|
Hey, man.
Saw your post below that you're notifying your boss Monday. Good for you. You're fortunate in that you don't have a lot of bills to pay. So there's absolutely no reason that you should let someone take advantage of you. Besides, if you don't have to go in to a (somewhat non paying) job, you can spend all day playing with .NET, right? 
Give 'em hell, and don't let him buffalo you into staying. He'll try every promise, threat and plea he can come up with to keep you there. Don't fall for it.
In the vernacular of the streets, "Money talks. B******t walks."
A CP Regular wrote:
Thanks for taking the time to write *so* much
Hey, we programmers have to stick together!
Good luck!
Chistopher Duncan
Author - The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World (Apress)
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher Duncan wrote:
Besides, if you don't have to go in to a (somewhat non paying) job, you can spend all day playing with .NET, right?
Yep
I do need some cash so I can purchase VS.NET, I tried doing it with just the command line tools and my trusty EditPlus, but the Win/Web Forms designer is worth $200 to me
I'm going to take my dad's advice and put an ad in the local paper this week offering in home service pc upgrades. Being in a very rural area no one offers that service so I should be able to work out fairly well. If that doesn't work out Burger King and McDonald's are just a block away 
James
Sonork ID: 100.11138 - Hasaki
"Smile your little smile, take some tea with me awhile.
And every day we'll turn another page.
Behind our glass we'll sit and look at our ever-open book,
One brown mouse sitting in a cage."
"One Brown Mouse" from Heavy Horses, Jethro Tull 1978
|
|
|
|
|
James T. Johnson wrote:
Besides, if you don't have to go in to a (somewhat non paying) job, you can spend all day playing with .NET, right?
Yep
Okay, so is this the emoticon that shows me green with envy? 
James T. Johnson wrote:
If that doesn't work out Burger King and McDonald's are just a block away
In my previous lifetime, I spent 10 years in marketing (which is how I learned to survive corporate war games). After one particularly interesting client, I spent the night drinking a bottle of tequila with my company officers and swearing to get out of the business. After that, I closed the company, crashed with some friends for a few months & studied C night & day. To earn spare money, I picked up whatever playing gigs I could (slim) and otherwise did the office cleaning thing at night. Let me tell you, after 10 years in marketing, it felt good to do an honest day's work!
James T. Johnson wrote:
I'm going to take my dad's advice and put an ad in the local paper this week offering in home service pc upgrades.
I seem to change careers about every ten years or so. I don't plan it, it just kinda works out that way. Consequently, I strongly believe that anyone can change directions in life if they're willing to put some effort into it and believe in themselves.
That's how I know your business will be a huge success - go for it, man!
Chistopher Duncan
Author - The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World (Apress)
|
|
|
|
|
A CP Regular wrote:
ForumWork Issues / Certification / Resumes
Subject:Re: Taking the plunge
Sender:A CP Regular
Date:19:23 14 Mar '02
I'm currently posting anonymously because my boss knows about CP and I don't want him to know that I'm having any thoughts about leaving the company. It may seem underhanded but I have my reasons.
I've been with my current employer since '98 and have been working on and off because my university is about a 7 hour drive away from the business.
I'm starting to feel a bit annoyed at my employer though. So far in 2002 I've received a single paycheck for roughly 1/5 of what I had worked. In 2001 I was shorted about 1/2 of the money I was owed. I think I've always been understanding when it came to keep down my asking for checks when money is tight, but so far it hasn't let up and I don't know how much longer I can go
You think if your boss reads this, he won't be able to figure out it's you ?
A CP Regular wrote:
Now the reason I'm posting. Should I go ahead and start this or should I stick it out and work for essentially nothing until the company turns around?
If they are not paying you, and especially if you don't have a NDA that excludes the possibility of you doing other work, you should give it a go.
Christian
The tragedy of cyberspace - that so much can travel so far, and yet mean so little.
"I'm thinking of getting married for companionship and so I have someone to cook and clean." - Martin Marvinski, 6/3/2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
No, not Nish
- CP Regular
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin Davies wrote:
Good luck anyhow !
Thanks Colin
- CP Regular
|
|
|
|
|
Christian Graus wrote:
You think if your boss reads this, he won't be able to figure out it's you ?
I doubt he's actually going to come here in the first place, and if he does it would probably only to see what I've been posting. But you're right I did give way too much info, one of my nasty habits  If he finds out its me, no big deal really; it'll be a not-so-subtle hint but one he had to do some work for
Christian Graus wrote:
If they are not paying you, and especially if you don't have a NDA that excludes the possibility of you doing other work, you should give it a go.
*glances over contract*
I do have an NDA, but i don't think there is much for there to be concerned about, the direction they're going and the direction I want to go are two different things with little information that could be considered proprietary (standard pc repair and troubleshooting). On the software side what would I have to watch out for?
CP Regular
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for your suggestions everyone; my boss will be notified on monday
- CP Regular
|
|
|
|
|
I was looking into taking the desktop applications and distributed applications by VC++ (I think test numbers 015 and 016).
Is it worth taking these test now with .NET out?
What is the best way to prepare for these tests? Someone told me that the exam cram series books by Coriolis were good. But then they are out of print which again tells me that either the test is about to expire or that the books are grossly outdated and that the test format has changed.
So whats a good source to prepare for the test?
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
Yes these exams are still worth it. All the exams necessary for .NET won't be available until sometime in 2003. Even so MS has been quoted as saying there are no current plans to retire the existing MCSD certs.
I used the Exam Cram books to get an idea of the subject matter but relied mostly on experience and study from other sources, such as MSDN.
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Nischalke wrote:
I used the Exam Cram books
Do you find them any good?
Now taking suggestionsfor a new sig. please email me all suggestions.
|
|
|
|
|
I used the Exam Cram books and I did it 6 month ago .. but like you I'm worry about the somekind of retirement ..
|
|
|
|
|
I have recently been asked to take a C++ test administered by TeckChek. I have no idea what all they will cover. It just says C++. Anyone out there who has taken this test.
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
I haven't used TeckChek though I had to sit the C++ exam on BrainBench last Monday.
They cover standard C++ nothing to do with Windows messaging, API, MFC or anything like that. It contained 40 questions and I had 3 minutes to answer each question. If it wasn't answered by the 3 minute mark it was marked as wrong. If you answered early you just lost the time, still 3 minutes for all the other questions.
It asked stuff like the order of construction or destruction of a class that inherited from multiple base classes (which I had never had to do in 6 years of coding). Static functions and variables, const functions and variables, reference parameters. Pointer arithmetic with all answers looking the same except for a character or two. Virtual functions and other stuff I can't remember.
Most of it you will know, but the pressure of the timer counting done in the bottom left corner of the browser and the similarity of many of the answers will stress you. Christ, I finished in 90 minutes and was more stressed than interviews I have attended that went over two hours with four interviewers or university exams I have sat.
Make sure you are in a quite environment when you take it, review standard C++ in the couple of days leading up to the test and if allowed have a couple of reference books available that you know well. This last one is important, it is better to have something you know the layout of well as you don't have mush time to find or check an answer.
By the way I got 25.5 out of 40, got the interview and have been waiting the last 2 days for an answer to see if I have the job or not.
Michael Martin
Australia
mjm68@tpg.com.au
"Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace"
- Victor Stone
|
|
|
|
|
Hi,all
i want to give MCP for VC++(Desktop application),is it really fruitfull to give it now.For how much time this certification will be valid? Where should i get the latest syllabus for it? if anyone knows the exact format of question paper(objective/subjective) that will be helpfull.Is the Syllabus in microsoft site latest?
Which books are good to prepare myself for certification.
Thanx and Regards
Tushar.
|
|
|
|
|
The best book for VC++ Desktop is VC++ Desktop Exam Cram from Coriolis, do a search on Amazon to check the reviews.
I already passed the 2 VC++ exams, and the desktop exam was fairly more difficult for me 
The Distributed Exam cram don't have enough information about the MTS/ADO stuff that appears on the test, you must compliment this with msdn, it worked pretty well for me .
Tushar mahajan wrote:
is it really fruitfull to give it now
Tushar, is still helpfull, because you still have more 1 1/2(+/-) to the exam disappear.
Cheers,
Joao Vaz
|
|
|
|
|
You can find more information at Microsoft Training and Certification. Follow the links for some practice exams and information about Transcendar exams and such.
As for books I haven't found a single source for all the information. I used Exam Cram supplemented with other sources such as MSDN and experience. The current exams are not scheduled for retirement and even so one of the required exams for the new course is not scheduled to be available until 2003. Generally you will have a year from then to recertify so I would be to concerned about obsolescence.
Tushar mahajan wrote:
if anyone knows the exact format of question paper
I would be careful about asking this, these exams are covered by an NDA.
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Nischalke wrote:
As for books I haven't found a single source for all the information. I used Exam Cram supplemented with other sources such as MSDN and experience.
Exactly the way I prepared myself...
Crivo
Automated Credit Assessment
|
|
|
|
|
Hi, Tushar.
Just curious - do you find that the certifications like MCP are a significant factor when you're looking for a job? I typically work as a mercenary in the US, and I find that people don't really care that much about the certification programs, but rather just tend to focus on job experience.
Of course, my experiences may not be representative of the whole...
Chistopher Duncan
Author - The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World (Apress)
|
|
|
|
|
The MCP can be helpful when starting out, but eventually its a good idea to move on to a premier cert. Typically MCPs make less than people that aren't certified just due to the fact that most MCPs have little experience. To me, certification is proof (to myself and my employer) that I work hard at what I do, even outside of the workplace. Its something tangible.
I can see in a consulting position where certs may not matter as much. But then again, the biggest MS shop around here offers a quick 5k bump in salary for holding a premier certification...
Do you see certification as ever hurting your possibilities at landing a contract?
Andy Gaskell, MCSD MCDBA
|
|
|
|
|
AndyG wrote:
Do you see certification as ever hurting your possibilities at landing a contract?
No, not at all. In this business, continuing education is always a Good Thing.
However, that having been said, there are two reasons that I don't personally pursue certifications. The first is simply a matter of practicality. There are only so many hours in the day, which for me are usually filled with an array of side projects (many of which are resume enhancing). At least in my environment, certifications just don't bring enough to the party in terms of improving my career options to justify the amount of time that they take to achieve. When it comes time to look for a new gig, my searches have always comes down to the interview and whether or not I have actual job experience with the little bits of technology that a client needs at the moment. For the most part, what I see on the streets is that employers (at least in my neck of the woods) don't put a lot of stock in certification programs, Microsoft or otherwise. And everyone who's done any hiring knows that people fresh out of college with no practical experience beyond a BSCS are going to have to be shown most everything in the beginning. Employers are looking for experience in the real world.
Frankly I must say, with no disrespect towards the many excellent programmers I've known who also have degrees & certs, that I can understand the employer's point of view. I have worked with many programmers who had a vast collection of certifications on their resume and in the end, not to be unkind, they couldn't find their posterior with both hands and a flashlight. A clueless programmer with a certificate is still a clueless programmer (and make no mistake, clueless programmers can still pass the cert exams - I've met them). The same applies to college degrees. I've seen people with more degrees on their resume than the you could shake a stick at. These were highly, highly educated individuals who were clearly much more intelligent than my little uneducated self, and yet they were an absolute disaster to the projects they were on. Couldn't code their way out of a wet paper bag. In fact (I wish now I had printed it out), one of the most convoluted functions I've ever seen was from someone who had both a gazillion degrees and certifications. It was about 20 lines of C++ where literally every line (not counting the curly braces) was incorrect, in sometimes bizarre ways. And it was all to replace atol(), which he didn't even know existed. And yet, on paper, this guy was an absolute stud.
Make no mistake here, my point is not to show disrespect towards those capable and qualified programmers who have degrees and / or certifications. Rather, it's to point out that nothing takes the place of practical experience, and employers know this. I frequently have people come to me and express a desire to become a programmer, asking where they should start, which college courses, certification programs, etc. My response is probably unprofessional and unconventional, but I tell them to save that money and spend it instead on books and a compiler. You'll get up to speed and get a job in a much, much shorter time frame, you'll spend more time actually coding, and frankly, if they have to go back to college every time they need to learn a new technology or API, they're toast in this business anyway. Things change too quickly. You have to be able to pick it up on your own.
Mind you, all of this must be taken in the context of where I live, the US. I have friends from India who have told me that the job market is so tight there you can hardly get a job flipping burgers without at least a BS. And I have no experience in other countries, either. So above all, it's a matter of doing what's practical for your own environment. In the US, however, those who spend their nights lit by the glow of a monitor as they bang out code are able to compete favorable in the market with their degreed and certified brethren.
While I'm sure that there's tons of people here with a long educational pedigree, I suspect that there are also quite a few who got into this business with no formal education whatsoever and have successful careers that came from nothing more than late nights with a compiler. We're extremely fortunate that we can get away with that in this business. You'll never be able to get a gig as a lawyer or accountant like that...
Chistopher Duncan
Author - The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World (Apress)
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher Duncan wrote:
A clueless programmer with a certificate is still a clueless programmer (and make no mistake, clueless programmers can still pass the cert exams - I've met them).
Clueless people are a fact of life and somehow they get degrees and certifications. I'd also say a lot of clueless people have don't have degress or certifications. Unfortunately the certification exams aren't foolproof and it is fairly easy to cheat. But it will catch up to them someday when they go in for a technical interview and the hiring manager decides to bring in a few members of the team to ask some questions...
I'm also in the US and got my start in an unconventional manner, but I think here is where we start to differ. I've only been a professional developer for about 3 years now so as far as salary, I'm still on my way up. I also work in a corporate environment as opposed to consulting. While my immediate supervisor does not put a lot of weight into certifications, he does put weight into learning new skills and becoming better at the skills you already have. So when its time for performance reviews my supervisor knows where I'm coming from and understands the situation, but what reason does he give his supervisor on why he is asking for X amount of dollars for Andy's review? Instead of saying "Andy done real good at learning the SQL Server! Give him more money!" he can say "Andy has the MCDBA certification, and that means he knows SQL Server.". Our reviews aren't based solely on certs, but the more ammunition, the better. And on one hand I could have learned SQL Server inside and out, not gotten certified, jumped to a new job and that would have definately affected my marketable skills and in turn affect salary. But I'm happy with my current job, and if certification helps my boss tell his boss that I'm worth it, then I'm all for it.
Certifications don't make me better than anyone, but the amount of effort I put into doing what I love does.
Andy Gaskell, MCSD MCDBA
|
|
|
|
|
Well said, and a good point. When I was a regular prior to my merc days, I changed jobs about once a year, and bumped my salary a minimum of 10k each time. You can't get those kinds of raises at the same job, but we spend so much of our time at the office, when you find a great job, why look for another one?
At that point, anything that helps bump the salary is a good thing. Plus, of course, learning is always fun...
Chistopher Duncan
Author - The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World (Apress)
|
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
![Jig | [Dance]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/jig.gif)
