A wrong start to be a professional programmer?

Question

a wrong start to be a professional programmer?
I graduated a university with applied computer science major and business
administration minor.
I hoped at my first job I learn a lot of quick tips and business practice
such as robust error handling and good programming concepts and practice as
well good code and improving my code by monitoring and tutoring and so on. I
wanted to learn something I couldn't learn at school and take a step into
real professional programming world.
But I guess I was in the totally wrong place.
My first job was at a small consulting company. I got this I think I had sun
java certificate, although I was fresh out of school.
At the job I asked for such things above, but I received nothing. I had to
deal with everything myself. I had to rely heavily on newsgroup and books.
We couldn't even get technical support from Microsoft on detailed matters. I
had to learn many things quickly dealing with troubles myself with kind
peoples help on newsgroup. I was really stressed. If it seems there is a
project chance from a client I had to learn an enterprise product like in
3or4 weeks. I don't know if that's appropriate. It was stressful to try
this or that without even basic knowledge of good coding practice. From
Java, I learned ASP, VB, VBscript, Jscript, IIS, Windows2000, SQL server
2000, and so on. I was alone in the office for a in-house client project.I
spend big time doing Windows 2000, IIS administration. I didn't have books.
I felt sorry to ask buy me books. I did for some books but too many seemed
sorry. At the beginning he even told I can do everything just with MSDN
online library. At that time it was quite hard to search. You know online
library returns 1000 if you search a word. I was new and didn't know much
how it was organized(it's better organized (I am familiar with it now) and
how to use MSDN library.)
I wish I could just focus on coding, but setting up and some administration
issues like right and security regarding RDS and IIS viruses regarding Win
2000, SQL server 2000, IIS administration gave me hard time without proper
knowledge about security I didn't even know security was issue, and didn't
have books.
I thought it was that way naturally.
I was busy figuring out my coding issues and some other issues regarding
program and database design and analysis yes I did even these thing without
knowledge. There was a little help from another programmer but mostly very
insufficient and unprofessional. When I asked my boss several times to
review my code, he was inconsiderate and say yes it looks good, although I
knew it sucked and needed a lot of improvement and repair. I had to
everything alone. It was horrible and I was paid less than 40,000 a year
rate. For some months I didn't work, I didn't know if I was working or not,
and I found that I was "not working" after I didn't get paid. Because no
client = no pay. Eventually my payment was $27,000 that year. My boss was
telling I can do and know everything and I am an expert advertising me that
way to clients and made fake resume with fake experience and skillsets.
I feel I am not really good at anything now.
It was very bad experience, and I guess it was very bad start.
From a few people's talk, I suppose as an entry level you start with coding
and robust coding and good programming practice and do some easy basic
coding work and you improve your skill and improve your understanding of
project to the next higher level step by step. You learn things one by one
with some dedicated time. None of that happened to me.
I really want to start again as an entry level programmer and learn steady
and robust things step by step.
My case was dead wrong and unusual I think now. Do you think so?
I really don't care for money, I just want to have a good career. That's honest, robust and steady. And progress truthful and sincere step by setp.
How can I find a good company for me?
Thank you very much

Answer 1

From the way you describe what you want to do, I would recommend trying to get a job with a government contractor.
Government contracts generally do alot of Research and Development, which allows you to learn alot more that at a consulting firm. There is usually less pressure working on a government contracts than in private industry. The main disadvantage is that these jobs generally pay less. But if you're looking for a chance to learn it's a good way to go.
I hope that's helpful.