Yeah, the very best thing I could think of was start getting some actual work experience. Then you're coding all the time -- and getting paid for it. Learning

Yeah, the very best thing I could think of was start getting some actual work experience. Then you're coding all the time -- and getting paid for it. Learning on the job, making contacts at work. Maybe they'll even send your friend to tech conferences (for more learning and more networking). Also, if your friend relocates there may be more educational opportunities. (There's also a bunch of stuff you can do online -- and some even offer certifications if not actual academic credit.) The simplest advice is just to build up some "momentum" in your career, so what you're doing naturally leads into the next bigger thing. A job and/or really good classes, that sort of thing.