I gotta say I've never really been a fan of ASP, ASP.net or C# for that matter.

I know many programmers might laugh at it. In all honesty, I always leaned toward the open source technologies because they were not only free, but provided a lot of documentation for the abundance of questions I would need to ask.

Due to my new job I have been integrated into a .NET environment. With that it means if I want to move up I had best learn the tools of the trade. I have began using Microsoft Visual Web Developer to toy with ASP.net and I must say that I like the tool. It's a nice GUI for programmers. I wonder if there is a tool like this for PHP?

I'm working on a few test projects to get myself warmed up to the thought of things. I may link to the files later on in the week.

As a note to most - I have a lot of work to catch up on and I will be nearly IMPOSSIBLE to reach until around the 26th. Have a great week all!

I hereby raise the white flag

Granted, for those that know me - I'm about as ANTI ASP.net as it gets.

But.. life happens and you get jobs that require stepping up to the plate.

As you all may know I've been working with a very nice company in Southwest VA by the name of Results Galax, apart of the ResultsTel Companies. The site I work at is a call center for our client - XM Radio. Fortunately I have moved through the ranks while there and now will be able to get a taste of the corporate web development life.

What's the flipside? I gotta use ASP.net. It's not bad, it will require me to learn. I have the interest at least :).

Just for that, as a PHP programmer, I have posted a link to a ASP / PHP cross reference. Bookmark it guys!

http://www.design215.com/toolbox/asp.php

Time Management for the College Kid

The quote unquote "real world" is a great instructor in terms of free-time. It has really taught me in some time about how much free time I have had in college and that I never really utilized it. For example, I thought I was almost too busy because I was not only a full-time student, but I was also in a business fraternity, business organization, held part-time jobs, and more.

The beauty of college is that everything is spread out. If you can figure out ways to patch those hours in between your active hours you can really become productive in various ways. Below I have included five suggestions that I have found helpful over the past two years:

• Try waking up before 9am. It adds to your energy and ability to produce. Can't wake up early? Try going to bed before midnight and maintain a consistent schedule of productivity.
  
  
• If you have an hour before class, don't walk all the way back to your dorm or apartment. Find a productive place near where your class begins next and get to work on some tasks that need completion. Possible suggestions could be computer labs or student dedicated centers.
  
  
• Stop spending too much time on certain tasks. A lot of times we study too much for exams or drive the point into the ground in hopes that it will only make us better. Unfortunately, it mostly just wastes useful time.
  
  
• Make use of the time you create by implementing these habits. It wouldn't hurt to use some of the free time to refocus or take a breather from the day's activities.
  
  
• Use a planner! This may sound like a no-brainer, but the effective use of a planner isn't as simple as you would think. Take a week, log what you use your time for. Adjust it accordingly to see how much you can squeeze out of your time in a given day.
  

What they never taught you in college

I've always said nothing will provide a lesson better than experience itself. College can help you with a lot of areas in the business world. One thing it can't truly prepare you for is the corporate world.

If you have noticed my lack of posts lately, it is due in part to a new position I accepted. I currently work as the lead IT for Results - Galax. The company is an XM Radio call center based out of Galax, VA. It's a nice mix for yours truly - fast paced job in a slow paced living environment.

Enough venturing off the subject though. Results has reminded me of what Alpha Kappa Psi was intended to prepare me for: Corporate America. Granted, my fraternity did wonders, but I feel in as little as two weeks I have learned a few things that I can pass along to those yet to reach the cubicle or conference room.

The Go-Getter will receive responsibility
Nothing impresses a supervisor or your peers more than being able to tackle the job and the lack of fear to jump in and get your feet wet. This isn't kissing up - it's showcasing you have a desire to help the company. Don't overdo it though - sometimes stepping up and taking more work than you're required will give others the notion that you will do their job for them. Only do this if you're going to be making their salary ;).

Get used to the Microsoft Office Suite
There are plenty out there that probably hate Microsoft and its Office Suite. The fact is though, businesses use this suit like a preacher uses a bible. Excel will become your best friend for data manipulation! Practice with the suite now for best results in the future!

Promotions happen.. and then they don't
Promotions are a tricky thing in the real world. They come fast to others and at times they don't come at all. Don't down yourself if it doesn't come at the pace you'd like. If you feel you're going nowhere - look into other options.

It's a new world from when your parents were there
Granted, my parents never did the whole office gig. But from what I've been told by their friends, the real world work has changed greatly. Why is that? We're a media driven generation. We can send files in the matter of a seconds with only a few clicks. No need to walk a folder to someone! It's also becoming evident that work productivity isn't as great when you sit at a computer from 8 to 5. In the future, maybe the work week won't start at 8am. Who knows, maybe it will only be 4 hours a day, 3 days a week!

Be social.
It's a no-brainer. Where you go is because of the people you know. Also, being social brings out a more team friendly environment and increases company morale.

That's a few of my tips I thought I'd share from my first two weeks working in the corporate world. If anyone has anymore, feel free to post them as a comment.