Ask HN: Bad College to California, Any tips for jobs? Hello HN! I cross posted this on reddit here: http://www.reddit.com/r/cscareerquestions/comments/1fjmv2/from_bad_college_to_california_prep_work_needed/ tldr; Moving to California, fresh out of college. Advice on getting a job? Full text is in the link, text character limit is imposed. Thank you for any comments! |
I'm in california and have been hiring devs for a long time. The one advice I have for you is this: you said your github is collecting cobwebs - fix that. Writing code and building applications is the one thing that will make you a better developer. Unfortunately this is a skill I find sorely lacking in most fresh grads (not their fault, CS curriculum focuses more on theory than on getting students to build stuff).
What should you build? Anything. Write an app to solve some annoyance you face everyday. Build an app using node because you think it's interesting technology. Create a simple blog engine and host it on AWS or Heroku. Whatever tickles your fancy and motivates you. It doesn't matter what it is, but it is VERY important that you actually finish each project and make sure it works without falling over every 5 minutes.
Language doesn't matter, but you should be good at one or preferably two "popular" languages. C, C++, Python, Ruby, Java, etc all count.
First of all, you're thinking and planning and networking so far ahead that I already know you're going to do just fine. You have a winner's attitude.
Second, read Ask The Headhunter. It's not software-specific, but is the best job-hunting approach I've ever seen. Have used it with several tech companies.
No one can say what the job market will be in two years, but you're clearly moving in the right direction.
Thank you for the comment, I will check into "Ask the Headhunter". At the moment I am actually job hunting for the summer, and at the very least the reading may help with this as well.
Let's say you haven't figured that one out just yet. If this is the case, I would suggest freelancing in the meantime.
You may find this recent thread useful: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5731198
Thank you for the thread link. Actually, the most respectable company in my area I met at the local tech meetup, and I managed to get an internship there (I had to leave, and wasn't paid, but that was what taught me about Sans, major networking, and esxi, which I previously never knew even existed).
For example, instead of applying to different jobs as 'just' a CS graduate (you are WAY more than that), present yourself as someone who can save the business a lot of money by improving their existing software. Even though you are the same person either way, presentation is nearly EVERYTHING.
As far as prep work goes, freelancing and building your own apps/projects is a great option. You get to LEARN by taking on interesting projects, NETWORK with professionals that lead to more opportunities, and earn MONEY.
Should I give calls and look for a job before moving
If it's a specific job, then yes! Communicate with the company/team and get to know them. Instead of saying, "I'm aperture and I would like to apply," say, "Hi! Your project is great and I really love what you are doing with it." You are essentially introducing yourself. They will most likely remember that - especially if they are a smaller company.
is silicon valley really the only place to look to?
SV is an amazing place filled with amazing people, but it is not the only place to look into. There are many tech hubs in California. Find out what you can afford, and what amenities you want from your city/town. Do you like being close to the beach (San Diego)? Do you like living in a fast-paced city (Los Angeles)? Would you like a view of the mountains (Mountain View)? If you have some time off, visit each place you're interested in for a week or so to get a feel of what they're like.