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Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

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Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#101

Post by tptacek »

rdouble wrote: post #99
tptacek wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't move to Ann Arbor. There's like 6 companies within a 30 mile radius that can hire you there. Move to Indianapolis, Chicago, or Cleveland, if you want to stay in the midwest (I'm in Chicago and wouldn't blame you). Strong agree with the overall sentiment that you can't stay in Grand Rapids if you want to be a dev.

What's in Indianapolis and Cleveland?

Lots of companies that need code written. Saying "move to Chicago" felt janky given that I'm a Chicago booster. I don't know if there's much of a Cleveland startup scene. There is an Indy scene but it's small. However: who cares? You don't have to work for a startup to get paid to code.

Thanks for calling me on this, though; if you look at "top employers" lists, Columbus might actually be a better location. Columbus feels A2-ey, but there big companies HQ'd there.

I lived and worked in A2 for 4+ years. I love A2, but I would strongly advise against moving there unless there's a job there you're in love with.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#102

Post by jtheory »

One thought, only partly in jest -- interacting directly with others is an essential part of networking. Don't post your plea to HN and then figure you'll check back tomorrow to see if it stirred up anything useful. :)

Advice + thoughtful response = conversation => ???

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#103

Post by strlen »

strlen wrote: post #48

There are a number of open source Python projects that have vendors associated with them (or large corporate users). OpenStack is one such example, but there's also various scientific libraries, e.g., NumPy/scipy that may better suited to your background. Typically open source-heavy companies are more open to remote/distributed work: I am not saying working remotely full-time, but something along the lines of working…

Quick clarification by: "pick a substantial sub-project (not something trivial), start contributing to it", I mean:

_Implement_ a non-trivial module for the project in question , i.e., do much more than fix a few bugs.

Since you are junior (no actual development experience), it might not be realistic to hope for a remote position even in companies otherwise friendly to it. You need to make it a point to move for at least a few years: you'll want a company that can invest in you and give you a chance to prove yourself, before you can do more unorthodox things.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#104

Post by rdouble »

tptacek wrote: post #101
rdouble wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's in Indianapolis and Cleveland?

Lots of companies that need code written. Saying "move to Chicago" felt janky given that I'm a Chicago booster. I don't know if there's much of a Cleveland startup scene. There is an Indy scene but it's small. However: who cares? You don't have to work for a startup to get paid to code. Thanks for calling me on this, though; if you look at "top employers" lists, Columbus might actually be a better location. Columbus…

Well I mean, are there any specific companies or industries in those towns? Or is the idea just a bigger town with more programming jobs at banks, insurance companies, etc? Genuinely curious. If the idea is to uproot to another mid-sized midwestern city to get a generic programming job, why not suggest somewhere civilized, like Minneapolis? Alternatively, if one is so desperate as to consider moving to Cleveland to find a programming job, might as well drive another two hours to Pittsburgh. There probably actually are python jobs there...

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#105

Post by tptacek »

rdouble wrote: post #104
tptacek wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lots of companies that need code written. Saying "move to Chicago" felt janky given that I'm a Chicago booster. I don't know if there's much of a Cleveland startup scene. There is an Indy scene but it's small. However: who cares? You don't have to work for a startup to get paid to code. Thanks for calling me on this, though; if you look at "top employers" lists, Columbus might actually be a better location. Columbus…

Well I mean, are there any specific companies or industries in those towns? Or is the idea just a bigger town with more programming jobs at banks, insurance companies, etc? Genuinely curious. If the idea is to uproot to another mid-sized midwestern city to get a generic programming job, why not suggest somewhere civilized, like Minneapolis? Alternatively, if one is so desperate as to consider moving to Cleveland to f…

Cleveland isn't a terrible city. You don't have to be desperate to move there. I think we are ultimately in agreement that he should move to a real metro area.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#106

Post by rdouble »

tptacek wrote: post #105
rdouble wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well I mean, are there any specific companies or industries in those towns? Or is the idea just a bigger town with more programming jobs at banks, insurance companies, etc? Genuinely curious. If the idea is to uproot to another mid-sized midwestern city to get a generic programming job, why not suggest somewhere civilized, like Minneapolis? Alternatively, if one is so desperate as to consider moving to Cleveland to f…

Cleveland isn't a terrible city. You don't have to be desperate to move there. I think we are ultimately in agreement that he should move to a real metro area.

I agree with moving somewhere else but will have to "agree to disagree" about Cleveland...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzgAjjuqZM

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#107

Post by rdouble »

Try to get a job as a sysadmin or IT person at a health care organization/hospital. In economically depressed areas, these organizations usually provide the best paying jobs because they are not subject to normal market forces. They exist everywhere, and will hire anyone even sort of qualified for the job. You can use that experience to move to a city where they have the python jobs you want, because health care orgs everywhere are desperate for people who know about their specialized infrastructure.

Here's a few examples of what I mean if you are say, in Grand Rapids.

http://careers.spectrum-health.org/?job=main.searchbycat&#38...

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#108

Post by canadiancreed »

lutorm wrote: post #80
StavrosK wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What? I said don't bother because they aren't replying to submissions at all.

... based on a sample of one, though.

Make that sample of two, as I had the same experience.

granted it's a sample of two out of who knows how many, but there it is. Will still be applying again but it won't be at the top of the list sadly.

Re: Ask HN: Desperate Python Hacker Seeking Help and Suggestions

#110

Post by [deleted] »

justin_vanw wrote: post #75

Your description really isn't enough to give you advice. You should post your resume online somewhere and link to it. But, based on what you said, I can tell you: Using Python in school and at a job doesn't make you a Python Hacker. From your description of yourself it sounds like you mostly play with programming. It may just be the way you worded it, but what was the last 'major' software project you have worked on,…

[deleted]
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