iamacp.com – I Am A Computer Programmer
All about the daily work issues of a Java/J2EE Computer Programmer

Hello all, I have been spending probably 10-12+ hours a day during weekdays and still more on the weekend during this job hunt. I talk to so many head hunters and people a day it’s hard at times. I had a phone interview today and have a appointment with a recruiter by the airport tomorrow. I just see how many recruiters show the same jobs and post them and wonder just how bad this market is.

The last time I was looking for a job before moving to Florida I just wanted to get out of the area I was living in.  I just did not care how I did on interviews there. I tried but did not give my full effort until this opportunity came along.

I’ve even started to consider jobs  with a 1 hour commute and will even take the loss of breaking my lease if i can find another Florida opportunity if nothing comes up quick enough. Now I am just doing my best fighting the hardest to stay in Florida. Regardless even a small move to a new city I will again yet to have to reinvent myself and start from scratch (not totally from scratch but still have to relocate). Maybe it will be a good thing if it comes to that. Nothing says I can’t get a job elsewhere in the state and come back to Tampa when I can. Locals are always giving preference to Florida jobs 1st. Protecting my dream of remaining here is worth the sacrifice of a minor set back.

Still hard to believe I lasted 1 1/2 years on a contract that was initially supposed to be for 6 months.  I’m also turning 30 next month and I would really like a nice city that I can call home and remain for years not just the short 18 months I have worked here. Living here for me is pure paradise and I don’t regret the experience of it at all. I know and heard of many people who would give anything to live in Florida but have never had the opportunity.

On a positive note I just completed  Ace the IT Interview by Paula Moreira. This was really worth the read. It gives some help and ideas that I vastly need to help my needed interview skills. I’m sure I’ve learned enough to improve my chances of landing a job with this book. My goal is now 10% ( (100% / 50) * 5 Books) completed.   Now I just have to finish the next 45 books and my goal will be achieved. I’ve now just  just started a book about JSF and hope to focus on learning that during my downtime.

It’s been quite a very long and shocking week for me but I will keep trying until I get my next position. The golden rule of life that is persistence prevails. You can try 100 times and fail but succeed on the 101th try and it makes it worth it. I have been spending most of my time on the phone and have already met with a local IT headhunter. I am trying my best to stay in Tampa but am willing to sacrifice and move to another city in Florida for the right opportunity. Flexibility is key in a bad job market.

I am just thinking about how ridiculous it was too be notified this late in the year that the budget cut backs should have been made from the start of the year. Some people  have apartment leases and to break them is costly. Now it would probably cost way more to be unemployed than to just suck up and pay a penalty regardless of the cost.

Now I have to get back to doing some more reading and will continue to post updates on my job hunt as it goes.

Well, it seems just when you think everything is going right shit happens. Yes, it seems do to budget cutbacks my position has been eliminated. The rest of my remaining former  contractor coworkers have to take 4+ weeks of vacation till the end of the year. I have again learned and grew in my current position and became a better developer because of my experiences.  At least I left on a much better note this time and have excellent references from several supervisors.

The only thing bad I can say is who in there right mind would tolerate a 15% pay cut (vacation time amounted to the 15% cut). If I were my former coworkers I would start looking. It’s a insult and degrading to take such a pay cut.

On a positive note I purchased the Amazon Kindle 2 weeks ago and it has been enhancing my reading productivity. I have now become closer to reaching my goal of reading 50 books.  I just completed my 1st truly technical book on my Kindle. The book is  Oracle 11g For Dummies by Michael Wessler. Don’t let the For Dummies scare you it really is a complicated book on Oracle DBA stuff. I learned alot of cool stuff into the background of what Oracle DBA’s do which is something I was curious about. My goal is now 8% ( (100% / 50) * 4 Books) completed.   Now I just have to finish the next 46 books and my goal will be achieved.

I also finally upgraded to Windows 7 awhile back and it’s by far the best Windows version yet. I can’t believe how slick it is. It’s stable as anything and it works better than any version I have seen.

Now things always happen for a reason and I’m sure this happened for a great reason.