I am Chris, a 25 year old recent computer programming graduate trying to get my first .Net Job. In anticipation of applying for a bunch of Junior .Net Developer jobs I am attempting to create a portfolio to show employers.
My portfolio is currently a blog of myself creating a website from the bottom up in .NET / C#. The blog contains entries of some of the code, struggles, and process of how I am creating the website. Some of the websites technologies, and blog entries include
HTML, CSS, SQL, Linq Entities, my basic CMS(Content Management System for the blog entries), .Net Server Controls, and C# Code involved in the website.
Is this a good start for a portfolio, and is their anything else someone would recommond I add to the website?
My portfolio is currently a blog of myself creating a website from the bottom up in .NET / C#. The blog contains entries of some of the code, struggles, and process of how I am creating the website. Some of the websites technologies, and blog entries include
HTML, CSS, SQL, Linq Entities, my basic CMS(Content Management System for the blog entries), .Net Server Controls, and C# Code involved in the website.
That's a great start!! One thing i will advice any junior developer: Try offering your services for free\low rate for local charities(church groups, local community groups etc..). That way you will get good real world expirence and refrences. Also these
contacts will enable you to land other jobs in the future
budugu makes a great point about offering services. If you do a website for someone, make sure that there is a link there that points back to your site. This gives some validation that you actually did the work. You may also think of some utility you could
make, or problem that you can solve with some coding, write an article about it and make the code free for download. That let's people give your work a try, and also see how you design and implement a project that does something beneficial for them.
Don't forget to mark useful responses as Answer if they helped you towards a solution.
Additional to the things they have mentioned above, you can share your knowledge by participating to the online forums like
this and contribute to the
wiki section by writing quality articles.
Thanks for some of the tips but I have a few more questions..
Realistically by the end of the week I could have my blog up and running with the topics I talked about before. But it wont be no fancy, smancy photoshop, jquery, pretty work of art. It would like like a pretty standard ordinary plain blog , nothing that
will blow awayone from a UI point. I realize my design aspect needs work, but after all I am looking to become a .NET /C# Developer, and not some CSS. Dreamweaver, photoshop, flash, etc pro, Is this a bad thing?
Also, I've seen a bunch of Jr .Net postings all over the place, I meet alot of the postings requirements. Would my blog and some experience in HTML / CSS web development be adequate for most of these positions?
As a .NET developer what you really care about is to implement the function of the website. You can have some knowledge of the css. The beautiful appearance of the website belong to the Art designing. You don’t be much care about it.
Marked as answer by Qi Wu - MSFT on May 02, 2012 01:35 AM
Since you want to use this site to help your job search, you may want to include a contact section. As a recruiter, I love being able to send people email to see if I have an opportunity that might be a good fit. I have some Jr. .NET developer positions
that I am working on currently, but nothing in your area.
cjstephens
Member
4 Points
11 Posts
Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
Apr 18, 2012 12:12 AM|LINK
Hi everyone
I am Chris, a 25 year old recent computer programming graduate trying to get my first .Net Job. In anticipation of applying for a bunch of Junior .Net Developer jobs I am attempting to create a portfolio to show employers.
My portfolio is currently a blog of myself creating a website from the bottom up in .NET / C#. The blog contains entries of some of the code, struggles, and process of how I am creating the website. Some of the websites technologies, and blog entries include HTML, CSS, SQL, Linq Entities, my basic CMS(Content Management System for the blog entries), .Net Server Controls, and C# Code involved in the website.
Is this a good start for a portfolio, and is their anything else someone would recommond I add to the website?
Thanks
budugu
All-Star
41108 Points
6019 Posts
Re: Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
Apr 18, 2012 02:39 AM|LINK
That's a great start!! One thing i will advice any junior developer: Try offering your services for free\low rate for local charities(church groups, local community groups etc..). That way you will get good real world expirence and refrences. Also these contacts will enable you to land other jobs in the future
"Don't be afraid to be wrong; otherwise you'll never be right."
markfitzme
Star
14411 Points
2226 Posts
Re: Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
Apr 18, 2012 03:37 AM|LINK
budugu makes a great point about offering services. If you do a website for someone, make sure that there is a link there that points back to your site. This gives some validation that you actually did the work. You may also think of some utility you could make, or problem that you can solve with some coding, write an article about it and make the code free for download. That let's people give your work a try, and also see how you design and implement a project that does something beneficial for them.
Ruchira
All-Star
42941 Points
7024 Posts
MVP
Re: Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
Apr 18, 2012 09:12 AM|LINK
Couldn't agree more with the above two posts.
Additional to the things they have mentioned above, you can share your knowledge by participating to the online forums like this and contribute to the wiki section by writing quality articles.
Good luck!
My Tech blog | My YouTube ChannelPlease 'Mark as Answer' if this post helps you.cjstephens
Member
4 Points
11 Posts
Re: Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
Apr 19, 2012 04:43 AM|LINK
Thanks for some of the tips but I have a few more questions..
Realistically by the end of the week I could have my blog up and running with the topics I talked about before. But it wont be no fancy, smancy photoshop, jquery, pretty work of art. It would like like a pretty standard ordinary plain blog , nothing that will blow awayone from a UI point. I realize my design aspect needs work, but after all I am looking to become a .NET /C# Developer, and not some CSS. Dreamweaver, photoshop, flash, etc pro, Is this a bad thing?
Also, I've seen a bunch of Jr .Net postings all over the place, I meet alot of the postings requirements. Would my blog and some experience in HTML / CSS web development be adequate for most of these positions?
Richey
Contributor
3816 Points
431 Posts
Re: Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
Apr 20, 2012 05:43 AM|LINK
Hi,
As a .NET developer what you really care about is to implement the function of the website. You can have some knowledge of the css. The beautiful appearance of the website belong to the Art designing. You don’t be much care about it.
cjstephens
Member
4 Points
11 Posts
Re: Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
May 03, 2012 01:04 AM|LINK
Hi, I have a version of the site that I believe is sufficient for now.
www.chrisstephensj.com
Any tips or comments?
Thanks
budugu
All-Star
41108 Points
6019 Posts
Re: Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
May 04, 2012 02:33 AM|LINK
Looks good to me....you may be want to change buttons at top with hyperlink or better use menu control.
"Don't be afraid to be wrong; otherwise you'll never be right."
bgarmon
Member
2 Points
3 Posts
Re: Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
Jul 10, 2012 07:21 PM|LINK
Hi Chris,
Since you want to use this site to help your job search, you may want to include a contact section. As a recruiter, I love being able to send people email to see if I have an opportunity that might be a good fit. I have some Jr. .NET developer positions that I am working on currently, but nothing in your area.
Best of luck!
Brittany Garmon
Specs
Member
612 Points
149 Posts
Re: Getting First Junior .Net Developer Job
Jul 10, 2012 07:25 PM|LINK
That's a great way to differentiate yourself from other graduate programmers.
Couple things,
If you don't already, I would suggest reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Depth-Second-Edition-Jon-Skeet/dp/1935182471
and learning javascript , jQuery especially!
http://jquery.com/
These are must knows for .Net/C# web developers.