We're looking for someone with C# experience....

Question

I'm a VB .NET developer looking for work and just about EVERY recruiter I've talked to invariably replies... "They were looking for someone with C# experience...". Obviously I'm frustrated because I'm looking for work BUT how do I convey that the difference between VB .NET and C# is really only a syntactical difference. Its SO frustrating!

Answer 1

So why don't you put your energy into learning C# rather than complaining about it?

The difference might only be syntax, but there's often times a difference in the type of developer who uses C# versus VB.NET. C# programmers often come from a JAVA/C++ background whereas VB programmers often come from a classic VB 5 background. In my experience, VB programmers are much more apt to follow a procedural model whereas C# programmers tend to have better OOP skills.

As an anecdote, I've seen hundreds of forum postings where a VB programmer asks for help converting C# code to VB. I've NEVER seen a C# programmer asking for help converting C# to VB.

Regardless, you say yourself that it's just a syntax difference, so go ahead and learn the new syntax. Why limit yourself?