next move?

[Brian]

Hi all,

like many of the other posts on this ng, I am also interested in switching
careers.
Now, I'm wondering what my next move should be.

I currently have a PhD in biology. However, my PhD and my current post-doc
has largely been
focused on programming simulation models of biological processes (so I've
been doing some
programming for 6+ yrs). I realized quite early on that I enjoyed the program
development side of
what I was doing. I started thinking about an alternative career path (i.e.,
software developer) and
started to try to make my skills more marketable with respect to software
development jobs. So
I learnt C++ and Visual Basic, using the STL, making VB controls, DLLs, and
add-ins, general
algorithms/data structures, etc. Further, because I would be switching careers,
I've also re-programmed
a number of projects to demonstrate the type of programming I've been doing
(except in a
graphical, user friendly way, rather than in the typical scientific style).
I've also refocused my
resume and cover letter to highlight skills obtained wrt software development
and academic
awards/honours (to show that I was not just scaping by), and de-emphasized
much of the
other things most relevant to biology.

So my question is, what should my next move be? And also, how best to sell
myself?

Thanks,

Brian

[simon]

Brian,

Your next move should be getting yourself down here in the Dallas-Fort Worth
area (if you are not here already), haha. Big corporations like Cisco,
Nortel, Acatel, etc etc are hiring software engineers like crazy here. They
never get enough of them. They actually have to go outside the country to
find people to work!!!

Anyway, I suggest you to find yourself a few recruiters (never use just one)
and let them sell/market you. They work on commission and they will work
very hard for you. You don't have to do that yourself and that's the good
part of it. Those recruiters know the market. Sit down and talk to them
and they can assess your marketability.

In my opinion, you are in pretty good shape. The only possible down-side
might be your PhD degree. It might create problem on your salary range.
Other than that, you should have no problem getting into the software
development profession.

Hope this helps.

simon.



"Brian" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:39f2fea4$1@news.devx.com...
>
> Hi all,
>
> like many of the other posts on this ng, I am also interested in switching
> careers.
> Now, I'm wondering what my next move should be.
>
> I currently have a PhD in biology. However, my PhD and my current post-doc
> has largely been
> focused on programming simulation models of biological processes (so I've
> been doing some
> programming for 6+ yrs). I realized quite early on that I enjoyed the
program
> development side of
> what I was doing. I started thinking about an alternative career path
(i.e.,
> software developer) and
> started to try to make my skills more marketable with respect to software
> development jobs. So
> I learnt C++ and Visual Basic, using the STL, making VB controls, DLLs,
and
> add-ins, general
> algorithms/data structures, etc. Further, because I would be switching
careers,
> I've also re-programmed
> a number of projects to demonstrate the type of programming I've been
doing
> (except in a
> graphical, user friendly way, rather than in the typical scientific
style).
> I've also refocused my
> resume and cover letter to highlight skills obtained wrt software
development
> and academic
> awards/honours (to show that I was not just scaping by), and de-emphasized
> much of the
> other things most relevant to biology.
>
> So my question is, what should my next move be? And also, how best to sell
> myself?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Brian
>

[Brian Leung]

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your input.

I don't suppose you'd know recruiter e-mail addresses off the top
of your head would you? I guess I'd start by sending them my resume.
Also, would you know if it's a problem that I'm not a US citizen
(I'm Canadian, currently doing post-doctoral work in the UK, and
willing to move around).

Thanks again,

Brian

"simon" <Sto@gtisd.com> wrote:
>Brian,
>
>Your next move should be getting yourself down here in the Dallas-Fort Worth
>area (if you are not here already), haha. Big corporations like Cisco,
>Nortel, Acatel, etc etc are hiring software engineers like crazy here.
They
>never get enough of them. They actually have to go outside the country
to
>find people to work!!!
>
>Anyway, I suggest you to find yourself a few recruiters (never use just
one)
>and let them sell/market you. They work on commission and they will work
>very hard for you. You don't have to do that yourself and that's the good
>part of it. Those recruiters know the market. Sit down and talk to them
>and they can assess your marketability.
>
>In my opinion, you are in pretty good shape. The only possible down-side
>might be your PhD degree. It might create problem on your salary range.
>Other than that, you should have no problem getting into the software
>development profession.
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>simon.
>
>
>
>"Brian" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
>news:39f2fea4$1@news.devx.com...
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> like many of the other posts on this ng, I am also interested in switching
>> careers.
>> Now, I'm wondering what my next move should be.
>>
>> I currently have a PhD in biology. However, my PhD and my current post-doc
>> has largely been
>> focused on programming simulation models of biological processes (so I've
>> been doing some
>> programming for 6+ yrs). I realized quite early on that I enjoyed the
>program
>> development side of
>> what I was doing. I started thinking about an alternative career path
>(i.e.,
>> software developer) and
>> started to try to make my skills more marketable with respect to software
>> development jobs. So
>> I learnt C++ and Visual Basic, using the STL, making VB controls, DLLs,
>and
>> add-ins, general
>> algorithms/data structures, etc. Further, because I would be switching
>careers,
>> I've also re-programmed
>> a number of projects to demonstrate the type of programming I've been
>doing
>> (except in a
>> graphical, user friendly way, rather than in the typical scientific
>style).
>> I've also refocused my
>> resume and cover letter to highlight skills obtained wrt software
>development
>> and academic
>> awards/honours (to show that I was not just scaping by), and de-emphasized
>> much of the
>> other things most relevant to biology.
>>
>> So my question is, what should my next move be? And also, how best to
sell
>> myself?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Brian
>>
>

[simon]

Brian,

Sorry I don't remember the recruiters' emails off the top of my head. I
keep them at home. The recruiters I used are all in the Dallas-Fort Worth
area. Therefore, unless you want to move here, they won't be useful to you.

But if you are considering to move to the United States, I strongly
recommend the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the great State Of Texas. This
area is now ranked #3 in the entire US for computer jobs, after San Jose and
Boston. And yet the cost of living here is much much lower than the other
two. There is no state income tax in Texas. So you take home more money.
The quality of living is very good, and this area is excellent for raising
children (which is very important to me).

As of the immigration issue, you have to discuss it with your recruiters.
But I don't think there is a problem because we "import" many
programmers/developers from India every year.

You can post your resume on monster.com. It is still the biggest and most
effective place on the Net. However, you have to screen the recruiters very
carefully because you will run into some that maybe working out of their
apartments.... if you know what I mean.

Hope this helps and good luck on your job hunting.

simon.



"Brian Leung" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:39f448e2$1@news.devx.com...
>
> Hi Simon,
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
> I don't suppose you'd know recruiter e-mail addresses off the top
> of your head would you? I guess I'd start by sending them my resume.
> Also, would you know if it's a problem that I'm not a US citizen
> (I'm Canadian, currently doing post-doctoral work in the UK, and
> willing to move around).
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Brian
>
> "simon" <Sto@gtisd.com> wrote:
> >Brian,
> >
> >Your next move should be getting yourself down here in the Dallas-Fort
Worth
> >area (if you are not here already), haha. Big corporations like Cisco,
> >Nortel, Acatel, etc etc are hiring software engineers like crazy here.
> They
> >never get enough of them. They actually have to go outside the country
> to
> >find people to work!!!
> >
> >Anyway, I suggest you to find yourself a few recruiters (never use just
> one)
> >and let them sell/market you. They work on commission and they will work
> >very hard for you. You don't have to do that yourself and that's the
good
> >part of it. Those recruiters know the market. Sit down and talk to them
> >and they can assess your marketability.
> >
> >In my opinion, you are in pretty good shape. The only possible down-side
> >might be your PhD degree. It might create problem on your salary range.
> >Other than that, you should have no problem getting into the software
> >development profession.
> >
> >Hope this helps.
> >
> >simon.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Brian" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
> >news:39f2fea4$1@news.devx.com...
> >>
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> like many of the other posts on this ng, I am also interested in
switching
> >> careers.
> >> Now, I'm wondering what my next move should be.
> >>
> >> I currently have a PhD in biology. However, my PhD and my current
post-doc
> >> has largely been
> >> focused on programming simulation models of biological processes (so
I've
> >> been doing some
> >> programming for 6+ yrs). I realized quite early on that I enjoyed the
> >program
> >> development side of
> >> what I was doing. I started thinking about an alternative career path
> >(i.e.,
> >> software developer) and
> >> started to try to make my skills more marketable with respect to
software
> >> development jobs. So
> >> I learnt C++ and Visual Basic, using the STL, making VB controls, DLLs,
> >and
> >> add-ins, general
> >> algorithms/data structures, etc. Further, because I would be switching
> >careers,
> >> I've also re-programmed
> >> a number of projects to demonstrate the type of programming I've been
> >doing
> >> (except in a
> >> graphical, user friendly way, rather than in the typical scientific
> >style).
> >> I've also refocused my
> >> resume and cover letter to highlight skills obtained wrt software
> >development
> >> and academic
> >> awards/honours (to show that I was not just scaping by), and
de-emphasized
> >> much of the
> >> other things most relevant to biology.
> >>
> >> So my question is, what should my next move be? And also, how best to
> sell
> >> myself?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >>
> >> Brian
> >>
> >
>

[Brian Leung]

I'll definitely look into companies in Dallas.

Cheers,

Brian
>
>But if you are considering to move to the United States, I strongly
>recommend the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the great State Of Texas. This
>area is now ranked #3 in the entire US for computer jobs, after San Jose
and
>Boston. And yet the cost of living here is much much lower than the other
>two. There is no state income tax in Texas. So you take home more money.
>The quality of living is very good, and this area is excellent for raising
>children (which is very important to me).
>
>As of the immigration issue, you have to discuss it with your recruiters.
>But I don't think there is a problem because we "import" many
>programmers/developers from India every year.
>
>You can post your resume on monster.com. It is still the biggest and most
>effective place on the Net. However, you have to screen the recruiters
very
>carefully because you will run into some that maybe working out of their
>apartments.... if you know what I mean.
>
>Hope this helps and good luck on your job hunting.
>
>simon.
>
>
>
>"Brian Leung" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
>news:39f448e2$1@news.devx.com...
>>
>> Hi Simon,
>>
>> Thanks for your input.
>>
>> I don't suppose you'd know recruiter e-mail addresses off the top
>> of your head would you? I guess I'd start by sending them my resume.
>> Also, would you know if it's a problem that I'm not a US citizen
>> (I'm Canadian, currently doing post-doctoral work in the UK, and
>> willing to move around).
>>
>> Thanks again,
>>
>> Brian
>>
>> "simon" <Sto@gtisd.com> wrote:
>> >Brian,
>> >
>> >Your next move should be getting yourself down here in the Dallas-Fort
>Worth
>> >area (if you are not here already), haha. Big corporations like Cisco,
>> >Nortel, Acatel, etc etc are hiring software engineers like crazy here.
>> They
>> >never get enough of them. They actually have to go outside the country
>> to
>> >find people to work!!!
>> >
>> >Anyway, I suggest you to find yourself a few recruiters (never use just
>> one)
>> >and let them sell/market you. They work on commission and they will
work
>> >very hard for you. You don't have to do that yourself and that's the
>good
>> >part of it. Those recruiters know the market. Sit down and talk to
them
>> >and they can assess your marketability.
>> >
>> >In my opinion, you are in pretty good shape. The only possible down-side
>> >might be your PhD degree. It might create problem on your salary range.
>> >Other than that, you should have no problem getting into the software
>> >development profession.
>> >
>> >Hope this helps.
>> >
>> >simon.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >"Brian" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
>> >news:39f2fea4$1@news.devx.com...
>> >>
>> >> Hi all,
>> >>
>> >> like many of the other posts on this ng, I am also interested in
>switching
>> >> careers.
>> >> Now, I'm wondering what my next move should be.
>> >>
>> >> I currently have a PhD in biology. However, my PhD and my current
>post-doc
>> >> has largely been
>> >> focused on programming simulation models of biological processes (so
>I've
>> >> been doing some
>> >> programming for 6+ yrs). I realized quite early on that I enjoyed the
>> >program
>> >> development side of
>> >> what I was doing. I started thinking about an alternative career path
>> >(i.e.,
>> >> software developer) and
>> >> started to try to make my skills more marketable with respect to
>software
>> >> development jobs. So
>> >> I learnt C++ and Visual Basic, using the STL, making VB controls, DLLs,
>> >and
>> >> add-ins, general
>> >> algorithms/data structures, etc. Further, because I would be switching
>> >careers,
>> >> I've also re-programmed
>> >> a number of projects to demonstrate the type of programming I've been
>> >doing
>> >> (except in a
>> >> graphical, user friendly way, rather than in the typical scientific
>> >style).
>> >> I've also refocused my
>> >> resume and cover letter to highlight skills obtained wrt software
>> >development
>> >> and academic
>> >> awards/honours (to show that I was not just scaping by), and
>de-emphasized
>> >> much of the
>> >> other things most relevant to biology.
>> >>
>> >> So my question is, what should my next move be? And also, how best
to
>> sell
>> >> myself?
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >>
>> >> Brian
>> >>
>> >
>>
>

[Ian Hossie]

"Brian Leung" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote:

>Also, would you know if it's a problem that I'm not a US citizen
>(I'm Canadian, currently doing post-doctoral work in the UK, and willing
to move around).

Brian, you wouldn't be related to Andy Leung, formerly of Victoria, would
you? Ie:, his brother?

Ian Hossie

[simon]

Brian,

When you decide to explore the opportunities in Dallas, let me know and I
can provide you with some local recruiters. Take care.

simon.



"Brian Leung" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:39f4ca86$1@news.devx.com...
>
> I'll definitely look into companies in Dallas.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Brian
> >
> >But if you are considering to move to the United States, I strongly
> >recommend the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the great State Of Texas. This
> >area is now ranked #3 in the entire US for computer jobs, after San Jose
> and
> >Boston. And yet the cost of living here is much much lower than the
other
> >two. There is no state income tax in Texas. So you take home more
money.
> >The quality of living is very good, and this area is excellent for
raising
> >children (which is very important to me).
> >
> >As of the immigration issue, you have to discuss it with your recruiters.
> >But I don't think there is a problem because we "import" many
> >programmers/developers from India every year.
> >
> >You can post your resume on monster.com. It is still the biggest and
most
> >effective place on the Net. However, you have to screen the recruiters
> very
> >carefully because you will run into some that maybe working out of their
> >apartments.... if you know what I mean.
> >
> >Hope this helps and good luck on your job hunting.
> >
> >simon.
> >
> >
> >
> >"Brian Leung" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
> >news:39f448e2$1@news.devx.com...
> >>
> >> Hi Simon,
> >>
> >> Thanks for your input.
> >>
> >> I don't suppose you'd know recruiter e-mail addresses off the top
> >> of your head would you? I guess I'd start by sending them my resume.
> >> Also, would you know if it's a problem that I'm not a US citizen
> >> (I'm Canadian, currently doing post-doctoral work in the UK, and
> >> willing to move around).
> >>
> >> Thanks again,
> >>
> >> Brian
> >>
> >> "simon" <Sto@gtisd.com> wrote:
> >> >Brian,
> >> >
> >> >Your next move should be getting yourself down here in the Dallas-Fort
> >Worth
> >> >area (if you are not here already), haha. Big corporations like
Cisco,
> >> >Nortel, Acatel, etc etc are hiring software engineers like crazy here.
> >> They
> >> >never get enough of them. They actually have to go outside the
country
> >> to
> >> >find people to work!!!
> >> >
> >> >Anyway, I suggest you to find yourself a few recruiters (never use
just
> >> one)
> >> >and let them sell/market you. They work on commission and they will
> work
> >> >very hard for you. You don't have to do that yourself and that's the
> >good
> >> >part of it. Those recruiters know the market. Sit down and talk to
> them
> >> >and they can assess your marketability.
> >> >
> >> >In my opinion, you are in pretty good shape. The only possible
down-side
> >> >might be your PhD degree. It might create problem on your salary
range.
> >> >Other than that, you should have no problem getting into the software
> >> >development profession.
> >> >
> >> >Hope this helps.
> >> >
> >> >simon.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >"Brian" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
> >> >news:39f2fea4$1@news.devx.com...
> >> >>
> >> >> Hi all,
> >> >>
> >> >> like many of the other posts on this ng, I am also interested in
> >switching
> >> >> careers.
> >> >> Now, I'm wondering what my next move should be.
> >> >>
> >> >> I currently have a PhD in biology. However, my PhD and my current
> >post-doc
> >> >> has largely been
> >> >> focused on programming simulation models of biological processes (so
> >I've
> >> >> been doing some
> >> >> programming for 6+ yrs). I realized quite early on that I enjoyed
the
> >> >program
> >> >> development side of
> >> >> what I was doing. I started thinking about an alternative career
path
> >> >(i.e.,
> >> >> software developer) and
> >> >> started to try to make my skills more marketable with respect to
> >software
> >> >> development jobs. So
> >> >> I learnt C++ and Visual Basic, using the STL, making VB controls,
DLLs,
> >> >and
> >> >> add-ins, general
> >> >> algorithms/data structures, etc. Further, because I would be
switching
> >> >careers,
> >> >> I've also re-programmed
> >> >> a number of projects to demonstrate the type of programming I've
been
> >> >doing
> >> >> (except in a
> >> >> graphical, user friendly way, rather than in the typical scientific
> >> >style).
> >> >> I've also refocused my
> >> >> resume and cover letter to highlight skills obtained wrt software
> >> >development
> >> >> and academic
> >> >> awards/honours (to show that I was not just scaping by), and
> >de-emphasized
> >> >> much of the
> >> >> other things most relevant to biology.
> >> >>
> >> >> So my question is, what should my next move be? And also, how best
> to
> >> sell
> >> >> myself?
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks,
> >> >>
> >> >> Brian
> >> >>
> >> >
> >>
> >
>

[Brian]

I don't think so (or at least definitely not his brother). I grew up
in Vancouver though, which is very close to Victoria. Many Leungs there
though.

Cheers,

Brian



"Ian Hossie" <hossiid@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>"Brian Leung" <bleung@zoo.cam.ac.uk> wrote:
>
>>Also, would you know if it's a problem that I'm not a US citizen
>>(I'm Canadian, currently doing post-doctoral work in the UK, and willing
>to move around).
>
>Brian, you wouldn't be related to Andy Leung, formerly of Victoria, would
>you? Ie:, his brother?
>
>Ian Hossie
>