Hi, I am presenting my views below with respect to questions put forth by Prashant. Not all on the list may agree with these but I believe I could clear the picture to some extent.
1. What basic skills they need to have? Logical Reasoning and Analytical skills are primarily required for one to be a programmer. 2. How they can test themselves whether they can do programming or not? Understanding the Input-Process-Output (IPO) cycle is primarily important to write a program. If one can understand the inputs required for a task, the way it has to be processed and the expected outcome then he can write a program in a known language. For example, to write a program that calculates the square of a given number x, x is the input, multiplying x by itself is the process and x2 is the output. The program has to know how to capture x from the user, how to multiply x by itself and how to display the result of multiplication to the user in a sequential flow. One who is willing to be a programmer should consider day-to-day scenarios like writing a letter, dialing a phone call, baking a cake, etc and analyze them as shown in the above example. Ability to do so would ensure great success. 3. Any preliminary exam / test they can give to test their logic development and basic program development skills? Institutes conducting programming courses generally conduct aptitude tests before enrolling candidates to a particular course. I too did so at GTL's Advanced Computer Training Center for the Blinds while enrolling candidates for the Advanced course. 4. You have option to go for programming training at training institutes like N I I T, Aptech, etc. or you can do it from NAB Karnataka, NIVH, GTL, etc. what we can suggest considering factors like fees, duration, market recognition, course content, training quality, etc. I am an NIITian and found their course contents, teaching methodology and learning environment really comprehensive. The fees is quite high but the courses have a market recognition. GTL's Advanced Computer Training Center for the Blinds also offers a programming course for a very low fee. The course contents are revised periodically to keep up with market trends. Though it does not promise placements, we have Sanjeev and Sai procuring jobs for themselves after completing this course. The major constraint with reputed institutes like NIIT, Aptech, etc is non-availability of screen-reading software. Besides, sighted guys find it really difficult to make a visually challenged person understand what's happening on the computer, though this is not impossible. Blinds institutes like NAB, NIVH, etc really need to step forward with such courses besides basic computing and Ms-Office. 5. What about communication skills, English, Maths knowledge? One needs good communication skills for any job, not only IT jobs. Basic English is sufficient for putting forth ideas and views and also understand others. Mathematics is important coz that helps one to implement solutions in different scenarios. For example, the formula for simple interest calculation is known to most of us. It takes Principal amount, Term of deposit and Rate of Interest into consideration for calculating simple interest. The same formula works when you need to determine the Principal amount knowing Term of deposit, Rate of Interest and Simple Interest. Programming scenarios are similar to this. One has to logically put together programming blocks to achieve desired results. 6. Students and their parents spend huge amount in enrolling them for programming course from private institutes but is it worth? It depends on various factors. The students' interest may be high at the time of enrolling but subsides with time causing performance to drop. Besides long-term courses run for two to three years which is too long for markets to remain constant. One cannot ensure that a programming language, operating platform or technology in demand today would have the same level of demand two or three years down the line. Job seekers, especially freshers, need to remain abreast latest developments in order to recruit for a job of choice. 7. What is a current status on getting break into programming job? IT companies are hiring in lots now-a-days. Companies have projects in pipeline and aggressive growth plans for which they need professionals. 8. Many IT companies do prefer engineering and computer application degree as entry criteria. and what about accessibility at work place for differnt programming situations, remote servers, GUI development, sharing terminals, team support, seniors / colleague awareness, etc. It's true that organizations prefer BEs and BCA/MCA students. Still they do consider candidates with diverse qualifications possessing right skills and aptitude and willingness to learn. Not all of them have accessibility tools in place and this is one of the primary reasons for some of them to reject challenged candidates. Team support and awareness fall in place once people start working with challenged candidates. A positive and participative attitude and patience play a vital role in getting team support and winning confidence. 9. What you will advise these students in general? If one is interested in programming and has the right aptitude then start collecting information about courses offered by various institutes. Evaluate them on parameters like course content, duration, fee, market demand, course accessibility, placement assistance, etc to find what suits you. Also consider career options beyond programming like testing, business analysis, information analysis, database administration, windows administration, networking and others that people on the list may suggest. Best Regards, Zujar... An optimist laughs to forget while a pessimist forgets to laugh!!! -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sandeep Kaler Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 10:21 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AI] Guidence on programming career Hello Prashant, Software development is not an easy job by diploma holders. Diploma holders are to compete with the B.Tech degree holders in open market. Out of them only a few can become top level developers. I am not going to discourage the students to become developers but one should keep in mind the capabilities / challenges of doing such jobs . Thanks Sandeep Kaler ----- Original Message ----- From: "Prashant Naik" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 2:20 PM Subject: [AI] Guidence on programming career > Dear Accessindians, > > I have following queries especially for all those who are into > programming profession like Harish, Dinesh, Manish Agarwal, Zujar, > Charu, Sai, Dipendra, Pranav, Prashant Verma, Shreenivasu and many > more from these list who are into actual programming and IT / Testing > field . > > Generally a lot of our students are interested in IT field as a > profession. And in IT sector they feel programming is the only option > which is not a fact. They always inquire about how and where they can > learn programming? What is a career scope for them? What about > screen reader accessibility with different programming languages, > technologies and environments? And so on. > > Many of these students are from non-IT background like either pursuing > their degree in arts or degree / master holder in arts stream, etc. > Few are good computer user with jaws and few are not so good in even > basic operation of windows, office applications and jaws. > > During career seminars or workshop most of the VI students will have > desire to go for IT and in particular programming. > > So following are my few queries. > 1. What basic skills they need to have? > 2. How they can test themselves whether they can do programming or not? > 3. Any preliminary exam / test they can give to test their logic > development and basic program development skills? > 4. You have option to go for programming training at training > institutes like N I I T, Aptech, etc. or you can do it from NAB > Karnataka, NIVH, GTL, etc. what we can suggest considering factors > like fees, duration, market recognition, course content, training > quality, etc. > 5. What about communication skills, English, Maths knowledge? > 6. Students and their parents spend huge amount in enrolling them for > programming course from private institutes but is it worth? > 7. What is a current status on getting break into programming job? > Many IT companies do prefer engineering and computer application > degree as entry criteria. and what about accessibility at work place > for differnt programming situations, remote servers, GUI development, > sharing terminals, team support, seniors / colleague awareness, etc. > 8. What you will advise these students in general? > > Hoping to have a good discussion and response on this topic. > > Best regards, > Prashant Naik > > To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Send free SMS to your Friends on Mobile from your Yahoo! Messenger. Download Now! http://messenger.yahoo.com/download.php To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. 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