One suggestion that no one else has mentioned is take a job at below average pay. I mean so little that you know for sure you're a good deal. I got my first re

One suggestion that no one else has mentioned is take a job at below average pay. I mean so little that you know for sure you're a good deal. I got my first real programming job back in '04 (with no degree) asking for about half what everyone else was making (I didn't have any idea what I should ask for). Within a year and a half I was at a jr. level pay and was able to move on to a much better salary.