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How to get hired as mature self-taught ex-freelancer?

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Re: How to get hired as mature self-taught ex-freelancer?

#11

Post by JHof »

tanbo wrote: post #7

People here told me that I could make money by teaching myself some code. After seeing a lot of these posts, I am really starting to doubt it. You have so much experience, expertise, and you're a successful freelancer. And you have to ask about jobs? What am I getting myself into... I am 31, I might as well go try to be a professional golfer or something else hilariously impossible. Seriously, I think my life is goin…

I feel you tanbo. I've been teaching myself and considering a career change through one of the bootcamps. Always makes me wonder how I'm going to suddenly become more employable than someone with years of experience. Haven't quite figured this one out.

Re: How to get hired as mature self-taught ex-freelancer?

#12

Post by ilaksh »

I have issues that are similar. I am 35 and have been doing freelancing/contract work for a lot of years. So I think actually this last contract might have hired me but they used the fact that I had been freelancing and knew that I would take a contract instead against me. Not because they didn't want my help, but because they knew they didn't actually have to hire me to get me to work for them, and so wouldn't need to bother with health benefits or a hiring committee or anything.

Re: How to get hired as mature self-taught ex-freelancer?

#13

Post by willstepp »

tanbo wrote: post #7

People here told me that I could make money by teaching myself some code. After seeing a lot of these posts, I am really starting to doubt it. You have so much experience, expertise, and you're a successful freelancer. And you have to ask about jobs? What am I getting myself into... I am 31, I might as well go try to be a professional golfer or something else hilariously impossible. Seriously, I think my life is goin…

I am 36 now and have been programming professionally for six years. At 30 I was in your boat, and here is the reality, you are freakin young dude! Please don't get discouraged and don't listen to folks who say you have to be 21 to be a good programmer. In the real world all that really matters is can you get the job done and do you have a good attitude?

Re: How to get hired as mature self-taught ex-freelancer?

#14

Post by EdwardDiego »

JHof wrote: post #11
tanbo wrote: post #7

People here told me that I could make money by teaching myself some code. After seeing a lot of these posts, I am really starting to doubt it. You have so much experience, expertise, and you're a successful freelancer. And you have to ask about jobs? What am I getting myself into... I am 31, I might as well go try to be a professional golfer or something else hilariously impossible. Seriously, I think my life is goin…

I feel you tanbo. I've been teaching myself and considering a career change through one of the bootcamps. Always makes me wonder how I'm going to suddenly become more employable than someone with years of experience. Haven't quite figured this one out.

> How I'm going to suddenly become more employable than someone with years of experience. Haven't quite figured this one out.

Well, you'll be asking for lower salaries than them for a few years, so that'll help. :D

Re: How to get hired as mature self-taught ex-freelancer?

#15

Post by TheSmoke »

tanbo wrote: post #7

People here told me that I could make money by teaching myself some code. After seeing a lot of these posts, I am really starting to doubt it. You have so much experience, expertise, and you're a successful freelancer. And you have to ask about jobs? What am I getting myself into... I am 31, I might as well go try to be a professional golfer or something else hilariously impossible. Seriously, I think my life is goin…

if you are serious about being a programmer and willing to learn anything you need to know and have the urge to build things i'd say go for it. maybe you won't be making any money instantly because coding doesn't mean money flowing but in time you'll be able to make money. heck, maybe you would build something good and start your own company.

Re: How to get hired as mature self-taught ex-freelancer?

#16

Post by Spoom »

pedalpete wrote: post #5

I feel your pain, I'm in a similar position. I just turned 40, have experience in PHP, Rails, lots Javascript (including Backbone, Knockout, a bit of Angular and learning Ember now), a bit of Python and learning Scala. No degree, and most of what I've worked on were internal corporate tools or start-ups that are no longer around. I've been building out sample apps in newer Javascript frameworks so that along with lea…

He wanted me to work for 60 days without pay

Run.

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