Getting Ready for Stage

My last post was a while ago. Almost two months ago. My goal of posting something every week has been tossed out the door. Or more like tossed for me.

24 hours in a day, and only 7 days in a week feels like a cruel joke. Whoever cam up that system was obviously not balancing work, school, and an actual life. Or this person had "people" working for them. Looking forward at how much work needs to get done to finish the semester, I am trying to figure out how fit it all in, without alienating the girlfriend. There is still an Oracle application to implement (if anyone knows of a simple guide to Apex, please let me know), a shopping cart in ASP.net to finish, a mail server to install and configure, and a message board written in php to produce.

As the end of the semester gets closer, we also have to get ready for our stage (a.k.a. internship for those outside of Quebec). I have already been to two interviews. Each at very different companies (nameless companies of course, just in case).

My first interview was at a small start up. A tiny little office that barely fit the five desks. Basically a cafe that, for one reason or another, is producing all their management software in house. Probably to bring to market in the near future. Very anti corporate guys, and looking at their website, very community oriented. The more casual style of this company fits my style very much.

The second, which was self defined as a small to medium business, had a more cutting edge feel. And cutthroat. Though my interviewer was impressed by my C.V., despite the immense lack of IT experience. I felt like fumbling idiot at this one.

Neither place asked a for quick programming test, like others in my class had to perform. Both places what projects I had in progress outside of school.

Outside of school, my life is ruled by work, and a friends. And I am starting to get a feel for this industry, and while whatever skills and knowledge acquired on my own can only be beneficial, my interviewers seemed surprised how I do not live and breathe programming outside of a work/school environment.

Having a side project looks like the norm in this industry, and sleep and friends take a back seat.