Dedicated computer programmers are capable of many feats and solving a large batch of problems, but even for the average computer user, productivity and speed can be boosted by learning a scripting programming language. Scripting languages such as Python, Perl and Shell script enable the user to search through text files, find records for a specific date in a large batch of files, and any other form of information processing.
The creation of scripts can enable repetitive tasks to be automated, and save the user from doing the same thing again. These tasks usually involve periodically checking on the status of something, identifying trends over data sets, correlating notes across files, and so on. This category of tasks uses string manipulation and parsing. Within the computer, data is represented as character data. So much so that every operating system has text manipulation and searching capabilities built into the file system. Scripts for searching and manipulating text can be used to search for data, send an email when an event occurs, convert instances of a product price with another price in the numerous pages of a website, and so forth.
When it comes to programmers, there are two kinds. The first are natural programmers, also called code monkeys. These individuals spent their childhoods tied to a computer keyboard. These programmers are the people who become system designers and have seemingly god like talent in programming. The natural programmer can take ideas and intertwine them to come up with models, and quickly derive solutions to problems that occur in daily life. This jump occurs naturally between code and the real world. They do have quirks and are hired for the fact that they will find the solution that will put a company on the map.
The other kind of programmer is the career programmer. This individual is one who has recognized that programming is a way to make money, that there are individuals who need good programmers. These programmers are those who are savvy businessmen, working to the benefit of their bosses and managers, looking for the cost effective way to address the problems that arise in a business. A career programmer is the person to hire for methodical research into finding solutions to the problems. They are also capable of handling paperwork and are business minded.
When it comes to apply for the position of a programmer, you should know what the business is looking for. Businesses looking to hire a programmer will be looking for someone who can provide solutions to the problems that can arise in their business. The code that is created should be reliable, easily understood by others, and fit for applying to many problems, multiple languages, and operating systems. There are problems that any company faces, and the programmers are expected to handle a plethora of situations. Along the same lines, companies expect the programmer to handle the business side of things, managing paperwork, meetings, and other corporate tasks that are along the same lines.
The application process should start with an intelligently formulated resume. This document should be short and targeted towards selling yourself as the solution to the company's problems. Skills that you have can be reworded or refocused to apply to the mission statement of the company. This is not just rewording but also a representation of the fact that many of the skills that an applicant possesses can translate into many fields and applications. While skills in specific languages are not able to translate, the knowledge of computers and the underlying structure of programming languages are capable of bridging many applications and tasks.
The point is that programmers should sell themselves as a valuable tool that will solve the problems of the company being applied. Many programmers specialize in a language or two, but it is good to be familiar with a number of different languages, as you may be dealing with older codes or codes from other colleagues in the company. Knowledge of different software systems and operating systems is helpful, but in many cases, programmers who specialize in a single piece of software will find a job to which they fit. In any case, a company conducting business with computers and having programmers on staff will soon learn the value of programming its own solutions.
