Re: Advice for mid-life career change (to programming)

Tony wrote:
>
.....
> As for what I'm doing now not working - I'm too new to everything to know,
> really. Thing is, I'm not even getting responses on my resume - so,
> apparently, something is lacking there.
>
....
> Fair enough - my question would be: how do I get an employer to look at it
> in the first place?
>
> Here's a good example: I recently applied for a web programming position at
> SmartHome (they do home automation systems). Well, one of the web projects I
> worked on some time ago was from one of their bigger industrial clients, and
> it involved a JavaScript-based simulation of the "SmartLinc" panel, which
> the company had under license from SmartHome. The SmartLinc panel, in fact,
> was one of their premier products at the time.
>
> I mentioned this in my cover letter. Didn't get a call or email - nothing.
> My resume reflected knowledge of the material they wanted, so - what was
> missing? Damned if I can figure it out...
>
....

Besides Joe's very useful and pertinent comments I'd add a couple...

First, I'd reemphasize his point that there's no academic training or
background information shown at all---that will be a real detriment and
probably is a primary reason the resume doesn't get considered.
Consider who must be the competition you're going against for a position
such as this in the current job market--everything from guys your age
and older who have been doing this sort of stuff professionally for 20
years to the new college grad still looking for that first job. You're
in a very competitive environment in an area still suffering from first
the collapse of the dot-com bubble and the results of the 9/11 economic
contraction. This is a tough market to crack w/ the best of credentials
and your lack of really solid academic skills (at least as shown by the
resume) and specific work experience is going to be hard to compete
with.

One thing that the Community Colleges tend to have that could possibly
be of some advantage are skill-enhancement classes that include things
such as resume preparation, etc. That kind of tutoring could possibly
be of benefit.

Another place to potentially get some experience that could be added to
the resume would be through some non-profits---many of them,
particularly smaller local ones, have need for persons w/ computer
skills that may be either gratis or pay a small stipend, but <can>
provide useful work experience.

Another possibility is to look through the temp employment agencies for
fill-in positions. I can't tell for sure whether you're still employed
full-time at present or not, so whether this is a mandatory move or a
desire could have some effect there as well.

However, it's going to be a hard slog if you don't have more solid
information to put on the resume that what's there now unless you can
find some organization related to the current work experience that has
more detailed needs and some budget (or you can help them write a grant
application and bring in some of your own funding).
.

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