Re: How to find entry level work?

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"Shaun Bedingfield" <ShaunBedingfield@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message news:308F0EDE-711A-4728-A245-51244021A92D@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hi,
> My name is Shaun Bedingfield and I have been programming
> nonprofessionally
> for over 16 years (I am 26 now). I know a myriad of technologies and feel
> that I am very qualified to do almost any software development related
> task.
> However, I can't find work because of a lack of industry experience.
> I have been applying for jobs for a couple years now (yes, really) and I
> am always turned down with the response that I don't have enough work
> experience. I would hate to leave an industry that I have been in love
> with
> most of my life but I just can't get work. I have tried everything and
> anything all the way to begging and pleading.
> I am sure that I am not alone with this problem and I was wondering how
> others with little or none (I technically have 4 years) of industry
> experience go about finding work. It seems to me like a chicken and the
> egg
> problem with no solution.
> What am I doing wrong?
>

Hi Shaun,

A couple things immediately stand out about your resume:

1. Run it through a spell checker. 3rd paragraph in Knowledge section, I
believe "Extensize" should be "Extensive".

2. Fill that multi year gap between 11/02 & 02/05

Regarding resumes. Personally, I don't care for your format, but I've found
this is a personal preference thing which means almost nothing. A friend of
mine, who is continuously offered high paying gigs, calls headhunters and
asks them for sample resumes ... he will then apply his resume to that
format. He says that resume format preferences change yearly, and if the
right people don't care for your format, they will toss it.

Regarding experience. I've come to the conclusion that if you want to get
experience in a specific technology, the best way to go about doing this is
to create your own project and implement it. You'll get the experience,
show initiative, and possibly make some money.

If programming is your passion, you MUST pursue it. It's a great job when
it's not your passion. But doing your passion for a living ... you will
become a leader in your field and live a fulfilled life. IMHO.

Good luck.
--
Regards,
John MacIntyre
http://www.johnmacintyre.ca
Specializing in; Database, Web-Applications, and Windows Software


.

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