Background: Recently started my second job (mid-level) after leaving my previous job (junior, first programming job). Switched to programming from journalism H

Background: Recently started my second job (mid-level) after leaving my previous job (junior, first programming job). Switched to programming from journalism How: Wanted to create a news aggregator, so I teamed up with a friend (backend guy) and learnt how to do frontend. 14-months later I got hired after creating some side-projects and learning enough to convince my first employer to take a chance on me. What worked for me: Learning JavaScript, the language, instead of trying to learn shiny, new frameworks. Learning how to read source code (a more recent habit but it helped me get my second job). Showing a genuine passion for coding through getting involved in open-source communities and learning outside of work