Employment Options Part 1

A fine day to you!

It's been a long time since I've added to this blog, largely due to the group project taking the main focus of my efforts lately due to a recent deadline. But, that deadline is now past, and in the interest of keeping the blog up to date, I've decided to get to work prepping my dissertation

As part of our proposals, my student group has been encouraged to look at job applications and the requisite and desired traits. These will help us to decide what we want to do for our dissertation, and to refine existing ideas to make them more applicable for employability. Pretty good idea, all things considered.

For this post, everything highlighted in yellow will represent a skill or qualification I intend to have by the end of my course, while everything highlighted in red represents a skill which I neither currently have, nor expect to have attained before the academic year is out.

So, let's take a look at some job advertisements, and see what employers are looking for.


1: The People Network - C#, Java, C++, Delphi SOftware Developer

Qualifications:

• Software developer expertise in C#, C++, Java, Delphi, or XML

Desirable:

• Knowledge or one or more war gaming, mathematical modelling, simulation and defence analysis
• Object Oriented (OO) Design (inc UML) and implementation expertise
• Knowledge of military concepts and doctrine
• Experience of 3D modelling and visualisation
• Teaching/Training experience

This is an excellent place to start with looking for jobs. This position, working in small project teams to provide expert analysis and development of mathematically-based war-game software, requires the experience in C# I'm currently lacking, while I can still meet many of the desired traits (including experience with 3D modelling and knowledge of war gaming). With the C# experience my dissertation will offer, I would personally feel moderately confident in applying for this position.

2: Senitor Associates Limited - C# Developer

Qualifications:

• Proficient in C#/ASP.NET/HTML/CSS/XML/SQL Server
• Commercial awareness
• Excellent communication skills

This position, described only as a greenfield project, is somewhat less ideal for consideration; even with the C# experience I would gain with my dissertation, I would be missing the ability to use a number of coding languages. While it is mentioned that not all of these would be needed, the applicant would need to be strongest in C# and ASP.NET, with experience working with SQL Server. While it is unlikely that I would try applying for this or a similar position after my course, this application helps to highlight that C# proficiency is a desirable trait.

3: Goodgame Studios - Game Client Developer

Desirable:

• Several years of progessional experience with large software projects, ideally in game development
• Very good skills in object-oriented programming and MVC
• Very good knowledge of one of the following programming languages: Java, ActionScript 3, C++, C#
• Experience in the area of current game mechanisms
• The ability to look outside the box and solve problems
• A sense of responsibility, commitment and an open, friendly character
• You enjoy working in interdisciplinary teams and have a passion for games
• You have good knowledge of English, both spoken and written

Another good position to look at here; the only issues here are my lack of large software project experience, and knowledge of either C++ or C#. Otherwise, this would be an ideal position that I would be happy to apply for (aside from moving to Germany, but I'm not entirely opposed to the notion).

4: The Audentia Group - Front End Developer

Desirable:

• Ideally, 2:1 or above in computer science, games development or software engineering
• Experience with gaming/gambling
• Skills in TYPESCRIPT, C#, UNITY, JAVASCRIPT, BACKBONE JS, PHONEGAP, GRUNT BOWER, MARIONETTE, JQUERY, INTELLIJ IDEA, SASS, PIXI.JS, RUBY, GIT, JENKINS, MAVEN, ACTIONSCRIPT

The advertisement for this position lists a lot of skill areas that I haven't even heard of, let alone have experience in. I do know and understand a few items, however, and C# is one of their desirable traits. Once my dissertation is complete, I would be hesitant to apply for this position, but not unwilling.

So far, I've listed four working positions I could apply for with greater C# skills and experience, and there are plenty more already- or to-be-posted. This post is beginning to drag on quite a bit, so I'll leave it at those four for now, and may create another post later with more.

Mentioned multiple times both in these options, and in the posiitons I didn't list, is a desire for applicants with skills or knowledge of the .NET Framework. I think it may be worth looking into it as a possible addition to my dissertation; I'll research it a little more, find out exactly what it is, and consult my tutors.

Otherwise, that pretty much wraps us up for now. Have an excellent day, readers.