Re: How do you become a programmer? Please read!!

As other posters have told you, Community college clesses may be a great place to start. Training schools can be good, but you have to pick them very carefully. Keep in mind thatin both Community colleges and trade schools, particular classes, and more importantly particular instructors, can be above or below average. It's just that your odds are better with the colleges.

(I've taught in both community college and in training schools. I like to think that I gave good value for the money in both cases. I've also taken good classes in both. I've also had a terrible instructor in more than one college class and know of below par instructors in a few training schools.)

You may have a good situation to start with. Take the ideas and skills you learn in the classes and try to apply them in your current business. While it may look a little like "I did this at home" on your resume, it will give you some practical experience. And when you get to the point where you do have a chance to interview for a job, you can use this to show that you are a self starter.

Take a beginning programming class. consider your future plans after that.

Good Luck

-- 
Edward J. Prochak   --- Magic Interface, Ltd.
Office: 440-498-3700
on the web at       --- http://www.magicinterface.com
email: ed.prochak_at_magicinterface.com




"shawn gregory" <sgregor6_at_tampabay.rr.com> wrote in message news:<nl2o8.265953$Dl4.33427948_at_typhoon.tampabay.rr.com>...


> Im very interested in programming, but have no real background or knowledge

> other than what I have learned on my own, not much yet. I ve posted one

> other time here about my interest in learning to be an Oracle developer and

> recieved good advice on being carefull with the tech " school" certification

> route as a way to get the education. Im convinced of my desire to do this,

> but unsure as to the best way to go about it. Im doing this backwards, as I

> am 34 and have had my own business since getting out of high school. Ive

> always liked being in charge of my time and carreer, and I probably would

> like to do the same with programming at some point. But, besides being

> proffitable, I really have this bug that I just have to figure this

> programming stuff out, even though I am not sure if I can.

> Given the fact that I want to be a programmer, probably in the area of

> database design,  what would be the best route to get the training, ( Real

> knowledge ), and the experience for me to pursue this, with possibly

> freelancing as an end goal? College, tech school, online learning,  etc.

> Does my age matter in the real world as far as starting now? Do I have to be

> Spock to do this? Any particular area of programming financially or

> creatively better? Were you as overwhelmed when you first started looking at

> code as I am?  How long did it take you to GET IT?

>  I would love to hear from everyone who has an opinion. I thank you.

> Shawn