Getting that first job during a recession

Question

I'm graduating next week with a BSCS, having decided after my kids were grown to change careers to something actually marketable. I've gained lots of valuable experience co-oping for a local company; however, with the economic downturn I've been unable to find a job.

I'm fortunate to be able to continue co-oping at least another semester, but I'd like to gain even more experience while looking for a job, waiting for hiring freezes to be lifted, etc. I thought of helping out with an open-source project, maybe testing or something, and there are languages I'd like to learn about (e.g., Ruby on Rails) and CS areas in which I wasn't able to take a class (one is networking).

I'm looking for specific technologies or areas of study, specific OSS projects or an idea of how to find something I'm interested in, or specific ways to contribute to any OSS project. I haven't done much programming outside of classwork and my co-op jobs (as a hobby) because, frankly, I already had a life before coming to this field and I've found school so intense that during breaks I really needed to do something else (dig in the garden, travel, sleep).

What suggestions do you have?

Answer 1

What was your career before the switch? You may have very valuable domain knowledge that could get your foot in the door in the vertical software market. If you were a stay-at-home mom (or dad), you can even leverage that knowledge and skill.

Further to that, your domain knowledge could guide you to finding an OSS project to get involved in.

Answer 2

Get involved in an Open Source project. It won't make you money right away, but it will help hone your skills and make you a more attractive candidate for a position.

Answer 3

Rentacoder is always hiring, if you don't mind working at globalized wages. Alternatively, there are Gnome Bounties. Take a problem that looks interesting to you and solve it, then you'll have your experience and cash to boot.

Answer 4

In general, look for reasonably recession-proof industries, like education. Education also tends to hire a fair number of new grads. You might also want to look around at your current school to see if there are any student developer positions open that could give you some experience.

http://jobs.uiowa.edu -- we're still hiring.

Answer 5

Open source or volunteer programming would look great on your resume. They also may help you to network. Don't give up on finding a job though. We're in a recession but companies are still hiring programmers. I was lucky enough to recently have multiple competing job offers. There are jobs out there!

Answer 6

Look into elance, odesk or rent a coder for an opportunity. even if on the cheap, these types of jobs help with the resume building and real-life experience. another good place to look is craigslist. don't give up, find a oss project that interests you and volunteer, you never now what it will lead to.