended to be a standard language for weapon
systems, but was found to be a software for commercial applications.
Since 1980, Ada has been supported by the government, as well as,
industry heavyweights as IBM and Intel. Ada is also available for some
home computers.
C, C++, Java, and Javascript– this language was
invented at Bell Labs in 1972, C produces a code that approaches assembly language and
still offers high-level features. This language was designed to write
systems software, but is now a general purpose language. C includes
some of the best features borrowed from other languages, including
Pascal.
Choosing
a Programing Language
There
are several
possibilities when choosing a computer language to write your
program, there are several possibilities. In a work environment, your
supervisor may announce that everyone on a specific project will use
a particular language.
You
may need to use
a certain language at work, because there is a need to interface with
other languages on the project. If there are two programs are to work
together, it would be the best practice for everyone involved to use
the same language.
You
will usually
want to choose a language based on how compatible it is for the task.
A business program that contains large files should be written in a
business language, such as COBOL.
For
a program that
is to be run on different computers, it will need to be written in a
language that is suitable on all of the computers. This way the
program will need to be written only once. The language may be
limited to the knowledge of the programmer. The program may need to
be written in a language the programmer knows.
The simplest
language an amateur programmer can use is BASIC. It may have already
been installed on the computer you wish to use. If it wasn’t it is
a cheaper alternative to more costly software when it comes to
personal computers.
COMPUTER PROGRAMMER JOB STATISTICS
The tasks of
programming are becoming more sophisticated and employers are asking
for higher levels of skill and experience. Computer programming
graduates with less than a 2 year degree or an equivalent in work
experience, will find fierce competition for jobs. The competition
for level entry programmers may also affect those with a bachelors
degree.
Job
prospects will
probably be best for college graduates with knowledge of, and
experience with, various programming languages and tools. C++, Java,
and other languages that are object oriented, as well as,
domain-specific languages for database management, networking, and
internet application development. Those who obtain a vendor or
language specific certificate may have a bit of an edge over the
competition. Because demand is always changing, programmers should
keep up with and learn the latest skills and technologies. A smart
individual, seeking employment as a programmer, will improve their
chances by combining practical work experience with appropriate
formal training.
Employment
of
computer programmers is expected to grow a bit slower than the
average for all occupations, through the year 2014. The new,
sophisticated, computer software is now able to write basic code,
thus eliminating the need for programmers to perform this work. The
growth in systems and applications, advancement in computer languages
and tools, new developments in packaged software, and new growth in
the ability of computer users to design, write and use more of their
own programs, will mean that more programming can be transferred to
other information workers.
One
thing that is
limiting the growth in the employment of programmers, is the fact
that many jobs are being outsourced to other countries. New
technology allows a computer programmer to perform their job from
anywhere in the world and transmit their programs to employers by
email. Programmers face a much bigger risk of having their jobs taken
by a freelancer, than workers who are able to program more complex
and more sophisticated information technology functions. Computer
programming has become an international language that requires very
little specialized training, and the work of programmers can be made
routine once an individual learns a particular programming language.
Employers
will still
need programmers with an understanding of the employers business and
programming needs, and those with strong technical skills. It is
vital that a programmer keep up with changing program languages and
techniques. With all of these changes, organizations will be looking
for programmers who will be able to support data communications, and
help create electronic commerce and intranet strategies.
There will be a
growing demand for programmers with strong object oriented program
abilities and technical specialization in other areas such as
wireless applications, multimedia technology, client-server
programming, and graphic user interface. Programmers will also be
needed to maintain systems and embed these technologies with more
products. Programmers that are familiar with digital security issues
and skilled in security technology, will be in demand because of the
growing popularity on cyber security.
Systems
and
applications programmer jobs should be plentiful in software houses,
computer systems, and data-processing service firms. This sort of
company is part of computer systems design, software publishers
related services. These are projected to be one of the fastest
growing industries in the economy from 2004 to 2014. As companies
attempt to keep costs down and keep up with changing technology, they
will need programmers to assist in converting existing programming to
new computer languages and systems. There will be many job
opportunities open from the need to replace programmers who will
leave the labor force or promote to manager or systems analyst.
Some
programmers have taken additional courses in programming to add to
their degree in fields such as inventory control and accounting,
among others. With the rise in the level of training and education
required by employers on the rise, there should be an increase in the
number of programmers with college degrees in the future. More than
2/3
of all computer programmers had a bachelor’s degree or higher in
2004.
Each
job has its own
skill requirements, yet the demand for a programmer with various
skills are available because of changes in technology. Employers who
use computers for engineering or scientific applications, will
generally prefer programmers with a college degree in computer or
information science, engineering, mathematics, or the physical
sciences. Some jobs require graduate degrees in related fields.
Employers who use
computers for business applications prefer programmers who have taken
college courses in business and management information systems, and
have strong programming skills. A knowledge of the traditional
languages is still important, employers are looking for those with
knowledge of newer, object oriented programming languages and tools.
Employers are also looking for programmers familiar with fourth and
fifth generation computer languages that involve systems programming
and graphic user interface. A preference for programmers who have
skills in general business and experience in company related
operations. A programming student can improve the chance of landing a
great job by getting into a college work-study program, or accepting
an internship.
When
an employer is
looking to fill a programming position, they want someone with the
necessary programming skills who is also able to think logically and
pay close attention to detail. A job like this calls for persistence,
patience, and an ability to work on exacting analysis, especially
under pressure. A creative eye and ingenuity are very important when
it comes to designing solutions and testing product for potential
problems. The ability to perform technical analysis and work with
abstract concepts is vitally important for a system programmer,
because they work with the software that controls computer
operations. Programmers are expected to work in teams and work
closely with users, employers are looking for programmers who are
skilled in the ability to communicate with non technical personnel.
An
entry level
programmer may be required to work alone on simple assignments after
a bit of instruction, or assigned to a team with more experienced
programmers. Beginning programmers will most always work under
supervision. Because of the rapid changes in technology, programmers
are called upon to update their knowledge and skills by taking
courses sponsored by their employer, the software vendors affiliated
with them, or those courses offered through community colleges or
universities.
Promotional
prospects are good for those who keep up with the latest technology,
a promotion to lead programmer with supervisory responsibilities.
Applications programmers may move into systems programming after they
take courses in systems software and gain experience in this area.
Programmers with specialized knowledge and experience with operating
systems or language, may work in research and development for
internet technology or multimedia and may even become computer
software engineers. As companies take on programming jobs with
outside firms, there will be more opportunities for experienced
programmers with specific skills to work as a consultant.
Certification
is and
excellent way to show a programmer’s skill level, and can give a
job seeker a competitive advantage. In addition to language specific
certificates, software firms also offer certification and often
require professionals working with their products be certified.
Employment Outlook
In
2004 computer
programmers held nearly 455,000 jobs. Nearly every industry employ
programmers, the largest number work in computer system designs and
related services. A huge number work for software publishers,
telecommunication companies, financial institutions, educational
institutions, insurance carriers, and government agencies.
There are many
computer programmers who are employed on a temporary or contract
basis. They work as independent consultants, providing expertise in
new programming languages, or specialized applications. Employers
would rather contract with temp agencies, consultant firms, or with
freelance programmers directly, than they would to hire a person for
one project and lay them off after the job is completed. Many
companies need programmers for specific jobs only, and brining in an
independent contractor or consultant with the experience for the job
is faster and easier than retraining an existing employee to do one
job. Depending upon the complexity of the job, it may last from
several weeks to a year or more. There were 25,000 self-employed
programmers in 2004.
In
2004, the median
annual earnings for a computer programmer was $62,890. The middle 50
% earned between $47,580 and $81,280 per year. The highest 10% earned
more than $99,610, and the lowest 10% earned less than $36,470
yearly. Shown below are the median annual earnings in industries
employing the largest number of programmers in May 2004.
Starting
salaries
for computer programmer graduates with a bachelor’s degree Averaged
$50,820 a year in 2005.
Average annual starting salaries in 2005 ranged
from $52,500 to $83,250 a year in 2005 for applications analysts and
development programmers. Average annual starting salaries in 2005 ranged
from $55,000 to $88,250 for software developers.
Average starting salaries for mainframe system
programmers ranged from$50,250 to$67,500 in 2005.
How to Find A Great Job After
Graduation
Even
after you are hired as a computer programmer, you may still have
difficulty in the areas of training, compensation, peer respect,
benefits, and a choice of more respected clients. Here are some of
the reasons find it hard to find good career choices, even after they
have been hired:
Poor
Negotiation Skills– It is vital that a person develop good negotiation
skills when to use when job hunting. This is something not taught while
you are training, and will need to be learned on your own. If you lack
the skills to negotiate better pay and a more challenging position,
they probably will get what they ask for– not much. Remember that you
and your employer are both adults, and you should speak up for what you
want in a career.
Poor
Job Search Skills– Do not choose the first job that is offered to you,
unless it is the job you are looking for. You need the self confidence
to know you can do the job you have set your sights on. If you do not
go after the job you desire, you may find yourself stuck in a job that
does not pay well and one you do not like, for many years.
Lack
of Self Confidence– If you are hired as an entry level programmer, this
is how your co-workers see you and how you see yourself. You are
probably capable of performing the same job as mid or senior level
programmers. By not going after the job you are capable of, you give up
the ability to determine the outcome of your life.
If
you lack the ability to take charge of your career path, you will
most certainly be miserable in your chosen career. Your resume should
reflect your abilities, and you need to have confidence when you are
in an interview. You need good negotiation skills to be able to get a
better position and a higher salary. If you start out as entry level,
make sure there is room for advancement once your trial period is up.
If you are capable of doing a higher level job, make sure your
employers know this from the beginning. You may never need to step
into that entry level position at all. Do not let fear keep you from
the career you deserve.
If
you are a beginner computer programmer and find you are not in the
job you desire you can use these tips to get motivated:
There
is Always room for Improvement– Your job performance is based directly
on your computer programming skills, knowledge and experience. You
should never stop learning better ways to perform your job, and use
these skills at work.
Learn
to Negotiate– You need a good self image and when you negotiate, come
across as a person who knows what they are worth in the job market.
Once you have negotiated the job and salary you desire, take it and
make sure you show your employer every day the excellent job you can
do. Remember, never stop learning new things about your career and use
them to perform your job more efficiently.
You
Are In Charge– Be confident about what your computer programming skills
are worth on today’s job market. If you find you and your employer
don’t see eye to eye, or you are not getting the respect you deserve on
the job, look elsewhere for employment. Whatever the reason you and
your boss don’t get along, it is better to move on than to be miserable
in your career. Other employers will see your worth and you will be
able to move on to what you really want.
The
main thing to remember is the fact that your skills are worth the
money you are asking (if they aren’t, they better get there quick).
You simply need to show that you have confidence in your abilities,
and make sure you prove yourself on the job, after you have
negotiated the job and salary requirements you desire.
Copyright 2008 Gene Grzywacz
DO NOT COPY
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