Comments on: 3 Deadly Career Mistakes Programmers Make and How To Avoid Them - Part 2 http://www.csharpuniversity.com/2010/01/15/3-deadly-career-mistakes-programmers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-2/ Quality ASP.NET/C#/SQL Server tutorials, examples, videos and advice Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:46:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Doyle http://www.csharpuniversity.com/2010/01/15/3-deadly-career-mistakes-programmers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-2/#comment-311 Doyle Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:22:55 +0000 http://www.csharpuniversity.com/2010/01/15/3-deadly-career-mistakes-programmers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-2/#comment-311 What about Object Oriented Databases? Is that going anywhere ? What about Object Oriented Databases? Is that going anywhere ?

]]> By: Bob Cochran http://www.csharpuniversity.com/2010/01/15/3-deadly-career-mistakes-programmers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-2/#comment-255 Bob Cochran Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:46:26 +0000 http://www.csharpuniversity.com/2010/01/15/3-deadly-career-mistakes-programmers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-2/#comment-255 Before I continue discussing the mistakes I made in the above project, let me say that some really good things did come of it. I met a great person, Ted, and took one of his classes. The class introduced me to another really great person, Jean. And there was an interesting fellow whose name I've forgotten but who wanted to become a programmer; he had a tough time expressing himself in English but he sure tried hard! I think Ted and Jean have both had very strong, positive influences on me. I am definitely blessed to know them. As to the fellow wanting to become a programmer...he teaches me to keep trying. In a very competitive market that is a good idea. Before I continue discussing the mistakes I made in the above project, let me say that some really good things did come of it. I met a great person, Ted, and took one of his classes. The class introduced me to another really great person, Jean. And there was an interesting fellow whose name I’ve forgotten but who wanted to become a programmer; he had a tough time expressing himself in English but he sure tried hard! I think Ted and Jean have both had very strong, positive influences on me. I am definitely blessed to know them. As to the fellow wanting to become a programmer…he teaches me to keep trying. In a very competitive market that is a good idea.

]]> By: Bob Cochran http://www.csharpuniversity.com/2010/01/15/3-deadly-career-mistakes-programmers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-2/#comment-254 Bob Cochran Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:03:06 +0000 http://www.csharpuniversity.com/2010/01/15/3-deadly-career-mistakes-programmers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them-part-2/#comment-254 I'm a former Tier A (mainframe) programmer who was very interested in transitioning my career to web programming because that is where I believe my employer should move to. When my boss offered me an opportunity with a user request that came up, I leaped at it, even though I had absolutely no prior experience with enterprise-class web development projects. That was, in many ways, a mistake for me. I didn't appreciate just how difficult it would be to become involved in the design of a project, and also learn the skills I needed (such as Java) as quickly as possible. Yes, I have developed very small web applications before. But not at the enterprise level, following a project management path such as the Enterprise Life Cycle. And I feel flat on my nose because I had zero experience at the enterprise level and took on too many learning challenges. What I am thinking now is that an enterprise which has a management training and mentoring program for those interested in becoming managers should also have technical mentoring programs for technicians like me who would like to learn the skills needed to do enterprise-class development and have schooling in those skills, plus get the chance to practice the new skills in a sandbox environment that can be used for trainees. So just as an enterprise trains and nurtures its management trainees, so it should also train and nurture its technicians who show an interest in career changing. I still do challenge myself with new projects, but I do the learning at home and at my own pace. I'm just getting seriously interested in embedded systems now, and I recently ordered a Beagleboard. That will be a difficult but rewarding project. I’m a former Tier A (mainframe) programmer who was very interested in transitioning my career to web programming because that is where I believe my employer should move to. When my boss offered me an opportunity with a user request that came up, I leaped at it, even though I had absolutely no prior experience with enterprise-class web development projects. That was, in many ways, a mistake for me. I didn’t appreciate just how difficult it would be to become involved in the design of a project, and also learn the skills I needed (such as Java) as quickly as possible. Yes, I have developed very small web applications before. But not at the enterprise level, following a project management path such as the Enterprise Life Cycle. And I feel flat on my nose because I had zero experience at the enterprise level and took on too many learning challenges.

What I am thinking now is that an enterprise which has a management training and mentoring program for those interested in becoming managers should also have technical mentoring programs for technicians like me who would like to learn the skills needed to do enterprise-class development and have schooling in those skills, plus get the chance to practice the new skills in a sandbox environment that can be used for trainees. So just as an enterprise trains and nurtures its management trainees, so it should also train and nurture its technicians who show an interest in career changing.

I still do challenge myself with new projects, but I do the learning at home and at my own pace. I’m just getting seriously interested in embedded systems now, and I recently ordered a Beagleboard. That will be a difficult but rewarding project.

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