How I Got a Job in Web Development • Hacker News Board

Re: How I Got a Job in Web Development

#21

Post by vonklaus » Tue, Jan 27, 2015, 11:28 PM UTC

elliotec wrote: post #19

vonklaus wrote: post #13

This is an interesting story. I started teaching myself to code about 1 year ago. I started with html/css/scss and then moved to vanilla JS. Started working with a few frameworks and the command line, and then started a bootcamp. The bootcamp was a total disappointment, and I definitely don't feel like it was worth the money. I am applying for jobs now and it is tough. Like someone mentioned below, the transition is…

Thanks! Here's a secret, they don't actually care if you have a CS degree or 5 years experience. You can ignore that on any job description. If you can prove that you are able to do the job, that's what they are looking for. Another quick point, those CS concepts will come with practice, and you might not know every aspect of what is happening in the CPU when you use .sort! on an array, but I assure you that you will…

Thanks. I know I can do most of the stuff asked. Most of these places want flat designed applications with animation, a nice UI and CRUD functionality. Maybe a token based api and a few forms. Im going to get a job, i am disappointed in the lack of brand strength of the institution I attended, so I am doing a few side projects and contract work to prove to employers I am competent and can learn. Thanks

Re: How I Got a Job in Web Development

#22

Post by eastbayjake » Tue, Jan 27, 2015, 11:35 PM UTC

vonklaus wrote: post #20

eastbayjake wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mind naming names about the bootcamp? I ask for two reasons: (1) Other people who are getting ready to shell out $10k for a bootcamp deserve to hear from dissatisfied alumni (2) There's a lot of negative press around bootcamps and the good ones shouldn't be lumped in with the bad ones. I had a great experience at Hack Reactor that set me up for interview success with data structures and algorithms, despite lacking a…

General Assembly, Los Angeles. I feel like a relatively competent developer, but I had to work my ass off. I wanted to do a bootcamp to get polished. To learn the right way of doing things. I found it much less immersive and instructional and they have flooded the market with subpar developers. I don't want to say much more publicly, but if you are interested we can talk more privately about it, and my experience.

I'm really sorry you had that experience. It sounds similar to the industry sentiment: General Assembly is geared towards founders who want to quickly acquire a discrete set of business skills in a short period of time, and they're at a competitive disadvantage against coding bootcamps that specialize in programming skills. It seems like the only area where they can compete is price point.

I'm not sure why GA is pursuing this strategy because it seems to be poisoning their reputation. They really shine with things like weekend courses on marketing analytics or a two-hour course where a non-technical founder can get some concepts and vocabulary to grok what the engineering team is doing, but their nine-week courses are lightweight and don't serve their graduates very well. In fact, when I hear engineers complaining about "bootcamp graduates" it's never about Hack Reactor and rarely about DevBootcamp or App Academy -- it's usually General Assembly.

Re: How I Got a Job in Web Development

#23

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jan 27, 2015, 11:41 PM UTC

vonklaus wrote: post #20

eastbayjake wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mind naming names about the bootcamp? I ask for two reasons: (1) Other people who are getting ready to shell out $10k for a bootcamp deserve to hear from dissatisfied alumni (2) There's a lot of negative press around bootcamps and the good ones shouldn't be lumped in with the bad ones. I had a great experience at Hack Reactor that set me up for interview success with data structures and algorithms, despite lacking a…

General Assembly, Los Angeles. I feel like a relatively competent developer, but I had to work my ass off. I wanted to do a bootcamp to get polished. To learn the right way of doing things. I found it much less immersive and instructional and they have flooded the market with subpar developers. I don't want to say much more publicly, but if you are interested we can talk more privately about it, and my experience.

[deleted]

Re: How I Got a Job in Web Development

#24

Post by vonklaus » Tue, Jan 27, 2015, 11:49 PM UTC

eastbayjake wrote: post #22

vonklaus wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

General Assembly, Los Angeles. I feel like a relatively competent developer, but I had to work my ass off. I wanted to do a bootcamp to get polished. To learn the right way of doing things. I found it much less immersive and instructional and they have flooded the market with subpar developers. I don't want to say much more publicly, but if you are interested we can talk more privately about it, and my experience.

I'm really sorry you had that experience. It sounds similar to the industry sentiment: General Assembly is geared towards founders who want to quickly acquire a discrete set of business skills in a short period of time, and they're at a competitive disadvantage against coding bootcamps that specialize in programming skills. It seems like the only area where they can compete is price point. I'm not sure why GA is purs…

Yeah. I strongly considered those ones, however I was in LA, and they are the only game in town. Thanks.

Re: How I Got a Job in Web Development

#25

Post by gopher2 » Wed, Jan 28, 2015, 12:45 AM UTC

vonklaus wrote: post #21

elliotec wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! Here's a secret, they don't actually care if you have a CS degree or 5 years experience. You can ignore that on any job description. If you can prove that you are able to do the job, that's what they are looking for. Another quick point, those CS concepts will come with practice, and you might not know every aspect of what is happening in the CPU when you use .sort! on an array, but I assure you that you will…

Thanks. I know I can do most of the stuff asked. Most of these places want flat designed applications with animation, a nice UI and CRUD functionality. Maybe a token based api and a few forms. Im going to get a job, i am disappointed in the lack of brand strength of the institution I attended, so I am doing a few side projects and contract work to prove to employers I am competent and can learn. Thanks

What did you use to find contract work?

Re: How I Got a Job in Web Development

#26

Post by girvo » Wed, Jan 28, 2015, 1:44 AM UTC

vonklaus wrote: post #13

This is an interesting story. I started teaching myself to code about 1 year ago. I started with html/css/scss and then moved to vanilla JS. Started working with a few frameworks and the command line, and then started a bootcamp. The bootcamp was a total disappointment, and I definitely don't feel like it was worth the money. I am applying for jobs now and it is tough. Like someone mentioned below, the transition is…

Do what I did: go learn that CS stuff on your own :) it's fascinating, and gives me motivation when building standard CRUD app isn't doing it for me. Coursera, the MIT lectures, books: dive in, and you'll come out the other side with understanding and knowledge that will help you in the long run. If you enjoy coding, and enjoy problem solving and logical thinking, you'll probably enjoy learning those topics on your own as much as I have been!

Re: How I Got a Job in Web Development

#27

Post by girvo » Wed, Jan 28, 2015, 1:47 AM UTC

sosuke wrote: post #12

opisa54yrip wrote: post #10

Sorry, but this is exactly why there is no point in believing of "front end developer" being a career that can offer a sustainable living, in the western world at least, in the coming years. Greetings, from somebody, who in the 90s, was a) still going to school and b) making 8.0000 - 10.000 DM per website, "on the side". Yeah, those where the times.. One question, just for fun: have you even heard of some "Zeldman"?…

Get off my lawn! Just because this person didn't have to suffer like we did doesn't mean they won't be productive and make a living. Zeldman was great, but these new folks coming into the market are following DHH, bootstrapped rapid frameworks that scaffold it all. They are building quick and cool things, and will have years to figure out all the inner workings. It is a sustainable living, and if you don't sit on you…

I think your parents argument is that it isn't sustainable. If one can learn and be productive as quickly as the OP, then it follows that the developer "shortage" will only be temporary for this particular corner of the industry.

Re: How I Got a Job in Web Development

#28

Post by sosuke » Wed, Jan 28, 2015, 3:37 AM UTC

girvo wrote: post #27

sosuke wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Get off my lawn! Just because this person didn't have to suffer like we did doesn't mean they won't be productive and make a living. Zeldman was great, but these new folks coming into the market are following DHH, bootstrapped rapid frameworks that scaffold it all. They are building quick and cool things, and will have years to figure out all the inner workings. It is a sustainable living, and if you don't sit on you…

I think your parents argument is that it isn't sustainable. If one can learn and be productive as quickly as the OP, then it follows that the developer "shortage" will only be temporary for this particular corner of the industry.

Possibly, but we've seen a developer gold rush in the past and it doesn't last. Those who do shine through.

Re: How I Got a Job in Web Development

#29

Post by mikemee » Sat, Jan 31, 2015, 2:15 AM UTC

Congrats on working hard & smart and getting results.

Also impressed by Starbucks' role in all of this. How many other companies would have supported you through that period and perhaps in some way made this possible for you! I can't say I like their coffee much, but I've always admired them as a company that values employees and your experience adds to their cred imnsho.