Hello,
I am a software developer with 3.5 years of experience in software industry.
I started my career in a small company as software developer in web application development using PHP and Perl languages on Linux platform. After six months I started to attend interviews to get into a MNC company. But I was not getting calls from MNCs for PHP (as per my understanding most of the MNCs wont work on PHP projects). I used to attend interviews, and after coming back from interviews, i used to prepare the new things that I was unable to answer in the interviews(like, AJAX, XML, Javascript, and PHP framework questions). After learning AJAX and javascript I got a job in MNC on a contract basis for a period of 6 months. During the recession time my contract was terminated and all of a sudden I was left out jobless.
During this time I thought of changing the domain to ASP.NET and learnt some basics and I got a job as Trainee(even though I had 1.5 years of experience in PHP).I worked for two months in ASP.NET windows application and then I was put up into SSRS(SQL Server Reporting Services) technology. I worked on SSRS for 1.5 years and then got a chance to work on ASP.NET web applications. Then I worked on web application programming in ASP.NET. After 3 months, i got a personal problem at home and I was forced to quit the job as I was requiring a long leave. I dint work for 4 months. After that I started searching the job. Then I got a job in a MNC for 2 months contract to develop a small web site. As I was jobless I agreed to work on contract for 2 months. Now The contract is over and I am left jobless again.
Now I have a list of questions to get clarified:
1. Will I be able to get a good job when I have changed 4 companies in 3.5 years of experience (looking for 5th)?
What reasons can I tell the interviewer for so many changes?
2. In the interviews, I am able to clear the first technical rounds where they ask the basic concepts like OOPS,
ASP.NET controls, functionality, etc. I have learnt .NET 2.0 in a short time. But in the next rounds they ask
WCF, WPF and Web services which I dont know. I have started learning at home through books and internet,
but it is not helping me in clearing the interviews as it needs experience with live projects(I guess based on the
questions asked in interviews). How to go forward with this?
3. I have included 3.5 years of experience totally into .NET in my resume( I have not added PHP and Perl).
Do i need to change this as per my real experience.? With less than 3 years experience I wont get interview calls.
4. Currently being jobless, what salary package can I expect? I used to get 5 lakhs previously. I usually ask 30% hike
on the current package. Is it okay?
I have a passion for programming and found .NET interesting. I want to build my career in .NET domain. Please guide me
Thanks in advance
Sainath's Advice on Sunday, March 27, 2011 :
Hi,
"I have a passion for programming and found .NET interesting. I want to build my career in .NET domain."More than all the other things that you have stated, this is the most important. One test to check one's passion in the field is whether you would work for free - I am not saying that you should do this. But if your passion for a field is true - you will even do it for free as the creative satisfaction you derive from the work makes up for any other kind of loss.
I have spotted certain positives in the things you have stated:
- You have kept learning new technologies
- You have handled interview rejections in the best manner possible - not everyone is able to come back from a failed interview and focus on learning new things
- You have been persistent - despite being left in the lurch after changing so many contract jobs, you have bounced back repeatedly.
These are very important qualities to have and will give you an edge in the long run. My simple advice to you is to make a start somewhere - just put 1 year of complete unbroken development experience on your resume. This will build your confidence and propel your career to greater heights - I am fairly confident that you can achieve this.
To specifically answer your questions:
1. Will I be able to get a good job when I have changed 4 companies in 3.5 years of experience (looking for 5th)?
What reasons can I tell the interviewer for so many changes?
Answer : Firstly, get really good at what you do - the "good job" will happen, it is just a question of time. 1 year of solid experience should do the trick for you - please be patient.
There is no harm in stating the real reasons - recession and contract jobs are valid reasons. One thing you should remember that experienced interviewers are always smarter and can sense a lie quickly. There is a thin decision line between getting selected / rejected and the last thing you should do is spoil your chances by trying to fox the interviewer.
2. In the interviews, I am able to clear the first technical rounds where they ask the basic concepts like OOPS,
ASP.NET controls, functionality, etc. I have learnt .NET 2.0 in a short time. But in the next rounds they ask
WCF, WPF and Web services which I dont know. I have started learning at home through books and internet,
but it is not helping me in clearing the interviews as it needs experience with live projects(I guess based on the
questions asked in interviews). How to go forward with this?
Answer: Focus on the things that you can do - and maximize your chances. By this I mean:
- Build a rock solid understanding of WCF, WPF, Web services, the difference between normal web services and WCF. What is SOA, etc. This should not take too long.
- Get a handle of how these technologies can be used in practice - visit blogs, codeplex, etc and just get a strong handle on how to use these in real life.
This will increase your chances - please do not fall in the "chicken and egg" situation of thinking that it is possible to get a job only when you have some real experience in the relevant technology and not otherwise. Do what is within your scope and leave the rest to Higher powers. The problem is - most of us come to conclusions too soon.
3. I have included 3.5 years of experience totally into .NET in my resume( I have not added PHP and Perl).
Do i need to change this as per my real experience.? With less than 3 years experience I wont get interview calls.
Answer: In this era of stringent background checks it is a risk to misrepresent skills - eventually this will be detected, particularly in organizations where strong processes are followed.
4. Currently being jobless, what salary package can I expect? I used to get 5 lakhs previously. I usually ask 30% hike
on the current package. Is it okay?
Answer: This depends on various factors - the organizational culture regarding salaries, how well the interview went, etc. Without a job in hand you do not have much negotiating ground - a safer approach to adopt would be to ask the potential employers to state a figure, this way you are atleast saved from not asking for too less. This is situational and depends on your negotiation skills.
Regards,
Sainath Sherigar,
www.ugain.info
Shivnaik said on Sunday, March 27, 2011
Hello Sainath Sir,
Thank you very much for your response.
This weekend I got a job offer in a MNC company. The feedback I got from the interviewer was
"Incomplete knowledge in new technologies, and has to improve. Has a good attitude of learning things and shows interest towards it."
I will surely concentrate on the points that you have mentioned and also on the feedback from the interviewer to improve myself in building my career.
Thanks for your guidance.