programming.

I enjoy programming. I actually want to make a career out of it. I'm 25 years old and out of college[cs degree], I have had a couple of temp projects and done some websites / etc - but didn't have a steady job in programming. Now I'm a purchasing a purchasing agent and I feel like my lifelong love of computers is slipping away from me. I go home everyday and I'm drained of energy dealing with stupid bullshit from my suppliers who usually lie/lose my faxes etc (frustrating). Anyways, where I'm going with this is, are there any entry level jobs out there these days. Or even free and interesting work (ie projects - telecommuting) I can do for charities. Thanks in advance for your advice.

- A fellow 4chan lurker

Well I fail at the grammar, make this edit s/purchasing a purchasing/purchasing

If you want free and interesting then try open source.

Take up freelance jobs, or or yeah, you could also do open source.

Look around for nonprofits in your area whose ideals you support and offer your services to help them fix computer problems, build/integrate new software, etc. Nonprofits have little money for infrastructure, use crufty old systems that are always on the edge of breaking, and have good connections. If you start with them you can build a successful consulting business, and helping nonprofits gives you a special sense of supporting your community.

I just can't do C++ - I find it so so hard.

By all means avoid as much as possible being put into a maintenance job. You *don't* want to have to fix someone else's old broken code, particularly when the job has a six month turnover and the app has been around for ten or fifteen years. Avoid avoid avoid!!! Get work in a position where you can write original software, or at the least integrate stuff together. Doing maintenance will suck the soul out of your body and run it through a cosmic meat grinder, and the hole in your psyche will be filled with rat turds and dead insects.

Take up freelance or part time jobs and go back to school to pick up a second degree or certificate type thing -- If you can apply your programming skills to a different field that you also enjoy, I bet you could find some rewarding work.

>>6

You don't have to master C++ and you certainly don't have to _like_ it, but you ought to at least figure it out. You'll be a better programmer after you've been exposed to the concepts of a few different languages.

By the way, shouldn't this be on the... programming board?