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First some encouragement. You can totally make it in this industry. I know because I've been in worse situations: http://jeremy.marzhillstudios.com/entries/From
by zaphar 12y ago
First some encouragement. You can totally make it in this industry. I know because I've been in worse situations: http://jeremy.marzhillstudios.com/entries/From-Homeless-to-a-Career/ http://jeremy.marzhillstudios.com/entries/From-Homeless-to-a... So here are two things to keep in mind.
1. You need to make money somehow. Worst case scenario you go to work at something like LaborReady or Manpower. It's exhausting work but if you show up and put in a little effort you'll always have work. For a little while I was on a request list for companies that used Labor Ready. It doesn't take much to stand out from the crowd there.
2. You need to get exposure. This can happen through Github, OSS projects, and your blog. But most important find your niche. Become an expert in something that there aren't many experts in. I got my first real job because I became expert at Perl at a time when there weren't many people claiming to be experts in Perl. It can be a language, Framework, technology stack, whatever. After you're first full time job though you will gain contacts and a network. You can then play that out into career growth.
Nothing is guaranteed but you have options.
- jessehorne 12y agoAwesome advice, and I looked into Planeshift myself a long time ago. I should have stuck with C++, because it would definitely have been more useful in some cases. I'm going to start a blog, and start writing some meaningful posts. I have lots to say. I will blog about how I've been learning Godot engine lately (not many are, currently). :-) I'm looking into labor options as well, there seems to be a number of jobs here and there that can keep me going.
- zaphar 12y agoThe nice thing about places like labor ready are they can be done one day at a time with no commitment and usually they pay the same day you work. The bad thing is that they don't pay you very much.
- lrvick 12y agoWe should talk. I think you might of encouraged me to finally document my own similar story of homeless to married / awesome software career. If it can be used to encourage others it is a net win, yeah?
- zaphar 12y agoSure. Anytime. My email is in my profile.
- KnowOneGnome 12y agoPlease do always an inspirational read.
- piratebroadcast 12y agoJust read your blog - Loved it! I see the post you linked to has you starting at Google, but your most recent post has you leaving Google after 6 years. Where to next? Congrats again!
- zaphar 12y agoThanks. I'm working for a company called VAE, Inc based out of Reston, Va. It's sort of a quasi startup. The company is established but the software side of things is new. I'm helping to bootstrap their dev team with my brother.