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Hello all, in a previous life (4 years ago), I was a C++ and later C# developer on Windows - same company for about 10 years. The past four years I've been a Perl/Ruby developer on Linux.
Due to some concerns and issues at work, it's time for me to move on again.
I'd like to get back into C#/Windows development, but I'm noticing a HUGE difference between job listings requesting Perl programmers, and those requesting C# developers. The Perl listings will almost always respond, even if it's just to say "Sorry, we're not interested," or "Sorry, we've already filled the position." (I've had four Perl related interviews in the past few months; two were okay but I didn't want, one was terrible, and one was *great* - but there were literally thousands of applicants and I didn't quite make the cut.)
For C# positions, I've gotten.. Nothing. No response at all.
Part of the complicating factor here is that the position has to be full time remote (though I do travel as much as needed, and would continue to be willing to do so). I live approximately in the middle of nowhere (wife and I bought a house here), and we would absolutely hate to move. I would not rule it out, but it would require an enormous salary increase (cost of living here is almost nothing - I shudder to think of moving to San Jose for example).
Am I doing something obvious wrong? Are people really saying "whoa he hasn't used C# professionally for 4 years, skip this guy"? Do they think I'm somehow tainted by Perl/Ruby?
I'd really, really appreciate any help, suggestions, thoughts or consolations you might have to offer.
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I think your initial thoughts are correct. C# has changed a lot in the past four years and you are out of routine. It will take few weeks for you to get back into it.
Recruiters nowadays even ask you about the version of C#. If you are:
- bellow 3.5 you're out,
- no entity object you're out,
- no WPF for desktop (Winforms is mostly history) you're out,
- no MVC/jquery/IoC/HTML5 you're out...
It all depends on your level. They will not hire you as a senior but they might consider hiring you as junior- to mid- developer until you are ready to produce code in quality and speed required of a senior.
Regards,
T.
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I've actually kept up in my spare time. I'm considering taking a few MCSD exams - "Web Apps" and "Windows Store Apps." IOW, I take issue with being called "out of routine" - I'm well in it, just not doing it for a living.
I would not consider a junior position or "mid-developer" position - I'd like to use C#/Windows again, but not at such a salary cut and all that. Programming, at some level, is programming; I'm not terribly interested in companies who require that you fill a certain buzzword quota. :/
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I hope my other message did not come out arrogant or cruel - I really appreciate your reply, thank you for your time.
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capabit wrote: For C# positions, I've gotten.. Nothing. No response at all.
If I had to recruit anyone for QNX4 development, I'd be rather friendly to anyone replying - I might need them in the future.
C# is common, there is plenty of supply. Means you needn't be friendly when recruiting, there's plenty of fish.
capabit wrote: I'd really, really appreciate any help, suggestions, thoughts or consolations you might have to offer.
Not many fish with experience on Linux, and experience in different oceans (languages).
I'd like to suggest marketing yourself as a rare fish - grow some arrogance 
You might also want to mail the non-responders and ask if there is any news or progress.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Thank you for the kind words.
I think you may be right - as much as I enjoy C# and Visual Studio, it sounds like it's going to end up being the wrong career move for me. Linux, Perl and Ruby is where I'll stay.
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Didn't sound too kind when I wrote it, but sometimes it is more efficient to be blunt.
You're welcome
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I greatly prefer bluntness. I often miss subtle-ty.
It's probably nice for me to keep Visual Studio/C# for "fun" projects - that'll provide a distinction with work - anyway.
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What happened to the bastard programmer from hell?
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Still there, but I sometimes remove the sig for short posts/answers.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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From my experience, it is very difficult to find a remote position on the MS stack. I did finally find one, but it took 6 months and came with a huge pay cut. Probably because, as another poster mentioned, there are a lot of us out there. Companies seem to want a butt in the chair, even if it isn't the best one available.
The Linux stack seems to be much more remote friendly.
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Could be. Previous to my current remote gig (Perl, Ruby on Linux) (4 years so far), I was also remote full time (C++/MFC/ATL and later we switched to C#/.Net) for 10 years.
I guess what I have to realize is that I'm asking a lot - fulltime remote and a large-ish salary (at least, for where I live. I recently checked the cost of living between here and San Jose, CA for sh*ts and giggles - more than *double* my salary).
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"Internet freelancing" has been paying my mortgage for the last 6 years exclusively.
I'm exclusive .NET.
Once you get some "rep points" (at a given freelancer site), the customers start coming to you.
How does one get a "rep", by starting with $50 and $100 jobs.
Some think it's beneath them.
I'm taking the rest of the week off ... because I can.
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I forgot to thank you for the post! Thanks, and I'm giving it a go.
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Your welcome; good luck!
It's like a horse race; you just have to be a bit better / smarter than the other players.
Once you find a freelancer site or two, hang out in the forums, see the complaints, and learn how to play better than the rest. (No place for sheeple here).
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Replace the word "magic" with religion (and magicians with priests) and you will have your answer as to why this is what it is.
There should be an amendment to the US constitution stating the separation of state and magic.
anyway, bunch of morons.
I'd rather be phishing!
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> arguing that it "has not been properly recognized as a great American art form"
Oh, so it was Americans who invented magic!
Glad we got that cleared up.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Magic[^] is most certainly American.
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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Ah, someone who runs around chasing a ball.
And there I thought that dogs had the patent on that.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Mark_Wallace wrote: And there I thought that dogs had the patent on that.
Nah, dogs aren't smart enough for that, now golfers on the other hand....
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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What's the problem?
You don't consider stage magic an art form?
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Yes.
A particularly USian "National Treasure"?
uhm, no.
TTFN - Kent
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He didn't say it was, any more than declaring "Old Faithful" a National Treasure implies geysers are a strictly US thing.
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Bad argument - geysers are not a national treasure, "Old Faithful" is. So, if he wanted to declare "David Copperfield" a national treasure, I'd have less to complain about. Well, different things to complain about.
He's just pandering to "Big Magic" 
TTFN - Kent
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