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Learn from seasoned professionals the secrets of how to break into the computer field and craft a long-term, high-earning computer career that keeps on growing no matter what changes occur in computer technology.
This new book is a completely rewritten and updated treatment of the subject material that made Janet Ruhl's 1989 book, The Programmer's Survival Guide., a bestseller for over a decade.
To the time tested advice that won that book rave reviews Ruhl has added material from interviews with high-earning computer professionals, data from the Real Salary Survey, and up-to-the-minute insights into what it takes to craft a successful computer career now!
This book will show you:
- How to find the very best first computer job
- How to land a computer job when you have strong skills but weak credentials
- What today's salaried professionals are earning-and for what
- How to avoid being trapped in dead-end jobs
- How to decide if it is time to change jobs
- How to work safely with today's job placement firms
- If you should go into management or stay technical
- How to evaluate start-ups, stock options, and pre-IPO companies
- What's involved in working for consulting firms
- How to negotiate the best salary and benefit packages
The printed version of this book is sold out.
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View Table of Contents
Media Reviews
Exceprts from Warren Keuffel's Review in the October edition of Software Development.
"While The Computer Job Survival Guide ... contains data that is relevant and useful to working professionals, several chapters in the book address issues that individuals should be aware of when looking for their first job ... Her advice to "retreads"--people making midlife career changes--about how to best approach the development job market is particularly appropriate.
"Ruhl suggests techniques for a successful job hunt, including how to deal with various kinds of placement firms, human resource departments and interviewing managers. (The list of "Twenty-Five Questions You Must Get Answered at the Interview" is in itself very valuable.) She also describes how to identify a dead end job.
"I wish I had owned this book when I began my own software development career."
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Whole Software Development Review
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Joyce Lain Kennedy Column
September 22, 2000
PlanetIT Book of the Week
Reader's Reviews of COMPUTER JOB SURVIVAL GUIDE
I picked up my copy in the mail on Friday, and have skimmed it fairly deeply.
Janet asked for title suggestions a while back, and now seeing the book, I think "The Complete Guide to Managing Your Computer Career" would be quite descriptive. There are sections, even whole chapters on tailoring your resume, interviewing, evaluating the opportunity, and salary negotiation.
Chapter 5 "Contract Consulting" is a distillation of this board's [www.phlaunt.com/realrates/bbs/] advice and horror tales. This alone makes it worthwhile for the non-beginner, non-employee like myself.
Appendix A lists 25 questions to ask at an interview. It is quite similar to the one I developed for my own use last year.
If you haven't already, buy this book. Especially if you're a newbie, an eftie thinking about taking the consulting plunge, or even a grizzled veteran - you all will learn something useful, and it will cost you about an hour's pay or less.
--Brian Crook
Reviewers' comments on the original book:
"With The Programmer's Survival Guide computer professionals will be better equipped to survive both a debugging battle and a paycheck war."
-PC Week
"Required reading for anyone considering a career in the field"
-Review of The Programmer's Survival Guide, CompuServe Magazine
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Detailed answers to over 300 frequently asked questions about computer contracting.
Read this book before you call up a consulting firm or placement agency. It will teach you:
- What kinds of skills you must have to get high paying computer contracts.
- What the difference is between consulting as a W-2, 1099, or Corporation.
- What rates contractors are earning for what skills, and where.
- How to set YOUR own rate.
- How to find a legitimate, ethical consulting firms.
- How to find contracts through consulting firms.
- How to keep yourself from being exploited by consulting firm recruiters.
- How to protect yourself from abusive contract clauses.
- How to find your own clients without agencies.
- how to succeed on the contract.
- How to upgrade your skills.
- and much, much more!
Don't guess or take a consulting firm's word for how contracting works. Find out the facts!
The printed version of this book is sold out.
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Reviewers Comments:
"A hard-hitting, well-organized collection of facts and figures about compensation as well as collected wisdom about how to negotiate higher compensation rates.
"Organized in a question-and-answer format, Answers is extremely accessible and easy to use. Indeed, its ease-of-use is almost as valuable as the informtion it contains. The book encompasses just about every topic you need to know to contract successfully. ... If you contract or plan to this "Ruhl book" belongs in your library"
--Alan R. Earls, Computerworld - "Three for the IT Careers Bookshelf" 6/21/99
"This is the manual to get anyone acclimated to the basics in the world of contracting.
... She explains fairly, carefully, and objectively every aspect of the business of
contracting from the perspective of both the contractor and the agency. There really doesn't
seem to be an issue that she hasn't tackled."
--Michael Lane, CP Universe
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View sample pages
Clear, simple, but comprehensive answers to your contracting questions.
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Worksheets, exercises, fact sheets, sample letters, contracts, proposals and more.
Newly Updated for 1999 In our 3rd printing which is now available on-line and in stores, we've made minor changes so that all time-dependent information such as tax, insurance, and rate information is current.
Computerworld's reviewer wrote, "Although the volume of information Ruhl provides is tremendous, it's easy to absorb and can be immediately useful. Even experienced consultants will find ideas to savor. But those who will benefit most from The Computer Consultant's Workbook are individuals with good technical skills who need a short course in entrepreneurship and self-management. In fact, it's hard to see how someone following Ruhl's savvy suggestions can go far wrong.
Almost every page can be quickly translated into a to-do list or the outline of a plan of action. And it's easy to find the information you need, when you need it."
The workbook leads you through the steps it takes to decide if you have what it takes to succeed at consulting, identify your clientele, set rates, develop a marketing message, locate potential clients, and convince them that you can do the job.
The printed edition of this book is sold out.
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View sample pages
You'll find segments profiling Newsletter basics, marketing techniques, How to Jump Start your Marketing Efforts, and Cold Calling.
Read the Computerworld Review
Reader's Comments:
"
I've seen this second volume and it's definitely worth the $40 or so. Whether
you're a beginner consultant or somewhat seasoned, you'll find some valuable
info in it. A lot of checklists that will help you organize your consulting
life..." --Whil Hentzen
"SUPER JOB!! It looked nice (like a nice new toy), so I
sat down just to browse through it for a minute.... and ended up reading until
about 2am! Did you self-publish the book? If you did, it's an incredibly nice job, much
better than many big publishers produce. "--Howard Fosdick
"I read it cover to cover that night...I found it really informative, easy to read, and all-around excellent. I
think you may have saved me from a major very expensive gotcha.... which I won't
go into in detail...the content, the typeset, the organization, the humor, the checklists,
the "gotcha"s are all absolutely excellent. I really can't say enough good
about it."--Colleen M. Eilbert
"I just got Computer Consultant's Workbook in mail today. Then I read it in one
sitting. Great, great, great. Have been a consultant for 2 yrs...Was pleased to see that I was unwittingly doing many of your "do's". Also
thanks for "Gotcha's" and "Worthless'es". And, I learned a great deal! And your
style makes even intutitive, "who-didn't-already-know-that" material seem
fresh."--Connected Systems Inc.
"I just recently bought your new book and I had to tell you that it is
*GREAT*. You've pointed out issues that I haven't thought about and provided
it in a clear & concise format. Thanks for a fantastic resource."--Rey Bango
"Three weeks ago I bought your book (I had already read Computer
Consultants Guide).
The increased detail in the book about marketing really has helped me get a good
deal (more business)."--Louis F. Papp
"One of the best things you can do is pick up a copy of Janet Ruhl's book "The
Computer Consultant's Workbook." It will help you determine if you're cut out
for this business, and how you should go about it (contract programming,
custom software development, etc.) if you are. I just read it a few days ago, and it's a _great_ book. Concise and full of
help and information." Kevin Withers
Table of Contents
Read the complete Table of Contents of the Workbook.
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