Are you looking for Python jobs exclusively? In learning python you've likely already developed the skills necessary to pick up other frameworks and languages, so consider broadening your search to include those jobs.
I'm personally more than willing to hire developers with experience outside of my companies primary stack. Also very open to junior developers without production experience.
No need to work for free (actually, I'd highly advise against that). Just keep looking for junior dev jobs. And, if you're main concern is getting better, make sure the company has other developers better than you.
What do you do currently? I went from a BA in Econ and an MBA to software development by bringing those technical skills and applying them to whatever job I was currently doing. Those companies had a need for automation and internal applications which I was able to step up and take on those tasks. After some time, I had built up enough experience to warrant a software engineer role. Of course, this probably works bet…
Good question, at the moment, I will best describe myself as a Technical Analyst (Interestingly also with a BSC Econ background, then moved into IT by taking industry Network/Systems Engineer certifications and did that for a while). I work with the business by liaising with the business analyst, translating business requirements into System Requirements and making sure that from a technical stand point all the T's are crossed and I's dotted. At my current firm, we are not allowed to code anymore as compared when i joined years ago, in which i had the opportunity to get my hands dirty, got into developing a lot of ETL solutions etc. Now its more of working on IT projects which mostly is based on purchasing off the shelf say ERP or EPM system for example and making sure they are implemented correctly. At this juncture i am bored with just doing that, hence decided to pick up Python, take courses in order to enable myself.
What do you do currently? I went from a BA in Econ and an MBA to software development by bringing those technical skills and applying them to whatever job I was currently doing. Those companies had a need for automation and internal applications which I was able to step up and take on those tasks. After some time, I had built up enough experience to warrant a software engineer role. Of course, this probably works bet…
I work at a Python shop, and we find developers through Python meetups. As other people have already commented, go to any local Python meetup you can and become a familiar face there. Plus, use all the other fantastic advice here such as getting involvement in open source so you can put that on your resume as experience.