The main problem I'm having is not even being able to land an interview. Where should I look for a dev job in Australia?
Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
31–40 of 65 posts
Re: Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
#32Make an iPhone app, make some money, and never get a job. I would recommend you either make a Bible app, or a Menstruation Calendar app. Those would both not require any server-side programming, and they are proven ways to make money.
Re: Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
#33Re: Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
#34Re: Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
#35What I did was start low as a jr. system admin for linux systems. I'm not very social so I never made 'connections' so I hade to improve my skills. So from jr I went to sr, and within a couple of years got my first job as a jr. dev for a small company.
It's at these kinds of jobs that you will learn the essentials:
MVC Databases HTML/CSS/Javascript Message Queues
From here, it's up to you to keep improving your skills and building projects. Managers don't like github profiles, so I highly recommend you have your own app (not just a website.)
From there you can move on to things like: Mobile Apps Function Languages Socket Servers Low Latency Systems
Of course, always make sure you study and learn the basics. Such as basic sorting algorithms, working with bits/bytes, etc.
And so on.
Re: Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
#36You say you learned Python and Django and I think that's a great place to start. Add on to that with a solid font end knowledge and you're good to go until you get hired.
If you're in the Chicago area you should get in touch with me as I'm looking for help as we speak.
Re: Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
#37Re: Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
#38If anyone is looking for a jr. front-end Dev., Wordpress Dev. or beginning Rails Dev. drop me a line. I'd appreciate it :) Languages: JS, Python, Ruby, PHP
Re: Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
#39I started with the front end because I had a decent design sense and attention to detail. If you can care about pixel perfection, I think it's a good route. JavaScript, HTML, and CSS aren't the most difficult technologies to start with, and you get a little more leeway to make mistakes or write sloppy code in the beginning, learning as you go.
It's a good time to be doing this. There is need for developers enough that if you can prove that you're smart, a mid-sized or smaller startup may take a risk with you.
Try putting up a personal website. Set up your own server if you can, write your own code, and get something up showing what you can do.
At this point, do whatever you can to show that you've taught yourself a decent amount. You want to prove that you can learn, not so much that you're already a pro.
Re: Best approach for self-taught developer looking for job?
#40The best way to demonstrate your python and django expertise is to create a web app using that stack. Find some cheap hosting and you're set. Who knows, your app might even be a hit and you can skip the job seeking routine altogether.