I'm hired. Any advice for a rookie?
 

My appointment: Programmer.

Doing mainly web based scriptings: php/mysql , asp/mssql, also have to maintain some public listed company's systems. Some systems seems critical to the public masses...

Currently picking up dotnet on the way.

Can anyone give me some advice on my new job?

I do feel the tension/pressure. i was oringinally a freelancer for the company.

the pay is not fantastic but as a rookie, i dare not ask for much. I have a lot of things to learn. If I'm an all arounder, I would have ask for more. :D

I was surprised when the current boss emailed me asking for my expected salary. I simply responded to him on what i have in mind and he agreed without hesitation! (sometimes I wondered whether should i ask for more in the first place. But on the other hand, i should also think about how can I add value to the company)

Perhaps I should ask myself how can I contribute to the company instead of thinking about higher salary. :)

It was a plesant surprise to be offered a job rather than to look for a job. I don't have to go through the interview process. :D

Oh yea. This is my first job doing full time development. Gosh. Can any kind souls give me some sound advice?

Thanks!

My advice, you should never doubt yourself and always ask for more than what you think you should get paid, you'll be suprised in the end or outcome.

Congrats on the new gig. If they have extended an offer to you, then you've already proven your worth, so don't worry that you somehow might not be pulling your weight. You're in.

As for planning for a successful and productive career, I would offer only two suggestions to consider:

1. Work hard. There simply is no substitute, and speaking as manager myself, I want to be able to count on my staff, and know that if I give them a project, it will just get done. Period. Be that guy/girl.

2. Cover the holes. What I mean here is that in every organization I have ever seen, there are certain areas where things just don't work right, or end up being a lot more difficult than they need to be, or simply would benefit from changing the workflow or business process. If you find one of these issues, and you probably won't have to look very far, consider them not so much as problems, but as a chance to get an excellent performance review and fat salary increase. If you can devise a better more efficient process or automate something that ends up simplifying and/or improving the jobs of your co-workers, particularly the group you work most closely with, you *will* get noticed in the most positive way, and don't be surprised if you find yourself getting invited to meetings with higher level people to ask for your opinions about larger, more important projects. Rinse, lather, repeat. :)

Either way, congrats on the new gig

That's good advice. The deal is done. They asked your price, you quoted it, they offered, you accepted. Don't presume that they had the slightest motivation to "take advantage of you," nor that they did. If the deal went smoothly, thank your lucky stars.

Meanwhile, always remember that you are being paid good money and that your new employer does (based on past experience) expect to get your best work in return. Keep your problems and your opinions at home... you're on stage.

Remember that duck-principle. Whether you see it or not (and if your manager's doing a good job, you won't), there's a lot of things going on around you and the pressure, when it comes, comes from those things. Politics, again when it comes, also comes from that. Try to let it roll off your back. "Fake it," if need be. You may remember from freelancing that the wolves are never far away, and every business large or small knows about those beasts.

So your job is straightforward: you write scripts. Good scripts, that solve problems .. and that not only solve them but solve them well. Whether "the person who sees them" is internal or external, someone sees them and relies upon them. Maybe you don't see them; maybe you never will. Maybe they don't know your name either, and never will. But you're a pro. If you can't dazzle them, always try to please them.