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My suggestion, branch out and learn some of the other tools, even if you have to do it in a non-professional environment. For building sites, you're competing

My suggestion, branch out and learn some of the other tools, even if you have to do it in a non-professional environment. For building sites, you're competing with things like Site Slinger or various similar services. To be competitive in that kind of a market you'll need to have a different kind of value add (i.e. look like something more than a developer) to make your resume look more interesting. Some of it also depends on where you're looking for work and if you're looking for local or remote work. I had to jump cities to get a foot in the door (East Texas to Austin). YMV and good luck!

whamlastxmas 10y ago
Unfortunately despite being in a big city, it's one of the worst big cities for tech jobs in the country (hence low salary). And moving isn't an option for another 4 years. I apply mostly to remote jobs because of this and I am sure those are more competitive. Do you have any examples of other tools that would be valuable? I honestly think I'd be pretty unhappy with iOS/Android development due to the nature of most companies that focus in that area, and I assume that'd probably be an option you'd recommend. I have an interest in security and penetration testing, but it's such a horrendously complicated and difficult expertise to attain and I have no realistic expectations I would ever get a good job doing that. Working with C/C++ or other less-web focused technology is an option obviously, but agains no CS background and it just seems like such an uphill battle to learn what I need and then convince someone to hire me for it.
- baudehlo 10y ago
  Having an interest in security is a huge win for you. Hiring people into that field is impossibly hard because there are a tiny number of people employed in that area (I came from that field and it's very hard to find people to hire). That doesn't mean you're guaranteed a job, but if you want to be in that field, seek the jobs out. They exist.
  - whamlastxmas 10y ago
    Can I email you some questions about the field? Mostly surrounding what I should aim for as a base knowledge level before I'm employable and which topics are best for that while coinciding with my interests.

whamlastxmas 10y ago

Unfortunately despite being in a big city, it's one of the worst big cities for tech jobs in the country (hence low salary). And moving isn't an option for another 4 years. I apply mostly to remote jobs because of this and I am sure those are more competitive. Do you have any examples of other tools that would be valuable? I honestly think I'd be pretty unhappy with iOS/Android development due to the nature of most companies that focus in that area, and I assume that'd probably be an option you'd recommend. I have an interest in security and penetration testing, but it's such a horrendously complicated and difficult expertise to attain and I have no realistic expectations I would ever get a good job doing that. Working with C/C++ or other less-web focused technology is an option obviously, but agains no CS background and it just seems like such an uphill battle to learn what I need and then convince someone to hire me for it.

baudehlo 10y ago
Having an interest in security is a huge win for you. Hiring people into that field is impossibly hard because there are a tiny number of people employed in that area (I came from that field and it's very hard to find people to hire). That doesn't mean you're guaranteed a job, but if you want to be in that field, seek the jobs out. They exist.
- whamlastxmas 10y ago
  Can I email you some questions about the field? Mostly surrounding what I should aim for as a base knowledge level before I'm employable and which topics are best for that while coinciding with my interests.