I am a non-graduate, but working on VB, can i get a job and where and how?

Answer 1

You might be knowing VB but graduation is a must now-a-days. I faced the same problem.

Answer 2

As a non-graduate, you will face some challenges that you might not otherwise. Holding a degree isn't necessarily proof of being a good hire for a programming position, but it tends to be an indicator of basic skills. You're going to need to prove you have those skills, even though you didn't acquire them through school.

My advice would be as follows:

Pick up a couple other languages. This isn't because there is necessarily anything wrong with VB, or that any other language is really better... code is code, and logic is logic, and what language you're using is less important than the application and the runtime characteristics you need. That said, I strongly suggest learning at least C... not only is it the language most other commonly used languages are based on syntactically, but it also gives you some experience in working without managed or interpretted code safety nets, which will be invaluable in your coding career.

Get into open source projects. Or build and publish an indy game on your web site. Or put together web sites for volunteer organizations. Do something that gives you some visibility... even better if you can do something in your field of interest. You'll want to be able to put a URL in your resume, point to it and say "I did that, and I can talk about how it works, and why it works the way it does." This acts as some proof that you know what you're doing, and will also give you something to talk about during your interviews.

Code, code, code, code and code. Find a web site or book with programming interview problems, solve them and 'code' them up on paper or a whiteboard, without the use of compilers or debuggers. When you show examples, or solve interview questions for prospective employers, you want to be obviously good at what you're doing. You will need practice.

Finally, if you have any choice in the matter at all, finish school. Your competition is going to, and people will pay attention to degrees on a resume for entry level hires, even if in some cases that may not be fair. This applies even after you get a job and start drawing a paycheck, especially if the company will help with tuition. In the long run, you will want a degree.

Good luck.

Answer 3

If you're REALLY good, and you can PROVE it, then you will eventually get there. Employers don't want graduates per se, they want someone who can do the job well, and if that means taking on the unqualified applicant who is clearly fit for the job then that's what they will do. The only problem as far as I can see is that you're entering the already over-saturated VB programming market. Learn something with more of a niche quality to it and you may be talking!

Good luck with whatever you do, and hopefully you'll move on from VB and learn to code :)

Answer 4

Start working on VB.Net and asp.net. Use the latest products such as SQL server 2005 and Vstudio 2005 and get skilled up on things like Indigo (WCF). Then sit the new (almost ready for release) .net exams (V2) and become either a certified web developer or windows developer and you are on well your way to breaking into the industry without a uni degree