|
Guide_on_How_to_Land_Computer_Jobs
| Guide on How to Land Computer Jobs
To become a lawyer, you must graduate from law school and pass
the Bar Exam. But to become a computer expert, there's no
particular exam to pass, and no particular piece of paper that
"proves" you're an expert or even competent.
You can get a job in the computer industry even if you've never
had any training. Your job will be sweeping the floor.
To become a top computer expert, you must study hard, day and
night. Read lots of computer manuals, textbooks, guidebooks,
magazines, newspapers, and newsletters. Practice using many
kinds of computers, operating systems, languages,
word-processing programs, spreadsheets, database systems,
graphics packages, and telecommunications programs. Also explore
the many educational programs for kids. Use many kinds of
printers, disk drives, and modems. Study the human problems of
dealing with computers. No matter how much you already know,
learn more!
When I surveyed computer experts, I found that the average
expert still spends two hours per day reading about computers,
to fill holes in the expert's background and learn what happened
in the computer industry that day! In addition to those two
hours, the expert spends many more hours practicing what was
read and swapping ideas by chatting with other computerists.
As a computer expert, you can choose your own hours, but they
must be numerous: if your interest in computers lasts just from
9 AM to 5 PM, you'll never become a computer expert.
To break into the computer field, you can use six tools:
college, home consulting, home programming, salesmanship, job
expansion, and on-the-job training.
College The most traditional way to get a computer job is to go
to college and get a Ph.D. or M.A. in computer science.
Unfortunately, that takes a lot of time
Home Consulting The fastest way to break into the field is to
keep your current job but spend your weekends and evenings
helping your neighbors, friends, and colleagues learn about
computers. Help them buy hardware and software. Then customize
the software to meet their own personal needs. Then train them
in how to use it all.
At first, do it all for free. After you've become an experienced
expert and developed a list of happy clients who will vouch for
your brilliance, start requesting money from new clients. Start
cheaply, at about $10 per hour, then gradually raise your rates
over the next few years.
Home Programming You can write computer programs at home to sell
to friends and software publishers, but make sure your programs
serve a real need and don't duplicate what's already on the
market. Be creative.
Salesmanship For a quicker career path, learn enough about
microcomputers to get a job selling them in a store. As a
salesperson, you'll be helping people decide which hardware and
software to buy; you'll be acting as a consultant.
The store will probably give you permission to take hardware,
software, and literature home with you, so you can study and
practice new computer techniques every evening and become
brilliant. If you wish, you can even moonlight by helping your
customers use the software they bought and designing your own
customized programs for them.
After working in the store several months, you'll have the
knowledge, experience, contacts, and reputation to establish
yourself as an independent consultant. You can call your former
customers and become their advisor, trainer, and programmer - or
even set up your own store.
Job expansion Another way to break into the field is to take a
non-computer job and gradually enlarge its responsibilities, so
that it involves computers.
For example, if you're a typist, urge your boss to let you use a
word processor. If you're a clerk, ask permission to use
spreadsheet and data-management programs to manage your work
more efficiently. If you're a math teacher, ask the principal to
let you teach a computer course or help run the school's
computer club.
On-the-job training The final way to break into the field is to
get a job in a computer company, as a janitor or clerk, and
gradually move up by using the company's policy of free training
for employees.
Set your rates If somebody's interested in hiring you to be a
programmer or consultant, you must decide what rate to charge.
If this is your first such job, be humble and charge very little
because your first job's main goal should not be money. Instead,
your goal should be to gain experience, enhance your reputation,
and find somebody you can use as a reference and who'll give you
a good recommendation. Convince your first employer that you're
the best bargain he ever got, so that he'll be wildly
enthusiastic about you and give you a totally glowing
recommendation when you go seek your second job.
Asking for a raise After several months on the job, when you've
thoroughly proved that you're much more than you're being paid,
and your employer is thoroughly thrilled with your performance,
gently ask your employer for a slight raise. If he declines,
continue working at that job, but also keep your eyes open for a
better alternative.
Negotiating a contract The fundamental rule of contract
negotiation is: never make a large commitment.
For example, suppose somebody offers to pay you $10,000 if you
write a fancy program. Don't accept the offer; the commitment is
too large. Instead, request $1,000 for writing a stripped-down
version of the program.
After writing the stripped-down version, wait and see whether
you get the $1,000; if you get it without any hassles, then
agree to make the version slightly fancier, for a few thousand
dollars more. That way, if you have an argument youre your
employer (which is common), you've lost only $1,000 of effort
instead of $10,000.
About the author:
This article is excerpted from the 25th edition of The Secret
Guide to Computers, copyright 1998 by Russ Walter and reprinted
with permission. Get free literature about the complete Guide by
phoning Russ at 603-666-6644, 24 hours. Free reprintable
articles on home based business and Internet marketing are
available at http://www.internetmarketinglearningcenter.com
|
|
| |
| |
