Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Looking for a career change

  • 08-08-2014 6:50pm
    #1
    Diceicle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭


    Hi All,

    I'm looking to move into Programming and Development and would appreciate a recommendation of some distance-learning / part-time courses available.

    Right now I'm looking at the courses available from the Fitzwilliam Institute to learn PHP, MySQL and Javascript.

    I just want to make sure I see all the worthwhile courses out there.

    Thanks in advance.
    D.


Comments

  • #2
    SimonTemplar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,815 ✭✭✭SimonTemplar


    Why did you choose PHP?


  • #3
    Diceicle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭Diceicle


    Thanks for the reply.

    I wouldn't say I chose PHP per se, it's just part of the course that is being offered.

    My plan is to learn MySQL, Java, Javascript and PHP for a grounding but to ultimately work with Ruby on Rails and Python.

    I'm not all that interested in Java tbh but its such a well used language it can't hurt to have it.

    I have some limited programming experience with HTML, CSS, C, and ROR.


  • #4
    SimonTemplar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,815 ✭✭✭SimonTemplar


    Java and PHP are not prerequisites for Ruby on Rail.
    If you want to work with Ruby just go with that instead of wasting time with PHP.


  • #5
    Diceicle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭Diceicle


    Thanks Simon. Would having Java and PHP not give a better rounding out of skills for a potential employer? Rather than only really knowing ROR and Python?


  • #6
    Diceicle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭Diceicle


    Diceicle wrote: »
    Thanks Simon. Would having Java and PHP not give a better rounding out of skills for a potential employer? Rather than only really knowing ROR and Python?

    Can anyone tell me whether having a diploma along with self taught languages gives me a greater chance of employment (all things being equal) - I suppose I'm looking to determine how much weight is put on qualifications in the programming sphere.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    Colonel Panic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,029 ✭✭✭Colonel Panic


    Most junior developer positions are going to require a 3rd level qualification these days unless you've got an amazing portfolio to showcase your self-taught work.

    It's pretty competitive for juniors at the moment, I believe.


  • #8
    UCDVet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,894 ✭✭✭UCDVet


    I firmly believe that the language you use doesn't 'matter' in a 'theoretical' sense. I studied Computer Science the data structures/algorithms, the theory behind everything, it doesn't matter what language you use. It's just a detail.

    But in the 'practical' world - when you get a job, it almost always will be looking for a particular skillset. Most of the time, that means a primary language + a secondary language (a Java business app with a Oracle database). Front-end web developer? You'll need HTML5/CSS/Javascript. I'm a C# developer - when they hire people for my position they look for experience with C# and SQL. Nice to haves are WCF/ASP.Net/domain knowledge of our industry. They don't put too much value on other stuff. If you have 10 years of amazing C development - sure, they'd think of you as more senior - but if you kinda know some C and did some cool projects - it's just fluff to them. I even disagree with this attitude a bit, but when I'm involved with interviewing, it's pretty common. They want a good fit so you can walk in and be awesome on day #1, as much as possible.

    If your goal is a career change, maybe have a look at jobs openings for the language(s) you most enjoy. If you like Ruby On Rails - cool - look up some ROR jobs and see what they are looking for. To me, it sounds like a lot of your interests aren't going to 'mesh' well with the skillsets employers want.

    Heck - I was a C# developer and I just *barely* got a job as a VB.Net developer. It couldn't have been any more similar (if you aren't familar with .net - just take me word for it, all but the same), but they almost didn't hire me because their policy was that everyone needed VB.Net experience. At the end of my 'probation period' my manager told me this and how they had a bit of a bet going to see if I'd be a huge failure or not.


  • #9
    gobby
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭gobby


    This is a great find for me. I am in a very similar place. I'd love to get back into coding and to turn it into a career. I was thinking of maybe starting to go to coder dojo's to get me back into it. Thoughts...?


  • #10
    neil_hosey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭neil_hosey


    The most jobs are probably in .NET, Java, Python and some mobile technologies. I wouldnt focus on ROR at the beginning.

    Do a course that will give you the grounding in OO development, architecture, design patterns, data structures. Read every book you can on OO design start with this.

    Then design patterns, SQL (in depth), ORMs, IOC containers, read as many books written by martin fowler as you can :)


Advertisement