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Think of a small project and build it. If you think that part of it could be improved then take the time to rewrite it. Ask people to review the code and give

by dm2 13y ago

Think of a small project and build it. If you think that part of it could be improved then take the time to rewrite it. Ask people to review the code and give you feedback. Web development requires practice, there's no way around it. There is a tipping point between looking for work and having your inbox filled with people begging you to work for them. It doesn't take long to get there if you work hard and build up your portfolio. Consider joining a startup for the summer, they will usually pay you and you'll get a ton of experience. There are far more businesses than there are developers, and they all need good developers. If you can't figure out what you want to do with your life then consider joining the Navy, I'm serious, you'll learn more than you could ever imagine and will have an impressive resume and skill-set afterwards. I say the Navy specifically because it seems like they focus on technology more than other branches. I'm also assuming that you are in the US, if not, then ignore this paragraph. Rather than applying for dozens of jobs (spray and pray?) you should craft your resume to a couple specific positions that you really want and that you think you'll have a good shot of getting, then build a simple demo to show the hiring managers. Read up on the companies you apply for and make sure they know that you want to work for them in particular and show them how you will create value for their organization. More importantly you need to think outside-the-box when trying to find a place to work. Spamming your resume to potential employers you found on job sites won't work because thousands of people, many of which are more qualified than yourself, will also see those job listings. From my experience all it takes is one thing to make you stand out to an employer, you'll have to figure out that one thing for yourself. I got lucky and found mine early.

joshlegs 13y ago
These are some pretty good points. I got lucky in a few ways, but i'll tell my story. I was a journalist for five years, but had always written code for fun. I ended up becoming friends with a former programmer for a large software company who had recently started his own consulting shop. I showed promise as a developer, plus I had other skills that they could use. It was only a 3 person shop at that point, but they were able to find several smaller contracts that I could take on, while also having me help on larger contracts in Rails. I kept at it (and have been at it for about 18 months now). I feel like i'm just now coming into my own, so to speak. i know a popular framework relatively well at this point, and while I don't know all the nuances of several basic web technolgoies yet, I'm still studying them (also, you never stop learning even if you're an expert). the bottom line is that I found a place that would nurture me as a developer because I had promise (probably like you, if you do it for fun), and I had other skills that they could simultaneously use. By putting my understanding of journalism/communication/marketing to use, I was able to bring in some really nice contracts, and now I'm working on a popular social networking application in Django. So, I guess what I'd say to OP is to find all your strong points, find places that those skills are also relevant at, and "dual-class" so to speak (if we're going the RPG route here). This way you are leveraging your abilities three different ways: past experience, future promise, and current strengths. oh: and one thing i forgot to mention. HANG OUT IN IRC, a lot. The people there are incredibly knowledgeable and can often help out or give you advice really quickly i dont even know if all that made sense. but hopefully it helps some
- doubledown 13y ago
  That's awesome man, congrats! Thanks for the suggestions, they made a lot of sense and were helpful.
doubledown 13y ago
This was the path I've tried to take from the beginning ("think of a small project and build it"), and have stuck to it for stretches. However, the last contract stint I did kind of put me off that track, and I think my skills regressed a bit while I was there - I was just banging scripts together basically. I'm about to start working with a mentor who's far more experienced than me, and who can chat a few times a month around what I'm doing right, wrong, etc. I'm currently helping out a startup, but for very little money. The experience has been helpful for sure, but I'm not sure it's getting me closer to someone who can handle a feature/application whole hog, start to finish. Funny you mention the Navy, I was very close to enrolling in officer candidate school about 5 years ago, but couldn't for medical reasons. You're probably right about focusing on a couple of specific positions/companies. Again, it's something I've thought about and done before, but I guess the panic of not having a job has thrown me off of plan occasionally.

by dm2 13y ago

joshlegs 13y ago

These are some pretty good points. I got lucky in a few ways, but i'll tell my story. I was a journalist for five years, but had always written code for fun. I ended up becoming friends with a former programmer for a large software company who had recently started his own consulting shop. I showed promise as a developer, plus I had other skills that they could use. It was only a 3 person shop at that point, but they were able to find several smaller contracts that I could take on, while also having me help on larger contracts in Rails. I kept at it (and have been at it for about 18 months now). I feel like i'm just now coming into my own, so to speak. i know a popular framework relatively well at this point, and while I don't know all the nuances of several basic web technolgoies yet, I'm still studying them (also, you never stop learning even if you're an expert). the bottom line is that I found a place that would nurture me as a developer because I had promise (probably like you, if you do it for fun), and I had other skills that they could simultaneously use. By putting my understanding of journalism/communication/marketing to use, I was able to bring in some really nice contracts, and now I'm working on a popular social networking application in Django. So, I guess what I'd say to OP is to find all your strong points, find places that those skills are also relevant at, and "dual-class" so to speak (if we're going the RPG route here). This way you are leveraging your abilities three different ways: past experience, future promise, and current strengths. oh: and one thing i forgot to mention. HANG OUT IN IRC, a lot. The people there are incredibly knowledgeable and can often help out or give you advice really quickly i dont even know if all that made sense. but hopefully it helps some

doubledown 13y ago
That's awesome man, congrats! Thanks for the suggestions, they made a lot of sense and were helpful.

doubledown 13y ago

This was the path I've tried to take from the beginning ("think of a small project and build it"), and have stuck to it for stretches. However, the last contract stint I did kind of put me off that track, and I think my skills regressed a bit while I was there - I was just banging scripts together basically. I'm about to start working with a mentor who's far more experienced than me, and who can chat a few times a month around what I'm doing right, wrong, etc. I'm currently helping out a startup, but for very little money. The experience has been helpful for sure, but I'm not sure it's getting me closer to someone who can handle a feature/application whole hog, start to finish. Funny you mention the Navy, I was very close to enrolling in officer candidate school about 5 years ago, but couldn't for medical reasons. You're probably right about focusing on a couple of specific positions/companies. Again, it's something I've thought about and done before, but I guess the panic of not having a job has thrown me off of plan occasionally.