Looking for a mentor

amc_calder · 04-18-2004, 05:21 PM

I am a programming major and am very interested and excited to join the programming industry. I am making very good grades but am still a little uneasy about diving in without knowing what to expect. I'm looking for an experienced freelance programmer that would be willing to mentor me for a while. I'm not asking for a paycheck, I would just like to extend my knowledge, experience, and confidence. Any suggestions?

Belisarius · 04-18-2004, 05:49 PM

Your school doesn't offer internships? I mean, there's a chance you'd get paid, and most schools the internship would translate to course credits.

amc_calder · 04-18-2004, 06:47 PM

I'm at a technical college. They're not big enough to offer they're own internships, and I've been talking to a couple companies nearby (there aren't many) and none of them have openings (or they're unwilling to hire me?). I really am more interested in freelance, besides. So, I'm really looking for a mentor.

sde · 04-18-2004, 08:49 PM

what's better than having 1 mentor? having a bunch right? that is sort of what i have gotten from the internet over the years of learning. ( * still learning heh )

i've learned lots from people here, and other places.. so maybe you can use this and other places like this to ask questions, and bounce ideas off of people. i know we have quite a few pretty sharp programmers around who are more than happy to help out.

what kind of programming do you do?

amc_calder · 04-18-2004, 09:12 PM

Honestly, I haven't done anything major yet. I'm only 1/2 way to my AA, but according to the school, I'm done with VB, so I'd like to get started in that. But I'm really nervous about getting started in VB in the commercial sense. I'm sure I could do it, but I don't know anything about making bids or how much time it takes to do a program or how much money is good to ask for, etc., etc. Basically, I'm at square one with a little knowledge and no idea what to do with it. Help?

sde · 04-18-2004, 09:39 PM

what about just diving in .. think of an app that will be fun for you to make ... a solution that caters to a specific interest of yours. after you develop a few, you will have a good idea of how many hours it will take to develop a solution and then just bid the job based on the hours. ( be careful not to undersell yourself

)

treat it like a project someone hired you to do .. and just go for it. i think it was put best in an article that i read like this:

Quote:

If you start out trying to do too much, you won't learn anything, you'll just get frustrated and confused. Start off with some small, reasonable goals, and code them. Think about it like this. Trust me when I say that you are going to look back on the first 50 things you code and laugh your ass off. Why make the first thing something REALLY hard when it and the next forty-nine are going to be terrible?

http://articles.thewavelength.net/440/

it's a half-life modding article, but it was a good read for a programmer anyway.

amc_calder · 04-18-2004, 09:54 PM

Another thing that scares me right now is there's a good possibility I'll be asked to re-vamp or add on to an existing database with my squadron's training office (I'm AF reserves). I don't know if I'm ready for it, but I'll try my best. Is it as hard as my mind is making it seem? Or do you think it will be really easy? When I tried to find out more about it, she didn't know a thing about what language, what database management, anything...

sde · 04-18-2004, 10:20 PM

cool! on the job training =) .. if it is nothing too critical .. i mean as long as lives or huge amounts of money are not involved, then just jump right in and give it a try

amc_calder · 04-19-2004, 06:39 AM

Ok. If anyone has any suggestions or helpful tips on how to get started, tell me! Thanx! 8)

Kernel_Killer · 04-20-2004, 02:46 PM

What part of MO are you in? I might be able to find something for you. I've seen quite a few jobs/internships that were based on VB.

amc_calder · 04-21-2004, 03:29 PM

I'm near KC. I've seen a few internships on the job sites for St. Louis and Springfield, but I can't work that far away.

Kernel_Killer · 04-21-2004, 04:51 PM

Have you checked Lawrance KS, or Pittsburg KS yet? I assume you are stationed at Knobnoster? If so, I guess those would be out of the way. Maybe Sedelia or Columbia?