Hello All!
Does anyone have any tips on landing your first developer role? I left a career in contract management and procurement to teach myself programming. I started out with data structures and javascript (node, react) but transitioned to swift (UIKit, CoreData, SwiftUI, XCTest). I have also independently studied design principles, clean code architecture and dependency injection. I have a slew of small course projects and have been working on a larger personal project but have not released it yet and am itching to be back in the work force (can continue my app on the side). I have invested so much time and energy programming and don't feel like I have the heart or mind to go back, so I feel the only way is forward, but I have not had any luck cold applying without experience on a production app. Any advice for me?
Hi there! We're sorry to hear that you are having difficulty finding a developer role. It sounds like you have put a lot of hard work into teaching yourself programming. Our advice would be to focus on your strengths and find a project that you can use as a portfolio piece to demonstrate your skills. Also, consider networking with other developers and attending meetups and conferences in your area. You can find more information on our site: https://andersenlab.com/blueprint/undisclosed-advantages-of-PHP-for-web-development
Maybe try a temp role? Sometimes companies hire people just for a project and that gives you enough to get the resume bullets and proof you need?