Well, guess it''s my turn now. Hello peoples, I am a web-dev new to Ruby and Rails. Blah blah blah....love it....blah blah blah....really fast development......blah blah.....10x. Rather than write out a whole bio, I''m just going to copy and paste from my internship request thread on the ruby-talk list. ------------------------------Begin Pasted Message: ------------------------------------------ Ruby Internship Request #1 (RIR) Hello, I am currently looking at various internship opportunities for this summer. As my dream internship would be with a web design company that uses Ruby, I''ve decided to post this request to the ML. I live in Baltimore, MD. - While this limits local internships to Maryland, I would also enjoy participating in an online internship (ie. Work from home. Collaborate over web or phone). I am 17. - Maybe a little young, but don''t stop reading here. I like to think I''m mature for my age. I am a fairly skilled programmer. - As there is so much to choose from, I have dabbled in everything. I can do CSS, X/HTML, JavaScript, DHTML, C/C++, Obj-C/Cocoa, Ruby (plus some minor php and perl stuff). Of course, my focus right now is in Ruby and it is my favorite language by far. I have experience in all major OS''s. - Mac OS X (My home turf), Unix, Linux (many different distro''s) and Windows. I spend most of my time troubleshooting these systems for people, so I have a fair idea of how each works. I have been using computers since I was 2. - I guess I''m part of the new digirati wave ... or whatever the media is calling it this week. I love computers, and everything associated with them. - Computers are fun! Programming is fun! Fun things are not work. Work can be the target of procrastination, fun things can not. In other words, I am reliable and will complete projects at the greatest possible speed. I do not need (much) pay. - My primary goal in seeking this internship is to gain more experience. Specifically, I would like to gain more experience in the area of web/interface design. I can program fairly well, and I can create usable interfaces, but I want to really learn how to create sleek, cool looking, designs. Please note that this is not a criteria for any internship, just a preference. Also, I would not expect any employer to actively teach me things. Rather, I''d probably pick them up as I go along (ie. just by working with them). I can''t think of anything else. - Please let me know if you are in any way interested, and/or if you desire more information about me. I am stuck in this weird style of typing. - Ok I''ll stop now. -Thanks for considering, Shalev (aka Pugio) ---------------------------End Pasted Message-------------------------------------------------- There ya have it.
Welcome! On Apr 4, 2005 6:23 PM, Shalev NessAiver <snlists-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> wrote: <snip>> I live in Baltimore, MD. - While this limits local internships to > Maryland, I would also enjoy participating > in an online internship (ie. Work from home. Collaborate over web or phone).Awesome, I live in the Annapolis area.> I am 17. - Maybe a little young, but don''t stop reading here. I like > to think I''m mature for my age.I hear ya.. I was working for IBM when I was 16 and had that whole thing to deal with as well..> I am a fairly skilled programmer. - As there is so much to choose > from, I have dabbled in everything. > I can do CSS, X/HTML, JavaScript, DHTML, C/C++, Obj-C/Cocoa, Ruby > (plus some minor php and perl stuff). > Of course, my focus right now is in Ruby and it is my favorite language by far.Do you go to any users group meetings or anything? I haven''t since moving here, but was just curious as to which ones you''d attend. I''m working on getting a project funded at the moment, so hopefully that happens and you''re still available. Regards, -JD-
Lots of criticism, but don''t take any of it too harshly :) Tip #1: Don''t self-deprecate. You''re not young, you''re "fresh" ;) Confidence is huge in getting hired. Don''t feel like you need to compare yourself to a Senior Developer with 10+ years of experience. The fact that you''re posting to this list and asking for advice means that you''re smarter than most of your peers.> I am 17. - Maybe a little young, but don''t stop reading here. I like > to think I''m mature for my age. > >Versatility is great, but so is knowing a couple of languages well enough to develop a web server, or content management system, etc... I look for candidates with a focused background in at least one OO-language and one scripting language. OOP is great for larger, more complex projects, but scripting is essential for those dirty hacks that make your life as a programmer (and average computer user) infinitely more productive. Did someone say "Ruby"?> I am a fairly skilled programmer. - As there is so much to choose > from, I have dabbled in everything. > I can do CSS, X/HTML, JavaScript, DHTML, C/C++, Obj-C/Cocoa, Ruby > (plus some minor php and perl stuff). > Of course, my focus right now is in Ruby and it is my favorite > language by far. >Excellent.> I have experience in all major OS''s. - Mac OS X (My home turf), Unix, > Linux (many different distro''s) and Windows. > >Even better.> I spend most of my time troubleshooting these systems for people, so I > have a fair idea of how each works. >Every programmer I know would say the same thing. But some day you''re going to get stuck writing something that just doesn''t push your buttons. Make sure that you''re prepared for that, and that you demonstrate your ability to deal with projects that aren''t as sexy as say, a new Firefox plugin.> I love computers, and everything associated with them. - Computers > are fun! Programming is fun! Fun things are not > work. Work can be the target of procrastination, fun things can not. > In other words, I am reliable and will complete > projects at the greatest possible speed. >Don''t undersell yourself. An employer will make you an offer commensurate with his perception of your value. Your age will only count against you compared with similarly-skilled candidates insofar as it affects your professionalism, punctuality and verbal/written communication skills. Most of this stuff is usually learned on the job (by screwing up), but you can get a head-start if you pick the right books. "How the real world really works" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0425153053/) is a great reference as is "How to win friends and influence people" by Dale Carnegie.> I do not need (much) pay. - My primary goal in seeking this > internship is to gain more experience. Specifically, I would > like to gain more experience in the area of web/interface design.If you want to make sleek, cool-looking designs, go to art school. This is *not* to say that graphic design are separate disciplines: anyone who''s seen the average programmer''s ui prototypes will tell you that programmers can benefit from some graphic design training. I myself am trained in both, and I find that the two inform each other in ways that complement each. Graphic design is about organizing information non-linearly, while programming is about translating non-linear concepts into a language that a sequenced machine can understand.> I > can program fairly well, and I can create usable interfaces, > but I want to really learn how to create sleek, cool looking, designs. > >Great. Just make sure to ask for help if you need it. My intern pings me whenever it takes more than 10 or 20 minutes to solve a bottleneck, and oftentimes working together we find the solution faster than either of us would on our own.> Also, I would not expect any employer to actively > teach me things. Rather, I''d probably pick them up as > I go along (ie. just by working with them). >You seem to be on a great track. Best of luck, Ben -- Ben Jackson Diretor de Desenvolvimento INCOMUM Design & Conceito +55 (21) 9997-0593 ben-p14LI7ZcAE/pVLaUnt/cCQC/G2K4zDHf@public.gmane.org http://www.incomumdesign.com
Thanks for all the advice Ben! I''ll be sure to keep your in mind when submitting applications in the future. My only fear is of over-selling myself and then not being able to live up to my employers expectations. Still... you never know untill you try right? Anyway, thanks again for the advice. -Shalev On Apr 4, 2005 11:26 PM, Ben Jackson <ben-p14LI7ZcAE/pVLaUnt/cCQC/G2K4zDHf@public.gmane.org> wrote:> Lots of criticism, but don''t take any of it too harshly :) > > Tip #1: Don''t self-deprecate. You''re not young, you''re "fresh" ;) > Confidence is huge in getting hired. Don''t feel like you need to compare > yourself to a Senior Developer with 10+ years of experience. The fact > that you''re posting to this list and asking for advice means that you''re > smarter than most of your peers. > > > I am 17. - Maybe a little young, but don''t stop reading here. I like > > to think I''m mature for my age. > > > > > Versatility is great, but so is knowing a couple of languages well > enough to develop a web server, or content management system, etc... I > look for candidates with a focused background in at least one > OO-language and one scripting language. OOP is great for larger, more > complex projects, but scripting is essential for those dirty hacks that > make your life as a programmer (and average computer user) infinitely > more productive. Did someone say "Ruby"? > > > I am a fairly skilled programmer. - As there is so much to choose > > from, I have dabbled in everything. > > I can do CSS, X/HTML, JavaScript, DHTML, C/C++, Obj-C/Cocoa, Ruby > > (plus some minor php and perl stuff). > > Of course, my focus right now is in Ruby and it is my favorite > > language by far. > > > Excellent. > > > I have experience in all major OS''s. - Mac OS X (My home turf), Unix, > > Linux (many different distro''s) and Windows. > > > > > Even better. > > > I spend most of my time troubleshooting these systems for people, so I > > have a fair idea of how each works. > > > Every programmer I know would say the same thing. But some day you''re > going to get stuck writing something that just doesn''t push your > buttons. Make sure that you''re prepared for that, and that you > demonstrate your ability to deal with projects that aren''t as sexy as > say, a new Firefox plugin. > > > I love computers, and everything associated with them. - Computers > > are fun! Programming is fun! Fun things are not > > work. Work can be the target of procrastination, fun things can not. > > In other words, I am reliable and will complete > > projects at the greatest possible speed. > > > Don''t undersell yourself. An employer will make you an offer > commensurate with his perception of your value. Your age will only count > against you compared with similarly-skilled candidates insofar as it > affects your professionalism, punctuality and verbal/written > communication skills. Most of this stuff is usually learned on the job > (by screwing up), but you can get a head-start if you pick the right > books. "How the real world really works" > (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0425153053/) is a great > reference as is "How to win friends and influence people" by Dale Carnegie. > > > I do not need (much) pay. - My primary goal in seeking this > > internship is to gain more experience. Specifically, I would > > like to gain more experience in the area of web/interface design. > > If you want to make sleek, cool-looking designs, go to art school. This > is *not* to say that graphic design are separate disciplines: anyone > who''s seen the average programmer''s ui prototypes will tell you that > programmers can benefit from some graphic design training. I myself am > trained in both, and I find that the two inform each other in ways that > complement each. Graphic design is about organizing information > non-linearly, while programming is about translating non-linear concepts > into a language that a sequenced machine can understand. > > > I > > can program fairly well, and I can create usable interfaces, > > but I want to really learn how to create sleek, cool looking, designs. > > > > > Great. Just make sure to ask for help if you need it. My intern pings me > whenever it takes more than 10 or 20 minutes to solve a bottleneck, and > oftentimes working together we find the solution faster than either of > us would on our own. > > > Also, I would not expect any employer to actively > > teach me things. Rather, I''d probably pick them up as > > I go along (ie. just by working with them). > > > You seem to be on a great track. Best of luck, > > Ben > > -- > Ben Jackson > Diretor de Desenvolvimento > INCOMUM Design & Conceito > > +55 (21) 9997-0593 > ben-p14LI7ZcAE/pVLaUnt/cCQC/G2K4zDHf@public.gmane.org > http://www.incomumdesign.com > > _______________________________________________ > Rails mailing list > Rails-1W37MKcQCpIf0INCOvqR/iCwEArCW2h5@public.gmane.org > http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails >