Code Academy

As an IIT student I try to be as realistic as possible concerning my capabilities as an IT professional.  With that being said, I have always liked the "thought" of coding but often the "thought" of actually doing serious coding makes me nervous.  I've taken several java courses and even a cobol course so I feel confident that I can successfully work in the industry and at least be able to partner or communicate with a developer however there has been this nagging feeling that I should not let my coding demons defeat me.  Therefore I have embarked upon a journey via Codeacademy.com to strengthen my coding skills!  I have overcome many obstacles in life and now that my August graduation is pending I have decided that learning to code decently will be my new hobby.  I have started with Python and although my demanding schedule has not allowed me much time to delve deeply into the language, I am very impressed with how code academy approaches the language and cannot wait to delve deeper into the language.  I've worked with several computer science students and excellent coders and I definitely think that I can hold my on if I stop being wary and embrace being uncomfortable.  It has worked well for me so far so I see no reason I can't add to my existing skills!  It seems like the site takes a very laid back approach and makes a genuine effort to build a comfortable environment that makes the languages seem accessible and manageable to those who may have kept a healthy distance from in depth coding.  So here goes nothing!!!!

Sales Engineering "The Inside Job"

http://www.thesalesengineer.com/2013/04/17/the-inside-job/

As an aspiring sales professional I find this blog to be very useful.  I make it a habit to try and stay abreast of what's going on in the industry even if some of the issue's are a bit above my head technically.  Furthermore I follow Sales Engineer Blogs because I ultimately want to be a technical sales manager.  Darrin Mourer does an awesome job blogging about how issues in today's technical world pertain to today's sales engineers.  This particular blog speaks about champions and it makes perfect sense to me!  I think the best way to close some of the biggest deals is to work with an inside connection.  This notion resonates with me because I've managed to land two prestigious internships and various awards with a cumulative GPA that is anything but stellar however I know and believe that I am capable of comprehending and delving into any technical issue.  I know how to build relationships   and therefore I have learned how to get people to look past small weaknesses to see the bigger stronger picture that is me.   The practice of using a champion to succeed on a deal seems like it will be second nature to me.  I've made a habit out of overcoming obstacles in various ways and I imagine these qualities will serve me well as a future sales engineer!

Questions to Ask Employers

http://www.businessinsider.com/6-questions-to-ask-during-your-interview-that-will-make-an-employer-want-to-hire-you-2013-2?goback=.gde_1855043_member_227898007

This article was a homerun!  Asking questions can differentiate a student from the rest of the crowd and show's the student has a genuine interest in joining the company.  I would like to take this one step further however in that while it is a severe mistake to not ask questions, it is potentially an even greater mistake to ask the WRONG questions.  I believe sincerity is important in an interview so therefore if you have a list of the same three questions you ask each and every interviewer you could potentially be coming across as insincere.  I believe it is good practice putting in significant time in what questions to ask.  I also believe that too many students get caught up on the true purpose of asking these questions.  While it is true, asking appropriate questions can make you seem like a better candidate, but above all it gives you a chance to learn more about the company!