Reply to: Good afternoon from the south

[BrickBrack]

A lot of the requirements on a job advert can sometimes just be a wish list

so the client wants someone with all this experience but actually it is only expereince x which they really need.

can be difficult to get them to agree that though.....

but keep grinding

Yes I'd agree it largely wish list, I just get so burnt out at work my self motivaton dies hence wanting to target my efforts in the correct area.

[BrickBrack]

Yes but not in career development. We tend to move around delivering our particular skill.

I get that it but in doing so it allows you to see gain a larger sample size on which to base your opinion. I have no desire go into management I just need to make some more money tbh and being as you have that large sample size to operate I'd like people opinion.

[BrickBrack]

TL;DR

Yes I know, just trying to get ideas from other people experiences.

[original PM]

A lot of the requirements on a job advert can sometimes just be a wish list

so the client wants someone with all this experience but actually it is only expereince x which they really need.

can be difficult to get them to agree that though.....

but keep grinding

[northernladuk]

Well here is the question.
I’d like a bit of advice on what to concentrate on to develop my career.

I’m not specifically looking for a contracting role, (I’d like to contracting, I expect my experience is too narrow atm) but I thought that because this is a U.K. forum and contractors get to move around a lot there would be a good breadth of experience here.

Yes but not in career development. We tend to move around delivering our particular skill.

I’m looking to move jobs but every job I look at seems to have different requirements and I seem to fall short when applying because I don’t have enough experience in technology X’’. I need ........

[SimonMac]

Well here is the question.
I’d like a bit of advice on what to concentrate on to develop my career.

I’m not specifically looking for a contracting role, (I’d like to contracting, I expect my experience is too narrow atm) but I thought that because this is a U.K. forum and contractors get to move around a lot there would be a good breadth of experience here.

I’m looking to move jobs but every job I look at seems to have different requirements and I seem to fall short when applying because I don’t have enough experience in technology X’’. I need to concentrate on another technology to increase my employability. I’m not really bothered by languages personally ,(massive APIs that scare me more), but I need to centrate on adding another one as I’m stagnating.

My background is in applied mathematics research, fluid dynamics, and my current job is mainly in Fortran (not modern Fortran unfortunately) writing training simulators . I’d like to hear people recommendations on which language I should concentrate on give the application and the U.K. market in which I’m operating. I’m especially keen on hearing from people who are science / engineering based. I’ve drifted into programming more as a tool (I’m not a general programmer) rather than having always programmed all though university / teenage years *e.t.c. but I still like to follow good practice.

I think I’ve three main options.

Python.
As well as Fortran I also have experience python, but both have been used for administrative tasks (combined with some Bash) for text parsing tasks e.t.c., I wouldn’t say I was a python developer.
Positives: I know a little, has a good libraries.
Negatives: I haven't really seen many jobs in my domain (if any jobs asking for it).

C++
I also *have a little C++ knowledge. My theoretical knowledge of how many of language features works is actually reasonable as I’ve used it as a method of learning the functionality of different data structures and algorithms and to learn some more low level aspect of computer operation but I’m not well practiced so forget syntax if I’m not using it, don’t know the STL like the back of my hand, only know a little Qt and a tiny bit of Boost from experimenting otherwise don’t really know any tool kits super well. I use it at work a little but bug fixing and tweaking rather than developing. I don’t use it often enough to sit down and develop without thinking, hence on a test I spend time reacquainting myself with aspects rather than getting the questions done.
Positives: I know it a little with ok theoretical knowledge just need practice, I’ve seen jobs in my field using it.
Negatives: Its a massive and tough language, seem like a catch 22 of you can’t get good at it without years and years of experience but you can’t get a job using C++ if you’re not a or at least very good.

C#
This is purely on a friend’s recommendation as he loves it, but he writes more business / banking db based applications. It looks like a good language and is definitely capable but I haven’t noticed that jobs in the science / engineering, this may well just be the oddities of my searches.
Positives: Seems like a good popular modern language.
Negatives: Have not really seen any jobs in science / engineering asking for it. I’d have to buy a copy of windows to learn it properly.

I know someone will say improve / learn them all but I don’t have the time, nor to be honest the energy to spend every waking hour I’m not at work on a computer, I need my time outside learning other stuff! I’ve also used some specialist languages such as mathematica that uses a functional style, wrote matlab for a year disease modeling, and I alway like to learn more but I have to prioritise in order to get a new job and develop as I’m stagnating in my current role.

God that was a long ramble!

TL;DR

[BrickBrack]

Well here is the question.
I’d like a bit of advice on what to concentrate on to develop my career.

I’m not specifically looking for a contracting role, (I’d like to contracting, I expect my experience is too narrow atm) but I thought that because this is a U.K. forum and contractors get to move around a lot there would be a good breadth of experience here.

I’m looking to move jobs but every job I look at seems to have different requirements and I seem to fall short when applying because I don’t have enough experience in technology X’’. I need to concentrate on another technology to increase my employability. I’m not really bothered by languages personally ,(massive APIs that scare me more), but I need to centrate on adding another one as I’m stagnating.

My background is in applied mathematics research, fluid dynamics, and my current job is mainly in Fortran (not modern Fortran unfortunately) writing training simulators . I’d like to hear people recommendations on which language I should concentrate on give the application and the U.K. market in which I’m operating. I’m especially keen on hearing from people who are science / engineering based. I’ve drifted into programming more as a tool (I’m not a general programmer) rather than having always programmed all though university / teenage years *e.t.c. but I still like to follow good practice.

I think I’ve three main options.

Python.
As well as Fortran I also have experience python, but both have been used for administrative tasks (combined with some Bash) for text parsing tasks e.t.c., I wouldn’t say I was a python developer.
Positives: I know a little, has a good libraries.
Negatives: I haven't really seen many jobs in my domain (if any jobs asking for it).

C++
I also *have a little C++ knowledge. My theoretical knowledge of how many of language features works is actually reasonable as I’ve used it as a method of learning the functionality of different data structures and algorithms and to learn some more low level aspect of computer operation but I’m not well practiced so forget syntax if I’m not using it, don’t know the STL like the back of my hand, only know a little Qt and a tiny bit of Boost from experimenting otherwise don’t really know any tool kits super well. I use it at work a little but bug fixing and tweaking rather than developing. I don’t use it often enough to sit down and develop without thinking, hence on a test I spend time reacquainting myself with aspects rather than getting the questions done.
Positives: I know it a little with ok theoretical knowledge just need practice, I’ve seen jobs in my field using it.
Negatives: Its a massive and tough language, seem like a catch 22 of you can’t get good at it without years and years of experience but you can’t get a job using C++ if you’re not a or at least very good.

C#
This is purely on a friend’s recommendation as he loves it, but he writes more business / banking db based applications. It looks like a good language and is definitely capable but I haven’t noticed that jobs in the science / engineering, this may well just be the oddities of my searches.
Positives: Seems like a good popular modern language.
Negatives: Have not really seen any jobs in science / engineering asking for it. I’d have to buy a copy of windows to learn it properly.

I know someone will say improve / learn them all but I don’t have the time, nor to be honest the energy to spend every waking hour I’m not at work on a computer, I need my time outside learning other stuff! I’ve also used some specialist languages such as mathematica that uses a functional style, wrote matlab for a year disease modeling, and I alway like to learn more but I have to prioritise in order to get a new job and develop as I’m stagnating in my current role.

God that was a long ramble!

[SimonMac]

That is a fail then... Mumsnet for you my son.

Stone the non believer!

[northernladuk]

I'm gladiators agnostic..

That is a fail then... Mumsnet for you my son.

[BrickBrack]

Pah! I may be soft but I drink ale and stout!


Plus homemade Zider!

[SimonMac]

Just what we need, another soft souther shandy drinking fairy

[BrickBrack]

"Contractor curious" - there's something about that phrase that is decidedly dirty.


qh

You are right it does sound a bit like a first time cottager who's not quite sure...

[quackhandle]

"Contractor curious" - there's something about that phrase that is decidedly dirty.


qh

[BrickBrack]

Thanks for the welcome

Wanderer is the nice one around here.
What do you want to ask? Make sure it can't be found by searching the forum or NorthernladUK (CUK forum personality 2011) will have you.

Do you like films about gladiators?

I'm gladiators agnostic.

The question is a kind of career advice question, a where to focus my efforts type thing given my experience and the U.K market. I'll try and tidy it up a little.

[Zippy]

Wanderer is the nice one around here.
What do you want to ask? Make sure it can't be found by searching the forum or NorthernladUK (CUK forum personality 2011) will have you.

Do you like films about gladiators?