Lebell

Here's the deal...

I'm finally finishing up a CS degree after going back to school.

I have some limited experience with dbase management (Oracle and Access) as well hardware experience.

I'm looking for advice on job searching now as I've never been in the position of a new grad looking for a job.

I don't need a huge salary (an entry computer job at 40k or more is plenty), but as I said, this is new stuff to me.

Thanks!

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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maleficent

There's the usual job posting boards like Monster, but to be honest, I'm not sure how effective they are except for filling up the rosters of personnel agencies.

I would start by doing a search on all the companies (probably midsize and larger) in your area, since you aren't interested in travelling right now.

Once you have the company names, do a little research on the company as to what they do, and how they would use databases. (sometimes it's hr, sometimes it's other divisions) Find out the name of a contact person (this is usually the challenge, though sometimes the name is readily available on the website).
Create a custom cover letter and send your resume to a person, just sending a resume to a HR department doesn't always get the attention it deserves, sending it to an actual person will get it opened and read by that person.

Then followup in a few days with a phone call.

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Blackthorn

Hey Lebell -- pm me. My company is hiring all over the place and I'd be delighted to push a tilted resume to the top of the list.

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What are you willing to give up in order to get what you want?

Lebell

PM sent

__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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StanT

I work for a major I/T corporation that is hiring like crazy. However, nearly all of our positions are being filled on a contract basis. I'm told that seems to be the trend. Corporations get a lot of bad press when they lay people off, mine is reluctant to hire directly. It's much easier to drop a contract. I'd sign up at a contract agency, it will get you a foot in the door and some experience on your resume.

Rodney

This is good advice. I worked on a contract basis as a technical writer for a number of years. This is what I found: hiring for permanent positions involved having exactly the right set of qualifications and experience. But with contractors, "close enough is good enough." As a result, I got to do a lot of jobs I'd never have been hired to do on a permanent basis, because I lacked the right track record. Contracting allowed me to _build_ a track record.

MXL

What region of the country are in? We may have a position opening up this summer, in Maryland.

Lebell

Unfortunately I am in the Portland OR area.

__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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EULA

Good luck. My brother graduated with a CS degree and it took a year and a half living in NYC doing odd-jobs (not the mafia kind) and, as he put it, "...going out of my mind," before he got a job as a unix administrator.

CS jobs are hard to get, but once you get your foot in the door, the pay and security are hard to beat.

chickentribs

Lebell - I was a recruiter for a number of years specializing in IT services. I agree with the consulting/contract strategy to start with out of school because they will teach you several different disciplines to make you marketable to clients, and you will get to see the inside of several different companies from the employees point of view which is great experience.

I would advise you to market yourself to all the firms in Portland by taking your resume in person, and ask to speak with a Vice President. Chances are nobody will have the time to see you unannounced like that, but the initiative will be respected by a consulting firm. Take a couple of minutes and ask whoever is at the front desk a couple of questions and try to make them your ally. I can't tell you how many times jobs were won or lost because the receptionist thought the applicant was respectful of her and told the right people.

If I can be of any help to you as you prepare for your interviews, please let me know. I picked up a trick or two in eight years of recruiting! Best of luck...

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Oft expectation fails...
and most oft there Where most it promises
- Shakespeare, W.