How to find interesting companies

Question

Hello,

Im a programmer in India, have been working for 2 years now. While my current job is run of the mill internal software for a large telecom company, its not the kind of work im looking for in my next job.

Job boards like monster.com have exactly these kinds of jobs listed.(like the one im doing now) How do i find a company where i would like to work, some place where real software development takes place?

I do have some idea how to evaluate companies once ive found them- The Joel Test: 12 Steps to Better Code,

my problem is finding about them in the first place. would appreciate if you can post some india specific info too.

Thanks.

Answer 1

The thing about an "interesting job" is that it most people assume there is a single well defined answer to the question of "what is an interesting job". In my experience there's fortunately a lot of different answers to that question; luckily everyone's not after the same jobs.

I'd go to user groups and local meetups that deal with stuff I find interesting, there's always some people to talk to there.

Answer 2

Don't look for interesting companies, look for interesting people. Become active in the developer community in your area. Talk to people, go to meetings, start a blog and see who comments. Build a network of people you'd want to work with and then see where they work. This will not only help you find companies but also improve your chances of getting hired because you'll become a better programmer in the process.

Answer 3

This is very much a case of "it's not what you know, it's who you know". Networking and marketing yourself as a talented software developer is an absolutely critical part of your professional development. Get on Twitter and LinkedIn, attend local meetups, increase your visibility with a blog, talk at conferences and users groups, post code, experiment with things.

It won't be long before people take notice and start wondering if they can have you on board on their company. Once you subtly suggest that you're looking for work, recruiters will certainly be contacting you if you're any good and you have the right skillset.

Read Jared Richardson's Career 2.0 for some more concrete advice on the things you should be doing to help yourself get ahead. (Disclosure: I was a reviewer on the book.)

Answer 4

Meet people.

Answer 5

http://jobs.joelonsoftware.com/

Answer 6

Well I have also changed some companies in my career trying to find good work..

My 1-2 years got wasted while working on maintenance projects.My team leads were dump , very poor in technical stuff.I did mistake in joining high pay jobs without thinking about the work I will be doing.

Then I shifted to new company and since last 3 years I have been working with smartest people in industry and I have improved a lot.

I think its all about working with smart people . Once you start thinking intelligently you are on your way!!

Regarding work in company, you can find companies for the work you want to do. During interviews you can enquire about the project you will be working. Discussion with managers can reveal a lot about the team members , their expertise , project etc.

Answer 7

Be active in thematic groups related with your area of expertise, for example on LinkedIn.