Advice for an intern?

[jman]

Hey everyone

I'm looking for a bit of advice in terms of my career.

I started working for an EA (enterprise architect) company at the beginning of the year as an intern, doing process modelling related work. This after completing my BCom Informatics degree at tuks.

I'm not entirely happy here, I feel like we are underpaid, despite being interns. Also, I feel that doing only process modelling is very one dimensional. I don't see going very far in terms of growth in the job as well as pay. I know I'm new to the job market, but should I look elsewhere, or stick it out for a while? I know business analysts are meant to be paid very well, and maybe a bank would be the best option?

Thanks

 

[SauRoNZA]

Best you can do is shop around casually as if you don't need it and see what happens.

I generally feel finding other work is much harder when you feel "pressed" to do it, while your generally more calm demeanour when you aren't desperate goes a long way to getting what you want.

Also easy to shoot down jobs or put in for what you really want when you don't have to.

 

[sumacveneneux]

Hi Joshlister,

I just wanted to give you my input on your dilemma, from a Sourcing point of view. When I search for specific candidates for my roles, the first thing I confirm is what skills you have. Then I confirm whether you have a degree, diploma or are self-taught. Then I look at you work history. I know that, on junior level, there is a lot of movement.

So, I look at the time spent at a workplace vs what was learnt. If I see a person who spent less than a year at many many companies for 5 years running, I discount them, because many projects last a long time and when planning is done, it is done taking into account the skills of every team member. I cannot, in good faith, send the cv of a person who is a job hopper.

My perfect cv? 1 year, company 1, 1.5 years company 2, 1.5 years company 3, 3 years company 4, 4-5 years - company 5. Make sense?

 

[Hamster]

When a CV comes in and it reads 6 months here, 3 months here, 8 months here people stop reading and chuck it. Stick it out and get some experience under your belt. Money should not be your main concern when you are starting out. You are doing these junior/less than ideal jobs so that you can eventually land your dream job.

 

[samaras]

If its your first and you have a degree, look for a job that puts more emphasis on making you work in different projects/skills. You learn the good stuff in small companies without picking up bad habits like in more corporate enviroment with a ton of developers. You get to do more. The pay might be less. Your boss is might be sitting behind or next to you, but you learn.

 

[Hamster]

If its your first and you have a degree, look for a job that puts more emphasis on making you work in different projects/skills. You learn the good stuff in small companies without picking up bad habits like in more corporate enviroment with a ton of developers. You get to do more. The pay might be less. Your boss is might be sitting behind or next to you, but you learn.

That goes both ways. It is much easier to pick up bad habits at small companies (less than 10 people type of place) especially if you are inexperienced. You have too much freedom with less control/guidance (for this very reason you should start here - way more fun at the start )

Big teams with a ton of developers present their own set of problems. Where you want is to work is in an established but smallish team with pros. If the team is too small they are more likely to bypass proper procedures and get into the "let's just get the job done" mindset.