Have not been working as a programmer since the three years since I graduated and would like to, any advice? [closed]

Question

I graduated with my BS in CS, June 2009 and then took a job near school which they told me would be web site maintenance. It was actually web-based customer service with a small amount of working on the company site. After about six months I got super bored with it and decided to move back home. I was desperate for a job so I could pay rent and start paying off my student loans. After six months of looking I found my current job where I've been for about a year an a half. My current boss also promised me the job would be company website development and maintenance but I ended up getting railroaded into doing customer service again. I just found out that my boss is having a website developed by a friend which I guess I will be asked to keep updated.

I'm really unhappy in my job and I feel like my education is totally going to waste. I can't seem to find any job listings for CS degree students who don't have software development employment experience. And now that it's been three years since I graduated and I'm still not in the field it seems like that makes me look really bad to employers. I was offered an internship at a software company about a year ago but my fiance' asked me to turn it down because it would have been unpaid and we were running out of money. My current job takes up so much of my time and energy and leaves me so drained that I have a hard time working on projects at home or even finding the time to apply for new jobs.

So, my question is two fold:

1. how do I get past the stigma of not having been working in the industry since I graduated and
2. how do I find a CS job in the small amount of time I have. Posting resumes and applying to job postings online, writing cover letter after cover letter seems useless.

Answer 1

Lisa, given your desire to do programming work indicates that you won't become happy in your current job. You job appears to pay the bills but if you want a job that is fun and satisfying you probably need to swap employers. Try again with a different employer. Yes, you may have to start from square one but if you don't even try to find a job that better fits your requirements you will never get there. No job finds you. You need to search and find that job for you. Not your employer is responsible for your career, you are and you can do it!

So my answer to your first question (see your comments or hopefully once my edit has been approved in your original post): You get past the stigma by just trying again and again. Eventually you will find a job that meets your requirements.

To your second question: If posting resumes and applying for jobs online doesn't work for you, you need to find different ways. Maybe you could join a user group for any of the technologies or product that you are interested in? Or try online networking using tools like LinkedIn. Or contribute to sites like the stackexchange family or other online forums to improve your reputation. Become an expert on a subject and make sure people know about it.

Nothing happens automatically or over night. Just don't give up and keep trying!

Good luck!

Answer 2

How do I get past the stigma of not having been working in the industry since I graduated?

Initially your learning curve would be steep depending on how much you are in touch with programming but once you have completed your first project by covering the fundamentals, you will see your confidence improve.

More Projects = More Confidence.

How do I find a CS job in the small amount of time I have. Posting resumes and applying to job postings online, writing cover letter after cover letter seems useless.

Once your confidence levels are higher you will be in a position to join as a fresher by applying online. You must note that it might not be financially rewarding in the beginning but it will start to pay off as you get experienced.

Job Satisfaction > Pay

Good Luck!