career change advice

[VBpunk]

I'm making the leap from Engineer / Programmer<br>to full scale VB Programmer.&nbsp;&nbsp;I've got a bunch<br>of interviews but I need to know a few things<br>before I change careers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Maybe some of you<br>out there can help.<br><br>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;How much do junior VB programmers make in<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;in Canada.<br><br>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;Have any of you had to write a test on VB<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;skills during an interview? <br><br>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;What should a non IT guy like me becareful<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;of when working in an IT company?<br><br>I ask number 2 because I've known people in<br>engineering who had to take tests in autocad<br>to get a job.<br><br>Thanks a lot for your reply.<br><br> <p>Deryck Ramsahai<br><a href=mailto:dramsahai@hotmail.com>dramsahai@hotmail.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>It takes two to lie. One to lie and one to listen.

 

[Snaggs]

Deryck,<br><br>I did the same thing.&nbsp;&nbsp;I went from Electronics to Programming and found it to be well worth the time and effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also the compensation is much nicer!&nbsp;&nbsp;I think here in the USA in the mid-west you can get 30-35k a year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Don't let that discourage you, remember, you are a jr level programmer.&nbsp;&nbsp;However I encourage you stick it out for about a year or two and get a grip on how things are done.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then you can start moving up quickly assuming you're learning new things all the time.<br><br>I give the tests here at my company and most of the tests I've seen are very basic.&nbsp;&nbsp;They don't try to burn you.&nbsp;&nbsp;The test in ACAD your friend took was most likely for a specific job in the ACAD field.<br><br>What to be careful of?&nbsp;&nbsp;Hmmm...&nbsp;&nbsp;How about upper management changing the requirements on you and having to redo all the code you just spent months working on!&nbsp;&nbsp;That's a biggie and you'd be surprised how common it is!<br><br>Good luck. <p>Steve<br><a href=mailto:tribesaddict@swbell.net>tribesaddict@swbell.net</a><br><a href= > </a><br>