Advice needed: what's a destitute hacker to do? • Hacker News Board

Re: Advice needed: what's a destitute hacker to do?

#21

Post by read_wharf » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 3:47 AM UTC

cgoddard wrote: post #8

read_wharf wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had become almost completely out of touch with my already thin network, and was in essentially your same financial and employment situation. I got my current job because a recruiter was trawling LinkedIn. Use it, it costs you nothing, and works while you're asleep. You might try CraigsList, I've heard of people getting decent jobs that way. Follow through on your unemployment, and any other benefits program you run…

Thanks. Your advice is really helpful. I'll see what I can do about making sure my LinkedIn is up-to-date and such. Craigslist also sounds like a good possibility too! I don't think I qualified at any point for unemployment since I resigned, or at least that's my understanding. I'll see what I can do about benefits programs, but a lot seem based on income alone, or need paperwork that takes a while to acquire (record…

"I don't think I qualified at any point for unemployment since I resigned"

Maybe. Apply anyway.

As for the paper work and all ... it's your job. Do it.

There's probably web sites for every agency that you want to deal with, start there.

Re: Advice needed: what's a destitute hacker to do?

#22

Post by salemh » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 4:25 AM UTC

jim_lawless wrote: post #19

cgoddard wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know where to find them. Can you direct me anywhere? I know basically nothing about this.

I Googled "denver software consulting" (without the quotes) and saw some decent results. Here are a couple: http://www.righttimeconsulting.com/career-opportunities/ http://denversoftwarepeople.com/

You could post up your LN / resume link in your HN profile. Indeed trawls contract jobs well: http://www.indeed.com/q-Software-Engineer-Contract-l-Denver,...

There is a supposed lack of developers in Denver. Good advice in this thread, wish you well, and eventually, if programming is not your thing, transition into client relations, sales engineer (maybe not your thing re: anxiety), Jr Product Manager, etc.

Re: Advice needed: what's a destitute hacker to do?

#23

Post by Tangaroa » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 4:30 AM UTC

I can't give any advice other than the obvious, keep your skills sharp and never stop looking for work. If your parents can't help you financially, ask them to help you look for work and let you know if they hear of anything. Breaking into the programming industry is extremely difficult, but you have not failed as long as you keep trying.

On that note, if anyone in the Sonoma-Marin-Napa area is hiring entry-level coders or IT staff, I'm looking for work.

Re: Advice needed: what's a destitute hacker to do?

#24

Post by cgoddard » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 4:34 AM UTC

18pfsmt wrote: post #18

I live in the same area, and though I do have income, I am always looking for other opportunities. From trolling CL occasionally, I've seen a number of jobs listed that might match with your stated skill-set. Most of them are in Broomfield, Boulder, or Denver, and it seems most of them are being screened by employment agencies. However, quite a few are from small, somewhat-technically-clueless (given the descriptions…

I'm really just pretty panicked. And although i haven't interviewed tons of places for programming jobs recently, the few that i have either ended up choosing another candidate or just left the position open, which hasn't done much for my self-esteem. :-/

If you have connections and can maybe help if you end up liking me sure I'd like to get together. I'm not the most fun right now given the circumstances but I can do my best. Other than that maybe we can just get together after this personal crisis is over? I'm really not overstating things and don't have much energy for casual get-togethers right now. That's not to say I wouldn't enjoy meeting up at a later date, so don't take this the wrong way! I appreciate the offer of support.

Re: Advice needed: what's a destitute hacker to do?

#25

Post by cgoddard » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 4:38 AM UTC

jim_lawless wrote: post #19

cgoddard wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know where to find them. Can you direct me anywhere? I know basically nothing about this.

I Googled "denver software consulting" (without the quotes) and saw some decent results. Here are a couple: http://www.righttimeconsulting.com/career-opportunities/ http://denversoftwarepeople.com/

Thanks. Didn't mean to send anybody off on a LMGTFY quest but i do appreciate it.

Re: Advice needed: what's a destitute hacker to do?

#26

Post by cgoddard » Sat, Mar 17, 2012, 4:39 AM UTC

salemh wrote: post #22

jim_lawless wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I Googled "denver software consulting" (without the quotes) and saw some decent results. Here are a couple: http://www.righttimeconsulting.com/career-opportunities/ http://denversoftwarepeople.com/

You could post up your LN / resume link in your HN profile. Indeed trawls contract jobs well: http://www.indeed.com/q-Software-Engineer-Contract-l-Denver,... There is a supposed lack of developers in Denver. Good advice in this thread, wish you well, and eventually, if programming is not your thing, transition into client relations, sales engineer (maybe not your thing re: anxiety), Jr Product Manager, etc.

Thank you this is very helpful.

Re: Advice needed: what's a destitute hacker to do?

#27

Post by devs1010 » Mon, Mar 19, 2012, 7:08 AM UTC

cgoddard wrote: post #4

devs1010 wrote: post #3

Do you have any coworkers that you got along with at your previous jobs? If so, go on LinkedIn, look them up, ask them to connect, leave a positive review for them, ask them to do the same for you. If this process is completed successfully, send a personal message to them, "hey, I just figured I'd check in.. enjoyed working with you blah blah blah... hey, I'd be happy to give you a reference anytime, would you mind i…

I could get good coworker references from about 3-4 coworkers at my last programming job. I had one coworker even recommend me for a job at their current company, but I didn't pass their interview process, though they were only hiring for one position and said they wanted someone that was a perfect fit. I guess I feel the gap in employment in tech is the bigger problem now (almost a year at this point). That is reass…

Work on some open source projects, start your own, etc. They can be small, it doesn't really matter, but these are great for explaining gaps. I actually got a job where I spent a lot of time talking about an open source project I was working on (really just a personal project), one of the guys interviewing me seemed really interested in it so we spent our entire portion of the interview just talking about that.

Re: Advice needed: what's a destitute hacker to do?

#28

Post by 18pfsmt » Sat, Mar 24, 2012, 5:44 PM UTC

cgoddard wrote: post #24

18pfsmt wrote: post #18

I live in the same area, and though I do have income, I am always looking for other opportunities. From trolling CL occasionally, I've seen a number of jobs listed that might match with your stated skill-set. Most of them are in Broomfield, Boulder, or Denver, and it seems most of them are being screened by employment agencies. However, quite a few are from small, somewhat-technically-clueless (given the descriptions…

I'm really just pretty panicked. And although i haven't interviewed tons of places for programming jobs recently, the few that i have either ended up choosing another candidate or just left the position open, which hasn't done much for my self-esteem. :-/ If you have connections and can maybe help if you end up liking me sure I'd like to get together. I'm not the most fun right now given the circumstances but I can d…

I understand. My experience has been that the best way to find work opportunities is through networking (I know it's not always fun). Not to use a cliché, but it is often who you know, not what.

I'm trying to figure out a way (financially) to setup a hackerspace in the area, and I'll try to get a hold of you if I succeed.