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Gildiss posted:Is it going to be impossible to find a fully remote job as a largely self taught guy with only 6 months, so far, as a software engineer? Probably? You're going to need to either work for pennies, or blow away all other possible candidates to inspire that kind of trust with only 6 months experience.
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May 25, 2015 16:43
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Move to the Croatian countryside and work as a remote consultant. That's my plan for the apocalypse
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May 25, 2015 16:47
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Gildiss posted:Is it going to be impossible to find a fully remote job as a largely self taught guy with only 6 months, so far, as a software engineer? The trend for remote jobs still seems to be that most of them are Ruby/Rails positions, probably because no one wants to work on Rails apps any more so the companies have to widen their pool. WeWorkRemotely is run by Basecamp (I believe) so the whole DHH/Ruby thing comes into play too. I've been working remotely for a year and it's definitely possible to find something with a year or so of experience but you it can definitely require a bit of effort to find it. SO Careers often has more non-Ruby roles that allow remote so I'd keep checking there, too.
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May 25, 2015 17:17
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You could also try the "work for a place for ~6-12 months, be really awesome, then tell them you want to be remote" route. It's worked for me in a company that doesn't hire remote people. I didn't go into with that mindset, my wife ended up finding a job several hours away so it was either work remotely or quit, but it might be worth a shot for you.
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May 25, 2015 17:32
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Trapick posted:You could also try the "work for a place for ~6-12 months, be really awesome, then tell them you want to be remote" route. It's worked for me in a company that doesn't hire remote people. I didn't go into with that mindset, my wife ended up finding a job several hours away so it was either work remotely or quit, but it might be worth a shot for you. I had considered that as about 80% of my team is remote (but from India), but the pay currently would not support a move, and my team works with doo doo garbage (Visual Studio 2008? IE8 support?  )It's half wanting to move back overseas and half wanting a raise and to escape a terrible code base. I had forgotten about SO careers so I will check there too.
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May 25, 2015 17:57
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I think part of the reason with remote jobs wanting 3+ years experience is also that there's some element of independence necessary as a job qualification. Especially so if you're in widely disparate timezones than the rest of the team -- questions, clarifications, and general communication are going to have a lot longer turnaround. That degree of independence is something that I think comes with more seniority on the job in general, whether your butt is in a seat at an office or not. You've got enough experience that you can be trusted (and expected) to be off in the weeds and still perform/make critical decisions with less direction.
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May 25, 2015 19:22
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sarehu posted:The DOM is a tree, directory structures are trees, config files are trees, JSON is a tree, management hierarchies are a tree (or gosh, maybe a DAG), dependency graphs are a DAG (or, in npm, a tree? Heh!) -- since when do web devs not traverse trees? I traversed trees as a web dev. To add a bit to this, trees are some of the most studied and well developed parts of CS. DAG's have sweet well defined behavior (work well with those formal correctness proofs through the recursion/fractal relationship) and people model problems/build tree data structures to exploit its structure to get time/space complexity for 'free'.
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May 25, 2015 21:09
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From the OP, I'm thinking this is the right thread for this question, I looked in SAL and didn't see a comp sci thread. I'm thinking of going back to school for a masters in computer science. I already have a BS in mechanical engineering and have taken two introductory coding courses. What could I expect in terms of prereqs for a masters degree? I've also already been doing personal study for three months now and getting my hands on as much as I can with Lynda.com, MIT Open Course Ware, Codecademy, Khan Academy, and reading documentation/articles/etc. Random side question, is this the wrong plan of action? Is there something better I could be doing to make the career change?
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May 25, 2015 23:14
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huhu posted:From the OP, I'm thinking this is the right thread for this question, I looked in SAL and didn't see a comp sci thread. I'm thinking of going back to school for a masters in computer science. I already have a BS in mechanical engineering and have taken two introductory coding courses. What could I expect in terms of prereqs for a masters degree? I've also already been doing personal study for three months now and getting my hands on as much as I can with Lynda.com, MIT Open Course Ware, Codecademy, Khan Academy, and reading documentation/articles/etc. What is it you want to do? Do you want to work as a software developer? Or do academic computer science research?
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May 26, 2015 01:22
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huhu posted:Random side question, is this the wrong plan of action? Is there something better I could be doing to make the career change? This tweet is true: https://twitter.com/patio11/status/602934370354143232?s=09 Edit: Sorry, I couldn't elaborate further, I had to get outside thanks to my pot-smoking shithead of a roommate. To the degree that tweet is not true, it's the stuff you wouldn't otherwise learn, or know to learn, if you left college. Most obviously, this would be data structures / algorithms courses, and there's bits and pieces from other courses that are true too. It still amazes me, for example, how ignorant and backwards John Carmack could be, at least as of 5-8 years ago. But that's something you can fix with self-awareness. As for your ability to make a career change, how easy it is might depend on where in space-time you live. The market might be more amenable to a self-taught mechanical engineer today than a CS masters degree-haver two years from now, and attitudes would be way different in San Francisco than Milwaukee. sarehu fucked around with this message at 02:57 on May 26, 2015 |
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May 26, 2015 02:14
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Depends on the country. A lot of outsourcing companies and offices use direct from university hires with no training. I think the core development of Reuters for market data, not the main frames, are also similar because everything they do is severely hosed up and uses pre-C++ iterator nomenclature. Who the gently caress uses and thinks forth() is in the STL?
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May 26, 2015 02:48
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huhu posted:From the OP, I'm thinking this is the right thread for this question, I looked in SAL and didn't see a comp sci thread. I'm thinking of going back to school for a masters in computer science. I already have a BS in mechanical engineering and have taken two introductory coding courses. What could I expect in terms of prereqs for a masters degree? I basically did this except computer engineering instead of CS. It went fine and with a bit of networking through my advisor I got basically my dream job. I went to a top 50 research university, which meant I got funding all the way through; I wouldn't go to a less competitive school where you don't get funded and where your professors don't care about you. I'm not really sure how I got in besides having a good GRE score. My only CS prep was taking AP comp sci a million years ago, a couple really crappy undergrad courses, and, then watching all the lectures and doing all the assignments of the Stanford intro three course CS series. (Which only took about three or four months). And loving around with computers my whole life, but no more than any other regular SHSC reader. Once I was in things were fine, it wasn't easy or anything but not due to being underprepared or anything. Anyway, I think it makes sense if you want a career change, and you can go to a good school and get it paid for. I wouldn't want to put myself 50k or more in debt for a masters.
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May 26, 2015 16:12
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What's an acceptable amount of time to stay at your first software engineer position? Minimum of one year?
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May 26, 2015 17:21
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Tomahawk posted:What's an acceptable amount of time to stay at your first software engineer position? Minimum of one year? Until someone offers you a better job.
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May 26, 2015 17:28
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Tomahawk posted:What's an acceptable amount of time to stay at your first software engineer position? Minimum of one year? Yeah basically.
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May 26, 2015 20:14
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Resume format ideas from the Cracking the Coding Interview author: http://qr.ae/7XXDRD
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May 26, 2015 21:27
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Skandranon posted:What is it you want to do? Do you want to work as a software developer? Or do academic computer science research? sarehu posted:This tweet is true:
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May 26, 2015 23:17
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huhu posted:I'm thinking more on the side of software developer. I was looking for mechanical engineering jobs and I found a CAD software company that needs programmers which might be a good way for me to get in the door as a mechanical engineer. If you can convince them to give you a shot, it probably is your best bet to slide into the role. Having solid business domain knowledge can add a lot of value. Adding a masters to what you currently have isn't going to be that much more valuable than 1-2 years actually performing in a decent role. As has been posted (and endlessly debated), most of what you would learn from a masters would not help you at all in an actual development role.
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May 26, 2015 23:30
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Looking for advice on what next steps I should take to get into programming. I was an MIS major in college (graduated in '09) and have been working as a Windows SysAdmin the past few years. I'm getting a little bored of it, mostly because I don't feel challenged anymore. I was a few classes shy of a CS minor, so I'm not totally inexperienced. One of the things I really liked about my computer science classes was the problem solving aspect of it and that's the biggest reason I want to take another stab at getting into programming. I've looked around at Bootcamps in the area (I'm in Philly) and just haven't really gotten a great vibe from them, so I'm thinking about going back for my Masters. 2 Universities near me are hiring SysAdmins and other IT Specialists so I planned to try and get in there as a staff and take advantage of the free tuition. To be honest, I don't really know what specific role I want so it's kind of hard to figure out where I want to go. Any recommendations on figuring out what discipline I might have interest in? Is my plan stupid? Am i stupid?
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May 27, 2015 00:56
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TheDestructinator posted:Looking for advice on what next steps I should take to get into programming. I was an MIS major in college (graduated in '09) and have been working as a Windows SysAdmin the past few years. I'm getting a little bored of it, mostly because I don't feel challenged anymore. You need to figure out if you like programming at all first. Before making any career choices around it, try it out on your own for a bit. Do the Javascript tutorials at CodeCademy, or maybe Ruby (JS is more marketable). If your past experience was with Java or C++, find some tutorials there and do them. If you still like it after that, try solving your SysAdmin problems via developing solutions and automating more. If you STILL enjoy it, then maybe some serious decisions are in order, but not before.
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May 27, 2015 01:18
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I feel like I should pay my tuition to StackOverflow and awesome Youtube tutorials made by heavily accented Indian dudes. People say "Oooh, you're graduating from Stanford, they'll pick you right up and shower you in money," and I have no idea what they are talking about. The last 3 years were pretty much one asshard assignment after another. Implement whatever in this made up OS, manage packets in this router, write all these different parts of a compiler in this completely made up language... They just gave the assignments and graded them and that was the grade. The lectures/exams were mostly unrelated theory minutia so I pretty much learned everything by sitting my rear end down and googling everything at the expense of my sanity. I did all this stuff but there was no real coherence to it. What is my use? My main trait is not "(semi-)capable software engineer that can make money for your company by doing X/Y/Z well" but "coded in some languages and can do anything you want if you give me time and a search engine please give me a job." I'll graduate in 3 weeks and spend the rest of the year in Palo Alto studying for interviews/applying to jobs and generally figuring out what the hell I'm supposed to do now. I learned how to make Android apps last month so maybe I'll make some apps or something? Maybe rewatch some lectures? I feel lost and I don't know where I'm loving up.
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May 27, 2015 05:22
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Knyteguy posted:Resume format ideas from the Cracking the Coding Interview author: quote:The way to make multiple columns in Microsoft Word is with tables (with invisible columns), not by hitting 'space' dozens of times.
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May 27, 2015 09:51
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I have learned a few things I want to share with the discouraged, or the newbies: Once you get a little experience, sometimes two pages is in your interest. I also had one guy say "put a bullet with a list of skills used at each job." This might not be the best idea for everything in general - less info makes them reach out to ask you - but having that version on hand can help. ALWAYS BE COMMUNICATING. Just because the last two or five jobs don't want you doesn't mean another is looking for you and what you have to bring. The same skillset can make fifteen managers shrug in a row, but you only need to win once to get a job. On that note, Denver's .NET market is heating up like gently caress and a certain investing company you have heard of is champing at the bit.
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May 27, 2015 15:04
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UnfurledSails posted:I feel like I should pay my tuition to StackOverflow and awesome Youtube tutorials made by heavily accented Indian dudes. People say "Oooh, you're graduating from Stanford, they'll pick you right up and shower you in money," and I have no idea what they are talking about. The last 3 years were pretty much one asshard assignment after another. Implement whatever in this made up OS, manage packets in this router, write all these different parts of a compiler in this completely made up language... They just gave the assignments and graded them and that was the grade. The lectures/exams were mostly unrelated theory minutia so I pretty much learned everything by sitting my rear end down and googling everything at the expense of my sanity. The second part of that quote is how you accomplish the first so you should feel confident saying either. I guarantee you, assuming the second part is true, the only reason you're going to have trouble finding a job is because you very obviously don't believe in yourself which is one of the biggest handicaps you can have while job searching. And good news! Googling poo poo is how 99% of programming gets done. The other 1% is people using DuckDuckGo. There may also be a few dozen people at Microsoft that use Bing. quote:I'll graduate in 3 weeks and spend the rest of the year in Palo Alto studying for interviews/applying to jobs and generally figuring out what the hell I'm supposed to do now. I learned how to make Android apps last month so maybe I'll make some apps or something? Maybe rewatch some lectures? I feel lost and I don't know where I'm loving up. What you should be doing now is getting your name/resume in front of as many people as you possibly can and calling in any favors you have to make introductions. 3 more weeks coding won't make much difference if you've got no one to talk to about it. Working on your confidence and interview skills should be the second highest priority.
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May 27, 2015 15:51
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Space Whale posted:
Elaborate on this.
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May 27, 2015 16:13
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Mr. Crow posted:Elaborate on this. A company that provides services to investors wants devs in Lone Tree, CO, and just built a trio of the most sustainable buildings in Colorado. Ask to talk to Chuck.
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May 27, 2015 17:12
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In case this is somehow still not clear to anyone, Charles Schwab.
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May 27, 2015 17:17
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pr0zac posted:And good news! Googling poo poo is how 99% of programming gets done. The other 1% is people using DuckDuckGo. There may also be a few dozen people at Microsoft that use Bing. Just make Stackoverflow your homepage basically.
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May 27, 2015 17:18
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The March Hare posted:In case this is somehow still not clear to anyone, Charles Schwab. Don't ruin the fun 
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May 27, 2015 17:19
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Are they good to work for our something? Saw a couple positions and they don't even offer relocation, apparently they're not that desperate.
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May 27, 2015 17:21
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Mr. Crow posted:Are they good to work for our something? Saw a couple positions and they don't even offer relocation, apparently they're not that desperate. Maybe not right off the bat, but I somehow made a positive impression. I'll let you know after I'm done with the interviews.
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May 27, 2015 17:26
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UnfurledSails posted:I'll graduate in 3 weeks and spend the rest of the year in Palo Alto studying for interviews/applying to jobs and generally figuring out what the hell I'm supposed to do now. I learned how to make Android apps last month so maybe I'll make some apps or something? Maybe rewatch some lectures? I feel lost and I don't know where I'm loving up. Any skill, like learning how to make Android apps, that you can pick up in a week or two isn't going to move the needle on your resume. If a job wanted you to do that they'd pay you for the 2 weeks. How many career fairs have you been to? How many interviews have you had? How else are you getting your resume and name out there? Career fairs are like shooting fish in a barrel, if you can't get a callback from that there's something really weird with your resume. I'm going to a hackathon this weekend that looks like ~30% @stanford.edu email addresses. I really doubt the VC's running it out of the goodness of their hearts.
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May 27, 2015 17:29
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Mr. Crow posted:Are they good to work for our something? Saw a couple positions and they don't even offer relocation, apparently they're not that desperate. If nothing else they are a really kickass bank from the consumer perspective. Like, probably the only company I have ever actively recommended to people solely on the basis of them being nice to deal with.
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May 27, 2015 17:48
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The March Hare posted:If nothing else they are a really kickass bank from the consumer perspective. Like, probably the only company I have ever actively recommended to people solely on the basis of them being nice to deal with. The experience you get as a customer has nothing to do with the experience the employees get. I'm sure the soccer stadiums in Qatar will be very nice.
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May 27, 2015 17:53
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The March Hare posted:In case this is somehow still not clear to anyone, Charles Schwab. Someone please go work here and make it so investment account passwords can be longer than 8 chars. Also pls add 2-fa that doesn't involve having to carry around some 90s style RSA tag. TIA
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May 27, 2015 18:17
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This is more financial advice but I should just stick my signing bonus in a CD just in case, right?
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May 28, 2015 16:28
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KidDynamite posted:This is more financial advice but I should just stick my signing bonus in a CD just in case, right?
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May 28, 2015 16:33
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I meant just in case as just in case I want to leave before I have to pay it back. Which is 23 months in this instance.
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May 28, 2015 16:38
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I guess it depends on how secure you feel in the job. Last time I checked the yield on a CD (maybe 1.5%ish?) wasn't significantly better than a high-yield savings account (1%ish) at Barclays, AmEx, Discover, etc. -- especially if you think there's any risk that you'd have to do an early withdrawal on a CD and pay back some of the interest. In my mind you either keep it liquid in high-yield savings or you feel secure in your job and go to the opposite extreme and stick it in Roth IRA (if you're not maxing that already). The safe bet is to just keep it liquid for 2 years.
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May 28, 2015 17:18
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Star War Sex Parrot posted:I guess it depends on how secure you feel in the job. Last time I checked the yield on a CD (maybe 1.5%ish?) wasn't significantly better than a high-yield savings account (1%ish) at Barclays, AmEx, Discover, etc. -- especially if you think there's any risk that you'd have to do an early withdrawal on a CD and pay back some of the interest. Yeah, to me, you'd have to have a huge mega gently caress off bonus for the absolute difference between earnings in a high-yield savings and a CD to be worth it.
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May 28, 2015 17:32
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