Trainer wants to branch out

[Diana]

I am currently an MCSD (in VB) and an MCT. However, I have very little "real
world" experience. I want to get out of training in the next year or two
because of the $$$.

Suggestions? What are employers wanting to hear from someone like me in
an interview? How hard will it be to get someone to give me a chance?

[Matthew Cromer]

"Diana" <dianas70@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>I am currently an MCSD (in VB) and an MCT. However, I have very little
"real
>world" experience. I want to get out of training in the next year or two
>because of the $$$.
>
>Suggestions? What are employers wanting to hear from someone like me in
>an interview? How hard will it be to get someone to give me a chance?

First question: Where are you at with regards to the vast shift in Microsoft
strategy to the .NET technologies? Are you learning VB.NET and/or C#? Are
you looking at Java? Soon VB6 expertise will be in the same league with
Cobol expertise--something important for maintenance, but not many new projects.
You need to decide whether to continue to focus on the new MS toolset or
move to another platform (realistically, Java).

What any hiring manager will want is _paid_ _professional_ _experience_.
You need to get some of that asap, even if the pay is very low and the work
small. At the end of the day writing production software is the issue, and
people don't care much about book learning.

I'd suggest offering to do some project-based work for a very low rate (not
hourly, but payment contingent on completing a piece of work) with some small
software company. I own a small company and am in the process of setting
up such an arrangement with a COBOL programmer who wants to get some paid
experience on her resume. I'd be willing to do the same for you if you are
interested.

After you get some paid experience, your next task is to write a resume in
the most flattering light possible that is still truthful. That often means
emphasizing certain things and glossing over or omitting other tasks in your
job history. This is crucial! The resume is a marketing document. The
resume is a marketing document. The resume is a marketing document, and
for getting a position it is one of the most important and crucial pieces
of the marketing puzzle. Without an effective resume that tells the hiring
manager why he or she should hire you, you are wasting your time and costing
yourself money. I'd be willing to help advise / edit your resume at the
point when you are ready to look for a new position.

Good luck.

Matthew Cromer
matthew@sdaconsulting.com