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View Full Version : Out of a Job (Ping: Computer Programmers)


Vince
05-09-2007, 05:24 PM
So as some of you might know, I started a new job last fall, as a PE Teacher at a local Elementary School. I loved the job, but recently I was told that I wouldn't be coming back next year. Apparently the district has contracted my position out to a 3rd party company, so instead of having different individually contracted PE Teachers at each school, this company is going to handle all PE in the district.

This is kind of a bummer, but I've been looking for new opportunities and I think it will be for the best (I recently came to the conclusion that I don't like having to work two jobs, and I want a single job that will support me comfortably in the bay area. Teaching will not fulfil that need at the moment). One such opportunity was presented to me through a friend, and I contacted the employer only to find out they were looking for someone with a BS/MS in Computer Science. I regretfully informed them that while I had a fair amount of undergraduate units in Computer Science, I had a degree in History. The 'fair amount' piqued their curiosity even though I didn't meet the requirements, and I'm sending in my resume next (which is exciting). The not so exciting part is that a lot of the work is in stuff I am unfamiliar with.

So basically...what would you guys who have experience in coding reccomend I study to gain a fundamental understanding of XSL/JavaScript/CSS/XML/HTML? The employer is aware that I don't have extensive knowlege, but I'm still not sure that I will be able to land the job. I'm a quick study, and I was fairly handy with C++ and Java back in the day, so if given the opportunity, I think I could succeed. However, I still need to get that opportunity, and I'd like to get the biggest jump on the job that I could.

sabotai
05-09-2007, 05:48 PM
So basically...what would you guys who have experience in coding reccomend I study to gain a fundamental understanding of XSL/JavaScript/CSS/XML/HTML?

That's all Web Developement, and not all that hard to learn in a small amount of time. HTML and CSS is pretty easy. XML, XSL and JavaScript I don't have much experience with, though.

Vince
05-09-2007, 06:00 PM
That's why I'm keeping my chin up in thinking that I could pick it up quickly. Any tips on where I could go around the internet to learn some stuff? Or perhaps a book or two I could go pick up?

flere-imsaho
05-09-2007, 06:40 PM
I've always heard good things about the O'Reilly (http://www.oreilly.com/) books, and back when I used to do more technical things, I definitely used them, and they were good. Bear in mind that standards change, and all that, so part of the deal is trying stuff out on your own, to learn.

Greyroofoo
05-09-2007, 06:55 PM
for basic html/javascript stuff i would try www.w3schools.com

gstelmack
05-09-2007, 08:04 PM
They want a BS for XSL/JavaScript/CSS/XML/HTML? You shouldn't have a hard time proving you can pick that up fairly quickly. Mostly those are topics you'll learn by doing as opposed to requiring a fairly decent academic background.