I don't know of any "guidelines". You could put together a CD with some
programs that you wrote, but the problem there is you will need to have
them packaged up for install. If they don't want to install it, it will
get over looked, or if they have a PC issue, then it will look like your
fault. I've seen two people now take in a three ring binder with source
code printed and some nice color screen shots of the program in various
stages. The one guy wrote a couple of programs. One balanced his check
book for him, the other stored all his CDs complete with lyrics, and
cover pictures. The other guy had a somewhat complete financial
accounting program. Both of them had about 150 - 200 pages of code in
the book and 20 - 30 screen shots. What they told me, is while they were
talking, the interviewers flipped through the book. They didn't spend a
lot of time looking at the code, but they did the screenshots. They both
were hired. But that was only 2 guys, and I don't know that many
programmers. So take it with a grain of salt. I have a portfolio put
together now that I update every time I do something at home, just in
case I need to find another job.
I don't know how well a web site would work. If you give them a web site
to look at, unless they are interested in you already, they may not take
the time to visit the site. I would make sure you have something to hand
them to look at while in the interview. Be prepared to explain why you
wrote it, how you went about it, why you did it a certain way as opposed
to other ways, and what the end results where. Ex. Did your friends like
it and use it?
Here is a general web site about portfolios in general.
http://www.heraldtimesjobs.com/article.php?n=8
The hardest part for you is going to be landing that first job,
especially with no degree. I don't know what area you are from, but in
Detroit it has been REALLY hard for programmers to find work. There are
still a lot of them looking.
WStoreyII wrote:[color=blue]
> So are there any guidelines for a portfolio that i should make?
>
> like should it be only written stuff or should i bring a disk or put up a
> webpage
> can i only use a project that was created for someone
> or could i make up a hypothetical situation like ms did with the northwind
> database?
>
> any websites on the subject or book recommendations would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> WStoreyII
>
> Thanks Again
>
> "WStoreyII" wrote:
>
>[color=green]
>>First Question:
>>
>>Due to the hours of my job i can not go to school right now and i can't
>>afford online classes. My questions is that i have learned a lot about .net
>>and i am pretty sure that if i got the right books i could learn what i need
>>to pass a test for the .net certification. Of course i have no practical
>>experience. Which brings me to my question. How credible in the eyes of an
>>employer would a certification be? Any other input or advice would be
>>helpfull as well. I really want a career in programming but just dont know
>>how to get my foot in the door.
>>
>>Second Question:
>>
>>I know that htis is not the right newsgroup for this but did not know of
>>another newsgroup to post to. I have a form that i use for my company and
>>have scanned. but i need to be able to make the fields on this form editable
>>so that i can print an exact copy of this form with data on it. How can i do
>>this with out making an application for it. Can it be done in ms word?
>>
>>WStoreyII[/color][/color]
--
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Aaron Smith
Remove -1- to E-Mail me. Spam Sucks.
