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Upvoted because I'm in nearly exactly the same position as you (not that that helps your situation -- I do have my heart set on Portland however). I graduated i

by hmsimha 14y ago

Upvoted because I'm in nearly exactly the same position as you (not that that helps your situation -- I do have my heart set on Portland however). I graduated in December with a bachelors in computer science after a somewhat checkered 9-year relationship with higher education. In addition to throwing myself to the mercy of the up-and-coming MOOC revolution to fill in some wide-open gaps in knowledge I feel like my undergraduate education completely failed to address, I also have several ideas I've been kicking around for side projects that interest me and I want to start working on. My impression from your website is that you are very motivated and accomplished for someone lacking in a formal technical education (I'm guessing) and work experience. Have you tried applying to entry-level positions at companies in your target area with cover letters expanding on what you've written in this post?

wturner 14y ago
All of the companies I've applied to have been via formal corporate processes that either never get back to me or if I actually get my foot in the door something happens where I blow it in a manner that is very superficial. For example, I applied for an audio tester position ( non web related ) about 5 months ago that would have been perfect for my skill set and that I would have absolutely loved. I built up a good rapport with the project leader. They then gave me a basic online test about 3 weeks ago. Before they gave me the audio section (which I'm confident I aced) they gave me a subsection asking me questions about computer networking as well as a few questions that technically I knew the answer to but the way they were phrased completely confused the hell out of me. I then got a rejection email. Regardless, I'm confident that I would have been perfect for the role even if I didn't know by heart how to network a Windows system (I could easily look it up on Google and figure it out without any problems). But to answer your question, no I haven't created cover letters that are similar to this post. I try to phrase my cover letters in the self interest of the company. Nobody wants to hear otherwise and they simply don't have any reason to. One little secret though, about 8 months ago I went on a stream of interviews for web companies that give programming and coding tests and I knew I would blow them. So I would just suck it up, do them (and fail) and then I would go home and learn whatever it is I was being tested on so I can parallel my skill set with the job market. I make a habit of doing that now on every job interview/test I go on. If I fail ( which I usually do), I just make sure I make a compartmentalized note of what they're looking for, then I go home and learn it - even if it takes me weeks or months. My advice to you, since your probably younger than I am. Whatever project ideas you have try and get something online and in front of people. Even if it's just a basic version. And stay in that "state". So much so that it becomes addictive and it imprints itself onto you and becomes the norm.

by hmsimha 14y ago

wturner 14y ago

All of the companies I've applied to have been via formal corporate processes that either never get back to me or if I actually get my foot in the door something happens where I blow it in a manner that is very superficial. For example, I applied for an audio tester position ( non web related ) about 5 months ago that would have been perfect for my skill set and that I would have absolutely loved. I built up a good rapport with the project leader. They then gave me a basic online test about 3 weeks ago. Before they gave me the audio section (which I'm confident I aced) they gave me a subsection asking me questions about computer networking as well as a few questions that technically I knew the answer to but the way they were phrased completely confused the hell out of me. I then got a rejection email. Regardless, I'm confident that I would have been perfect for the role even if I didn't know by heart how to network a Windows system (I could easily look it up on Google and figure it out without any problems). But to answer your question, no I haven't created cover letters that are similar to this post. I try to phrase my cover letters in the self interest of the company. Nobody wants to hear otherwise and they simply don't have any reason to. One little secret though, about 8 months ago I went on a stream of interviews for web companies that give programming and coding tests and I knew I would blow them. So I would just suck it up, do them (and fail) and then I would go home and learn whatever it is I was being tested on so I can parallel my skill set with the job market. I make a habit of doing that now on every job interview/test I go on. If I fail ( which I usually do), I just make sure I make a compartmentalized note of what they're looking for, then I go home and learn it - even if it takes me weeks or months. My advice to you, since your probably younger than I am. Whatever project ideas you have try and get something online and in front of people. Even if it's just a basic version. And stay in that "state". So much so that it becomes addictive and it imprints itself onto you and becomes the norm.