Kelvoron

I have been browsing job sites (ie: careerbuilder,monster,dice) and i have noticed that all of the jobs posted require you to have 3+ years in the fieled. I can understand needing a degree, but how are you supose to get a job if you don't have the 3+ years, no one will give you a job so you can work up to those 3+ years, it is rather annoying. So how did you guys land your first programming job?

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Klarre

I am in the game industry where it is exactly like this. You can't get a job as a programmer for console games if you hasn't released at least two games and got 3 years of experience. Since the devkits for console programming are only available for game companies you can't get any experience without working on a game company. It is an evil circle.

What they write is what they _wish_ to have.

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Infinite Recursion

I experienced the same thing when looking for a job out of college. They all wanted expereince but how can you get experience if no one will hire you...

You can start with an internship or an entry level / college grad position. As Klarre stated, some companies only list that because it is what is desired, not required. You could always list side projects that you may have worked on as experience. Apply for the positions you want, let the HR be responsible for filtering you out. You may find, in some instances, that education, certifications, or proven ability can be substitued for experience.

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"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."

ReggaetonKing

My HR manager told me they count open source projects as experience. Well, I didn't have any experience in programming (except what was self-taught) and my former employer still hired me. When they interviewed me, they said I had the necessary skills. Don't let the require experience discourage you applying for the position.

I am now working with my second company, programming applications for the Navy and I just finished High School last June.

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I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code!

Seif

Most companies including the games industry offer Graduate / Junior positions, that just require a good degree. Thats how I got my job.

Wizard1988

You might want to consider lookin gon craigslist. I see many opportunities in my area...

@ReggaetonKing:
How did you get involved with the Navy? What would I have to do and who would I have to see in order to get in?

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ReggaetonKing

For my previous employer, I was working part-time, developing Oracle web applications. Around May, they asked me what I wanted to do after I graduate HS. I told them I wanted to do more intense web development and go to college as well. So they found a position open for web developer/I.T. Support for the Naval Business Center in Philadelpha. Didn't really like the work (SharePoint, old Access and ASP apps) In August, I saw a another opportunity programming .NET web applications and services, paying more at the same place but under a different company, SAIC. As of Sept 17, I work for SAIC now.

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I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code!

Wizard1988

That sounds cool. What type of apps/services do you topically work on?
I myself know C#, but haven't really toyed around with ASP. From what I am seeing right now it sure looks like ASP is something good to know.

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ReggaetonKing

Our project is called Diesel Inspection Management Information System. It's pretty big, I excepted it to be a lot bigger than the lead programmer had mentioned.

Note: learn ASP.NET, not ASP!

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I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code!

Wizard1988

THATS what I meant, I know they are very different but yeah...

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