Hello...
UNIVERSAL ISSUE FOR NEW SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
Breaking into software development has always been problematic because employers are always looking for experience. When you're just starting out you don't have any. The interview experiences you cite are very common. But...
GLOBALIZATION IS CHANGING SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
Today, the software developer job category is under assault from multiple fronts. That career path is just not going to be the same as it was just a few years ago due to:
- Offshoring of hundreds of thousands software engineer jobs, principally to India (4).
- Onshoring of hundreds of thousands foreign software engineers through H-1B visas (1)(2)(3).
If you are persistent, I'm sure you'll eventually get your first computer programming job. But, be prepared for a rough go in the coming years. The ceiling is going to be a lot lower than it was just a few years ago. All the way along, the presence of cheap software engineers is going to hold the salaries down. You are going to need to accept that.
Suggestion: Consider using your talent in another occupation that isn't under such downward salary pressure. It could still be computer-related, just not pure heads-down software development (the job you said you wanted to have).
CHEAP DOES NOT EQUAL POOR QUALITY
Since you're new and I presume young, I want to emphasize that "cheap" and "overseas" is not related to "poor" or "poor quality" or "ineffective" or "uncompetitive". There are a great many very bright highly educated software engineers offshore or from offshore, principally from India, but also from many other countries.
EPILOGUE
This a lot to lay on you, I know. But, it is the truth and you need to open your eyes pretty wide to understand what is going on and make the best decision for yourself.
Good luck to you.
-----Steve
P.S. Bill Gates says he cannot find you. You might give him a call (5). :-)
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References:
(1)
Beware of strange conclusions and irrelevant "evidence"
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=6&threadID=173217&messageID=1766246
(2)
Spell it correctly! It's SweatSHIP, not SweatSHOP.
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=6&threadID=173653&start=0
(3) Hundreds of thousands of onshored foreign software engineers
This can be measured pretty accurately using the H-1B visa statistics (1).
(4) Hundreds of thousands of offshored software engineers
The actual number is impossible to obtain because the companies doing don't disclose it. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that suggests it is in the ballpark of hundreds of thousands and will grow a lot going forward.
(5)
Gates urges end to H-1B visa limits
http://www.computerworld.com/careertopics/careers/training/story/0,10801,101371,00.html?from=story%5Fkc
