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Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

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Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#61

Post by 9oliYQjP »

pyre wrote: post #57
9oliYQjP wrote: post #52

My advice. Don't do contract freelance work. It is risky in that if you're not a good business person, you will string yourself along under the illusion of paying the bills. But you'll slowly be moving backward as projects take longer than you expect, you undercharge, etc.. You really may need to uproot your family. I know that the tech economy is booming in several major urban areas. I'm up in Toronto, and have head…

I'm actually looking to move back to Toronto, where's the best place to look for these jobs? Most of the stuff that I hear about are corporate Java and/or C#/.NET type jobs.

Seriously, start on Twitter. Everybody who's anybody in the Toronto developer scene is pretty active on Twitter these days. Find a few developers with blogs, follow them, then start following a few of their followers or people they RT. From Twitter, start attending some meet-ups. If you're an iPhone, Android, Python, Ruby or JS developer, it's a pretty good job market right now. Most of the places you'll want to work at are right in the downtown core so you can bike, walk, or subway/streetcar it to work. That also makes socializing vastly easier as everyone is clustered in the same area.

http://www.meetup.com/HTML5-Web-App-Developers/events/225564...

http://techtalksto.com/

I know there are a ton of Toronto lurkers on here too.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#62

Post by ashchristopher »

pyre wrote: post #57
9oliYQjP wrote: post #52

My advice. Don't do contract freelance work. It is risky in that if you're not a good business person, you will string yourself along under the illusion of paying the bills. But you'll slowly be moving backward as projects take longer than you expect, you undercharge, etc.. You really may need to uproot your family. I know that the tech economy is booming in several major urban areas. I'm up in Toronto, and have head…

I'm actually looking to move back to Toronto, where's the best place to look for these jobs? Most of the stuff that I hear about are corporate Java and/or C#/.NET type jobs.

There are a bunch of big python/django shops in Toronto... more than I can count on two hands... and they are all hiring.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#63

Post by nikoftime »

Do you absolutely need to stay in Michigan? There are amazing companies (like mine: BrightScope.com) that are hiring right now in places like San Diego, CA for the same skill set you have (check out our careers page -- if you apply, I'll see it -- just make sure to mention your HN posting).

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#64

Post by curt »

Find someone to look over your resume and cold-call CEO's/hiring managers of companies you're interested in.

It's my first time ever applying to job postings. Started looking a few weeks ago and found out my resume was crap, after getting some advice and rewriting it my response rate is 75%.

If you're interested in a company and think they might need you, just email the CEO a short note. You'd be amazed at how often you'll get a response, a couple even introduced me to other CEOs looking for someone with my skill set.

The two key's points to communicate: why are you interested in the company and what can you do for them.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#65

Post by bubblewatcher »

mtogo wrote: post #20
SeoxyS wrote: post #5

Have you considered a drastic move to SF, NYC, Boston, or another startup hotspot? Having no money in Michigan is no better than having no money in a more expensive city, so cost of living shouldn't even be a factor here. Also, don't limit yourself to Python / C. Stress that you're able and willing to learn any programming language and solve any challenge that comes your way. I know there isn't a single unemployed Ru…

Have you considered a drastic move to SF, NYC, Boston, or another startup hotspot? Ah yes, it's so easy to move when you can't even afford $100 to start a company. Great advice. Finding a job as a developer is actually not that hard, in this economy. Looks like you're wrong, in this instance at least.

I find it interesting that your hostility came through so easily and without consideration for how your words could effect someone seeking to employ you. (which is the actual reason I had read this post)

You seem to focus all of your attention on what "skills" you have without regard for the personality traits that make a desirable team member. I can guarantee you that you will meet many developers with greater skill than you poses.

When I look to hire a developer or if I were to be considering you as a co-founder I would first judge your ability to be an asset to the team.

I'd be curious to learn why you were let go from your previous job, but It is certainly a combination of your personality flaws, lack of relevant skills, and inability to adapt.

While the advice of moving to a new city may not seem plausible to you, your reaction to the question is quite telling. 1) You are condescending and inaccurately view "reality" 2) You are a linear thinker (consider becoming more lateral)

I'd wager that the reason you are unable to find a job is because of these 2 character traits...

I'd start with those

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#66

Post by BDangIT »

Have you thought about what the companies' problems are and how you can use Python to solve their problems? Yes, companies are looking for specific skills but there are companies that are looking for someone to fix their issues. They don't care how you implement it as much as it gets that issue off their backs.

So if you want to land a job or a client do some thinking on what their issues might be, their dreams, their goals, and maybe their fears. If you know these and can translate these into how you can implement solutions, then you will show them how much value you bring to the table. And when you can think of ways to create value, you can immediately charge almost anything.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#67

Post by 18pfsmt »

I may be able to help you directly with work rather than give advice. Whether you are married, have kids, or other obligations is of major importance, however. I could even possibly set you up with your own br/ba once my remodel is finished.

I prefer not to use email without GPG, so rather than email I will put my phone number in my profile if I see you are actively following the replies.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#68

Post by danilocampos »

bubblewatcher wrote: post #65
mtogo wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you considered a drastic move to SF, NYC, Boston, or another startup hotspot? Ah yes, it's so easy to move when you can't even afford $100 to start a company. Great advice. Finding a job as a developer is actually not that hard, in this economy. Looks like you're wrong, in this instance at least.

I find it interesting that your hostility came through so easily and without consideration for how your words could effect someone seeking to employ you. (which is the actual reason I had read this post) You seem to focus all of your attention on what "skills" you have without regard for the personality traits that make a desirable team member. I can guarantee you that you will meet many developers with greater skill…

You write as though you're responding to OP, but this was someone else's remark. Wasn't it?

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#69

Post by intellectronica »

StavrosK wrote: post #15
intellectronica wrote: post #11

http://www.canonical.com/about-canonical/careers

Don't bother, I submitted a resume months ago that would be a perfect fit for one of the positions and I haven't even heard back for a rejection.

I don't understand in what kind of world you live in, where it's better not to try because you might be disappointed.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#70

Post by jarin »

viraptor wrote: post #36
StavrosK wrote: post #8

Wait, why are you mentioning FizzBuzz? It's like saying "I can walk in many ways".

It also says he reads blogs like coding horror. I believe it refers to http://imranontech.com/2007/01/24/using-fizzbuzz-to-find-dev... (made popular by http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/02/why-cant-programmer... ) Fun thing to say on HN... maybe not so good for a conversation with random person trying to hire you ;)

I'm not so sure about that, if I was interviewing someone and they said "I can totally write FizzBuzz in 15 languages", I would take it as a general sign of awareness of the programming community. Pretty much every good programmer I know has been a regular reader of Coding Horror, Joel on Software, and other famous programming blogs at some point, if not currently.
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