Advice wanted

HMW · 2012-05-12 09:55:15

Currently, I do not work in the IT sector. I am indeed ”in charge” of all things regarding IT at the job I now hold. That means everything from buying computers and printers to writing the website and, sometimes, small programs in Python, or scripts in BASH.

I would very much like to work as a programmer of sorts, and a couple of weeks ago I got in touch with an IT consultant company. I sent in an honest letter, stating that I am clearly a GNU/Linux dude, with some knowledge of Python, C++, CSS and XHTML.

I got a very positive response, and am meeting the executive next week, if we can find a day that works for both of us.

So, where's the catch, you may wonder. The catch is this: The company is specialised in .NET and Microsoft. Don't get me wrong, I don't *hate* Windows, I just think it is not fun to work with, and it is clearly not for me.

My question then is: should I (if we even get to that, I don't know yet) accept a position at this new company and work with Windows stuff, just to get ”a foot in”. Or, should I wait for an opening in the GNU/Linux or Open Source world that may never come?

Would appreciate your thoughts on this.

Best,

HMW

vicshrike · 2012-05-12 10:13:26

Read, digest, learn and be your self with a smile;

http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … nux-users/

Good luck! smile

machinebacon · 2012-05-12 10:28:56

To get experience and knowledge in something new or different cannot be bad. It has nothing to do with morality or cheating yourself. Do it.

rhowaldt · 2012-05-12 10:42:16

^ true. you'll at least get a feel for the work and learn something new.

el_koraco · 2012-05-12 12:26:23

The only question is

...

how much will they pay you!

HMW · 2012-05-12 13:20:41

Thanks for your replies.

My concern with the whole Windows thing is not moral - as in ”selling out” or whatever. It has mostly to do with the fact that I simply don't LIKE the OS. I think it's sub par compared to GNU/Linux. And boring. But, as *bacon pointed out, if I learn new stuff (C# I guess), and get experience, that in itself will be worth a lot.

As for salary... the truth is I don't earn a lot at my current job. If they would be willing to hire me, and offer a decent wage, I'll take it!

Thanks again!

HMW

PS. If I get the job, I'll let you know. DS

fortyseven · 2012-05-12 15:00:37

I, however, do hate Windows; I hate using it; I hate looking at it; there's nothing about it I like. Part of my job though is developing study material. At least 70% of the coursework is based on the MCIT|P subjects so I'm required to know it well. As much as I hate Windows, it's part of my job so I do it. The reason I do it is because they pay me to. In this day and age it boils down to the money. If they're willing to pay you good money, then do it. After all, you want to be a programmer, here's your chance. I don't really see any negative in broadening your versatility as a programmer by learning some .NET.
Good luck for the meeting.

HMW · 2012-05-12 16:55:31

fortyseven wrote:

I, however, do hate Windows; I hate using it; I hate looking at it; there's nothing about it I like.

big_smile

Thanks for the wishes, appreciate it!

CaptainIndifferent · 2012-05-12 18:41:01

I saw this years ago in someone else's sig and it's still true today for me...

"I get paid to support Windows, I use Linux to get work done."

Take the job, gain the experience and then decide where you want to go next with a more complete resume.

ivanovnegro · 2012-05-12 19:02:34

If you want to know how the enemy works, you have to dig inside. big_smile

Awebb · 2012-05-13 10:56:59

Don't get me wrong, but maybe I got you wrong:

Dude with some knowledge of some scripting languages wants to be hired by a company looking for a programmer? Are you not supposed to be an able programmer for such a job?

TitanMech · 2012-05-13 11:15:42

My advice would be to take the job, then convince them to switch from the old .NET paradigm of Web Forms, and switch to something called MVC3, this framework allows you to make database driven sites, far easier, and with far less code. The framework also lets you do some pretty complex client and server side stuff with the same application, thus killing two birds with one stone.

The best part about MVC3 is something called "Code First", if you are like me and despise databases, Code First allows you to specify the structure of your Dbase, in a class file. You create an item in the class file and the name of the entity becomes the name of a table, and then you specify some other items inside this entity such as name, age, and specify their data types all inside a Csharp class file.

When you run the application the auto-generated pages to perform the Create, Read, Update and Delete functions, should allow you to interact with a database, but until you create the initial item the database doesnt exist.

CBizgreat! · 2012-05-13 12:15:31

Forewarned: Cbiz will now be a dork ... Ye have been properly warned.

My advice would be don't take career advice from internet people, who don't really know you and/or what's happening in your life. Make your own decisions, cuz if things go wrong, ya only have yourself to blame. Dang it ... wait a minute, guess the advice rendered in this post kinda cancels each other out. If ya take the advice, about not taking advice ... dratz !

Sighs ... oh well, may be a grain of de wisdom in here somewhere. tongue

Vll ! smile

Last edited by CBizgreat! (2012-05-13 12:16:01)

corenominal · 2012-05-13 12:31:06

@HMW, how happy are you in your current position? It may sound like a silly question, but from experience, programming jobs have the potential to be very soul-destroying and very boring. Especially when:

HMW wrote:

I don't *hate* Windows, I just think it is not fun to work with, and it is clearly not for me

I think it could be a recipe for disaster! hmm

HMW · 2012-05-13 18:24:39

corenominal wrote:

@HMW, how happy are you in your current position?

Not very to be honest. Thanks for your thoughts big man!

corenominal · 2012-05-13 20:39:35

HMW wrote:

corenominal wrote:
@HMW, how happy are you in your current position?
Not very to be honest. Thanks for your thoughts big man!

Ah well, in that case, you have nothing to lose! big_smile

johnraff · 2012-05-14 16:22:27

Awebb wrote:

Don't get me wrong, but maybe I got you wrong:
Dude with some knowledge of some scripting languages wants to be hired by a company looking for a programmer? Are you not supposed to be an able programmer for such a job?

To be honest, sort of wondered the same, but nowhere is it mentioned what the possible job opening actually is. HMW said he'd like to be a programmer, but he didn't say the "IT consultant" company was offering a job as a programmer...

Anyway HMW, if you're not that happy with your current job, no harm in picking up some new experience!

HMW · 2012-06-16 15:40:53

*BUMP*

Hello all!

Since you all were so kind and shared your thoughts with me regarding this topic, here's what it came down to in the end:

I met with the CEO for the company. He was an extremely nice and down to earth person. Lots of respect. We had a meeting and discussed a possible ”way in” for me at his company. After having talked for a while, we both came to the conclusion (especially given my [ahem] low enthusiasm for Microsoft) that I most likely would be better off working either in another company - more geared towards Open Source, or on the front end side of programming.

So, I did not get the job. But it was probably the nicest job interview I have ever experienced.

PS. Sorry Awebb for not replying sooner to your question. I missed your post (thanks johnraff for quoting). I have studied C++ at university level. I know how to use it, but do my best to avoid it! Not because of the syntax - I like C++ more than Python in that regard, but pointers and all the memory handling tends to drive me (and the above mentioned CEO!) insane.

PSS. The reason I'm not here more often these days is not because I don't like you all. My daughter kind of needs (demands!) my attention presently.

vicshrike · 2012-06-16 16:15:16

HMW wrote:

The reason I'm not here more often these days is not because I don't like you all. My daughter kind of needs (demands!) my attention presently.

Give her all the love she demands/wants, and you will be the worlds best most loved dad ever.

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#1 2012-05-12 09:55:15

Advice wanted

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#9 2012-05-12 18:41:01

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#10 2012-05-12 19:02:34

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