Programming Jobs: Landing Good Positions

While people looking for programming jobs are looking at a career field with endless opportunities for work and advancement, this isn't exactly a secret, either. Which of course means that there is plenty of competition. While you can overcome deficiencies in your education and experience by having a great personality and knowing how to interview, it's still going to be difficult if you aren't able to compete head to head with other resumes. In an economy where even experienced workers are being forced to apply for entry-level positions, the market can be tough. Here are some tips on getting a good position. Know The Company Don't make the mistake of having a strict interview "script" you use every time you're in front of a manager. It can be very easy to begin relying on stock answers, especially when you're going through a lot of interviews. But if you personalize every interview with knowledge of the specific company, you're much more likely to do well. Prepare! If you do your homework and come up with a very good answer to the question, "Why do you want to work here?", you're going to see your success rate skyrocket. You're already ahead of the curve. When it comes to hotly contested programming jobs, you'll need every advantage. Shock and Awe Creativity and drive are hard things to turn away, say experts in the field of programming jobs. It's all well and good to come into an interview and "say" that you're a really driven, creative worker, but it means a lot more if you have examples. One of the best such examples are to come in with software you've built from scratch or improvements you've made to open source software. It is especially interesting to hiring managers if you did this kind of thing on your own for no money. Managers want to hire people who aren't just looking to make money, but are really dedicated to what they do from every standpoint. Throw In Some Criticism You need to tread carefully when it comes to this, but it can often be helpful to throw some criticism into your interview. This will show that you are very familiar with the company's work and that you are going to bring something new to the table. This criticism, however, needs to be well thought out and it should be accompanied with an alternative plan. For example, don't just say, "Well, you're doing it wrong." Have an idea on how to make it better. This is what creative programming jobs are all about, after all.