On 7 Aug 01 at 15:54, Sacha Chua wrote:
> Perfect time for me to ask a question that's been bugging me for a while. =)
>
> See, we'll be graduating fairly soon. I was thinking of going into the whole
>academe/research thing, but since I also really love to program, the industry is
>pretty tempting.
>
> Option A - Freelancing looks interesting, but:
>
> - I'd like to get to work with other cool programmers I could learn from. (And teach
>the next batch, too!)
> - I want to get to play with as many technologies as possible. I want to be doing
>challenging and exciting work, not just the same old database-backed sites.. ;)
> - I have a somewhat strange tool set. I've tried C++ programming in Windows (didn't
>like MFC). I don't even want to touch ASP, as (a) components tend to be expensive,
>(b) it doesn't offer enough adva> - I don't know how to cost my work. I'm used to doi
ng things for free, and since all the tools I use are free anyway, no one needs to pay
for fancy development IDEs.
>
> In fact, I'd rather not worry about money at all, or finding contracts or whatever.
>So there's option B - work for some company that'll take care of all of these things.
>=)
> And I have to admit, Microsoft does take very good care of its developers, although
>the culture/ideology's a little... <laugh>
> But with a company, most of the stuff I'll get to work on will probably only be used
>by a (relative) handful of people. <pout> (That's the problem with closed source and
>expensive software).
> So anyway, I could use a little career guidance here. =)
Allow me to put in my 2 octet's here....
Given:
Work work other cool programmers?
Teach
Play with new and many technologies
Challenging --> that'll be teaching the new stuff...
Problems:
Does not know how to cost...
Strange tool set --> no problem -- you got the basics.
Not worried about money? -- hmm rich kid...oh well... you will ..
eventually...
Handful of people? doesn't matter as long as it helps big time...
Solution:
Teach and do consultancy.
Work in school labs and test equipment.
Be a freelance writer to PC Digest or computer mags testing out new stuff and
writing about them.
Be a noted critic of hardware peripherals...
You'll be surprise at how many people do not want to spend money on MS
products...all you got to do is do a little convincing and do Linux, then work
out the compensation on maintenance...then you get to teach and work with
different environments, both business and technology environments. Many first
rate schools allow their faculty to do consultancy, knowing that they get the
big bucks to complement their measly salaries in school, and in turn get the
necessary experience to be able to relate them to class, thereby helping the
next/net generation.
Then again, in a school/academic environment, you can play with hundreds and
thousands, even million pesos worth of equipment and if it goes down, nobody
will blame you. I surely miss those days wherein you can play weekends,
nights, overnights even studying, configuring, toying etc...etc...expensive
equipment....just remember the first rule of disassembly -- save all the
parts!!! Plus of course, you get free internet access and email. big
bandwidth at that.
Now being in school means you can have access to resources that you normally
wouldn't have -- the library -- join the library review committee or something
similar and recommend books for purchase ... of course, you recommend the
books you'd like to read as well... he he..
Lastly, don't forget. If in a academic environment, be an asshole. Students
hate you for that, but they definitely respect you for it. Coupled with
consultancy work, you'd have the best of both worlds -- freedom and industry
experience.
Wait...wasn't that my life story?...oh well....
_
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