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Need Suggestions / Advice

 
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woden2003

Nov 3, 09 13:43

Post #1 of 6 (510 views)
Need Suggestions / Advice Can't Post
Hey All,

So here's my deal, and hopefully, someone on this board can offer some advice. I just graduated with my PhD in microbiology. However, the past 6 years have been a living hell, and I would rather live in a shoe box than ever have anything to do with science again. Luckily (or so I thought), I have a BA in Computer science, and was a developer for pretty much all of high school and college. So I started reading through the current web technologies, and focused on picking up PHP, while also refreshing my knowledge of HTML, CSS and Javascript / AJAX. I would consider myself now a capable (NOT EXPERT) at the basics of the language, and am picking up new stuff all the time.

My problem now is that every job I've looked at / applied for requires YEARS of experience, and obviously, to gain experience, you need a job. So I'm stuck in a perpetual catch-22 loop, with no means to get my foot in a door. I'm getting kind of desperate now, as I'm about to be kicked out of school housing (i literally defended my thesis two weeks ago :-P), and need a job in order to be able to find a place to live.

If anyone has any thoughts, suggestions, or even some basic freelance stuff they'd be willing to let me have a go at, please let me know. Oh, and I'm located in NYC.

Thanks so much,

Paul Santini


ggeiger

Nov 4, 09 9:28

Post #2 of 6 (451 views)
Re: Need Suggestions / Advice [woden2003] [In reply to] Can't Post
Good luck to you. I would definitely use your PhD experience as a way to show your motivation and work ethic. While you feel it was a waste, use it to show what you are capable of, and consider it very valuable to find out what you do not want to do with your life. You;d be surprised how many take years to realize that. I'm sorry to be of little help with your questions, but I think you could put a very positive spin on your time spent chasing the education. Hang in there, as someone will treasure a work ethic in today's economy.

Gary


Proud member of Mideast Team Elite. http://www.mideastelite.com/sponsors.php



woden2003

Nov 4, 09 9:51

Post #3 of 6 (450 views)
Re: Need Suggestions / Advice [ggeiger] [In reply to] Can't Post
That has absolutely been going in the cover letter... demonstrating work ethic and other skills that would be directly applicable to development... just not getting any nibbles :-\ Thanks for the encouragement though :)


ggeiger

Nov 4, 09 9:58

Post #4 of 6 (448 views)
Re: Need Suggestions / Advice [woden2003] [In reply to] Can't Post
No problem. I'm in a similar boat, with my business so slow that I have been substitute teaching! It's very tough out there. Keep plugging away as someone will value what you bring. Patience is tough when the bills pile up....I know.


erin.ream

Nov 5, 09 10:19

Post #5 of 6 (309 views)
Re: Need Suggestions / Advice [woden2003] [In reply to] Can't Post
If you're in NYC.. have you seen my job post? Sales job but it might help pay the bills and we are def looking for someone who has a love for the sport. Just a suggestion because I saw you were in NYC, looking for work, and posting to this forum...

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...;;page=unread#unread


mellerd

Nov 8, 09 15:51

Post #6 of 6 (134 views)
Re: Need Suggestions / Advice [ggeiger] [In reply to] Can't Post
I agree that you may need to start somewhere outside of your education while you continue to look for the right job. I have seen several doctorate degreed start at Raytheon in lesser skilled jobs knowing that they would eventually get into something compatable. You need to start somewhere!