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How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

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Re: How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

#91
post #53
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disclaimer: I advise Dev Bootcamp. Here are three student reflections on Dev Bootcamp: - http://douglascalhoun.tumblr.com/post/26059106238/beautiful-... - http://newbietoruby.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/devbootcamp-ref... - http://mehulkar.tumblr.com/post/18897643140/devbootcamp-test... And here is a Quora thread with a lot of relevant responses: http://www.quora.com/Ruby-on-Rails/Should-I-quit-my-job-and-... . Please f…

I have a question: I've tried to learn Ruby and don't think it is for me. Too hard to deal with setting up my environment and the language just does not come easily to me. Can you recommend a program like yours that is of very high quality that focuses on Python, JavaScript (possibly with HTML/CSS) or Objective-C?

What problems did you have with the Ruby environment? I went through this several months ago, and maybe can help you get set up, if you're still interested in Ruby.

Re: How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

#92
post #81

Work your ass off (...) So, in order to make the kind of strides I made, expect to spend at least 10 hours a day, six days a week dedicated to programming activities. Important point is that you have to love those 10 hours. I'm pretty sure that if you do it just with the end goal in mind, it won't work. You mention this, but I think it could be emphasised.

Agree. I've been there. Those need to be 10 hours you planned on being only 6.

Re: How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

#94
post #91
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a question: I've tried to learn Ruby and don't think it is for me. Too hard to deal with setting up my environment and the language just does not come easily to me. Can you recommend a program like yours that is of very high quality that focuses on Python, JavaScript (possibly with HTML/CSS) or Objective-C?

What problems did you have with the Ruby environment? I went through this several months ago, and maybe can help you get set up, if you're still interested in Ruby.

Couldn't get passed running rvm in my terminal on OS X =/

Re: How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

#95
Seeing a self-taught guy with 6 months coding experience writing software at a medical lab testing facility makes me a bit nervous. The need for proper security in that area is (IMO) even more important than for credit card and financial processing, and I just don't trust a guy with only 6 months experience to do it correctly. Nothing against him, but I think it's too complicated of a subject to learn in 6 months with no real world experience.

Re: How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

#96
This is a nice story but there are some hidden issues around here. The ones that want to get into programming should be aware of these:

It's not an easy trip.. it's not just six months... it's a lifetime. Yes you might get a job in 6 months but then you will have to work even harder to keep that job and to be in the game. You will never stop learning... you will have to constantly adapt yourself to the new technologies otherwise you will end up being the guy hated by everyone for your crappy code that's a pain to be maintained.

Yes you might learn Ruby or any other programming language and you can solve problems and build stuff... so basically you can do your job.... but there's more to programming. You should not just read a ruby book and learn the syntax and hey presto you are a developer. You should put some time in learning how software works, learning some algorithms and so on. It's not about one programming language, it's about programming in general. Programming languages are just tools we use to achieve a goal. For example, you can't be a car mechanic by learning how to use a wrench.. you need to know how to use more tools and, the most important thing, learn how to fix an issue using the most appropriate tool.

Re: How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

#97
post #96

This is a nice story but there are some hidden issues around here. The ones that want to get into programming should be aware of these: It's not an easy trip.. it's not just six months... it's a lifetime. Yes you might get a job in 6 months but then you will have to work even harder to keep that job and to be in the game. You will never stop learning... you will have to constantly adapt yourself to the new technologi…

To be honest, I think this is true for every profession, not just programming.

If you want to stay on top, you have to continually improve your game.

Or you can be that guy in the corner who got left behind when the factory tanked and he suddenly found himself unemployable.

Re: How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

#98
post #49
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you been through Dev Bootcamp? Did you find it immensely useful? Did it help with getting hired? I ask because it has quite a large upfront cost... perfectly reasonable if it really is that great.

Disclaimer: I advise Dev Bootcamp. Here are three student reflections on Dev Bootcamp: - http://douglascalhoun.tumblr.com/post/26059106238/beautiful-... - http://newbietoruby.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/devbootcamp-ref... - http://mehulkar.tumblr.com/post/18897643140/devbootcamp-test... And here is a Quora thread with a lot of relevant responses: http://www.quora.com/Ruby-on-Rails/Should-I-quit-my-job-and-... . Please f…

Any kinds of loans/financial aid for people who can't afford it? I came to SF with the goal of becoming a good programmer, but have a net worth of about 3.5k, one of which is this computer.

Re: How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

#99
post #40
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you been through Dev Bootcamp? Did you find it immensely useful? Did it help with getting hired? I ask because it has quite a large upfront cost... perfectly reasonable if it really is that great.

I haven't been through as a student, although I know many students would say it was worth it. I've watched two classes graduate, and I'm impressed with the curriculum. 90% of Dev Bootcamp's previous class got offers of $80k/year, compared to a college education where 50% of graduates will be underemployed or jobless. The $12k tuition feels too low if it's certain that you'll get 6x the return in the first year.

Is it so certain that banks will give students loans for it? As it is the price just slams the door on me.

Re: How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months

#100
post #97
post #96

This is a nice story but there are some hidden issues around here. The ones that want to get into programming should be aware of these: It's not an easy trip.. it's not just six months... it's a lifetime. Yes you might get a job in 6 months but then you will have to work even harder to keep that job and to be in the game. You will never stop learning... you will have to constantly adapt yourself to the new technologi…

To be honest, I think this is true for every profession, not just programming. If you want to stay on top, you have to continually improve your game. Or you can be that guy in the corner who got left behind when the factory tanked and he suddenly found himself unemployable.

Yes this is true for every profession... but in programming it seems to be a more crucial thing as the programming world is changing and evolving faster than any other industry.. just think about what programmers used to do 10 years ago .. and what we do now... think how computers change in 10 years... (my mobile phone is smarter/faster than my state of the art PC from 10 years ago)

The progression rate is astonishing and we must not forget that we still have to learn the basics in order to be good at what we do...

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