Hello,
I am wondering what is a valuable program (or programs) that a prospective employer hiring in Java, Python, C# or any high level programming language would like to see in the candidates work history? This or these programs would be seen as valuable indicators for the persons knowledge of the language.
A list of useful apps would be helpful. Just let me know what you think is a good app to have on your resume or CV.
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.
A migration from a system in one language to another system in another language.
We under went a migration from a Jade system to C#/C++, not only does it teach about the other language, it also gives you a full (or better) understanding of your own system
I've always found applications in finance and or insurance have helped me a LOT.
If you can get a small contract, even 6 months, in a bank then I think that would serve you pretty well. Likewise with insurance, any insurance. Health, Vehicle, House etc.
I think those are two big sectors that have far reaching applications.
Oh and also payment gateway stuff is pretty big.
I was thinking of making a diagramming application like Microsoft Visio, where it demonstrated proper object design and use of design patterns. Unfortunately never succeeded though!
I'm not sure it's the app that's important so much as the skills. About 7 years ago I applied somewhere. On my resume was 2 years of pizza delivery following a layoff... and a personal app that I was working on in my spare time. (It was a client for Livejournal.com written in C#.) I got asked about it repeatedly in my interviews, and ultimately I think that helped me get the job.
The point is, do something. If your work history doesn't show that you did any software development, develop something on your own. Provided it's more substantial than "Hello, World" it should look just fine. At that point, you're showing that you can program beyond in a theoretical or academic sense, and that's the important part.
I think mostly anything.
The fact you create something of your own initiative says much about your self. I think it is more important to create it, and finish it and not leave it only in a prototype. That would show your potential employer, you know how to desing an application, code it, and ship it, plus you would've learn a lot about bugs in the process and a long list of etc's.
If you can make your project open source or at least have a public website to show it it would be much better.
Create something and finish it would definitely differentiate you from the rest ( until the rest create something also :P )
Me as an interviewer:
1) Something relevant to the job. If I hire a web developer, I want to see some web applications he created (or participated in creation). Period.
2) Some project alive and used by people. In other words, if there're ten free applications doing the same thing already, maybe creating eleventh is not worth it. But if you, for example, pitched in some reasonably popular open-source project, that's not nothing.
Understanding of the full development life circle is one of the most appreciated experience in my point of view.
no matter big or small, no matter what language you use, if you have some "real life" project, you understand or built it from scratch.
most likely you will know:
most of the "Jargon" can be easily found in textbooks, Wikipeida, or google for your interview. but you probably wont be able to understand it in full until you really used it, that is precious.
I am wondering what is a valuable program (or programs) that a prospective employer hiring in Java, Python, C# or any high level programming language would like to see in the candidates work history?
I really like to see that if you're proficient in a particular language, that you've written a compiler either in it or for it (or both). It's certainly not necessary but it does help. But that's just me. I think you'll find that the answer to this question depends almost 100% on who you're asking.
As in many other things, "it all depends". Here are some thoughts.
Code actually used by other people is much more impressive than code done for a class or for learning (but those help too). So you might aim for something like web site development for a non-profit, or developing a free iPhone or Android application that people find useful, or contributing to an open source project.
Larger software systems are much more impressive than smaller ones, so if you can, take a college course that does multi-person long term projects instead of smaller machine problems.
Code you can show to prospective employers is more valuable than code you have to leave behind at a former employer. ideally, you'd like to be able to show source code as well as operation. If you aren't allowed to do this, you can always publish a blog showing how you solved specific technical problems, but using example code, not the actual code you wrote for your employer.
Tackling more complex problems is more impressive than working on simple problems, especially if you can do it with concise, elegant solutions.
Working closely with a few others on the project is also a good sign, assuming your contribution can be easily identified.
An employer is also going to be more impressed if your project(s) are in domains they find valuable, and if they use computer languages, frameworks, etc. that they need expertise in.
Any work that saved money, time, or resources, or that brought in money, will get the attention of employers. "Writing a reporting system" is OK. "Writing a reporting system that reduced finished goods inventory by 50%" is much better.