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Becoming a developer
Hello Ladies! I’m looking for a bit of advice. I am toying with the idea of becoming a full stack developer. In the past I’ve always told myself I couldn’t but after spending the last two years at a job I dislike, I don’t want to hold myself back anymore.
I had some coding experience in college mostly with Java and I really enjoyed it. But it’s been several years and I definitely need a refresher. I also want to learn the basics of a couple of front end languages to round out my skill set.
As anybody been in a similar situation? What resources did you use? I’ve looked into a couple of online classes that provide certificates when completed, but are there any instructor based classes that people recommend? I thought about maybe doing a bootcamp but after reading reviews I’m not sure if it’s worth it.
Thanks in advance!
Juniper AlcornSoftware Engineer | Philosophy PhD
61
02/17/20 at 10:44PM UTC
I went to a bootcamp, but I had no previous coding experience, and it was immensely helpful for me. But the truth is, you can do a lot of it on your own with the right tools, and there are tons! If you really want to go fullstack, JavaScript is really common. Python is also great. Work on learning a framework for those languages, and building little projects. It's important for employers to show that you understand how the pieces come together.
I have had good experiences with some Udemy courses, which you can get on sale for under $20 pretty regularly. My favorite was Javascript Algorithms and Data Structure Master Class. Cracking the Coding Interview is a book I was recommended which helped during my job search. Google all your questions and google things like....."my first react app" to get started!
hstrick1012Avid problem solver
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02/18/20 at 3:32PM UTC
Hi JuniperA - What bootcamp did you attend? I like the idea of the classroom environment but there are so many mixed reviews.
Juniper AlcornSoftware Engineer | Philosophy PhD
61
07/10/20 at 6:03PM UTC
I apologize for just seeing this...I attended General Assembly in NYC. I would look for 3rd party reviews as much as possible, and something established!
cpeckens
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02/10/20 at 10:13PM UTC
Agree you should love what you do. It's great that you're a continuous learner and I would recommend checking out the core requirements for a full stack developer. Article to start with: https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/web-development/what-is-a-full-stack-web-developer/#4-what-is-full-stack-web-development
Since you have experience in Java and programming, perhaps start to expand to one of the other core languages (e.g. Python)? Full stack developer is a great career opportunity while at the same time, challenging because you have to be an expert in both - front end and backend.
Kevin Whitehead
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02/07/20 at 3:47PM UTC
I think it super important to enjoy your work so if you're not happy then start planning to turn this around.
My tips would be to put a plan together to test out your thinking that a career as a developer is the right move. I know there are some great on line courses that are free (try edx.org) or some lower cost on line options like LinkedIn Learning.
I recently tried some machine learning courses and found it great fun.
Personally I would also check if this is an in demand profession (I think it is), if you pick a job with a scarcity of talent employers are usually willing to train and develop new recruits.
Hope that helps and good luck!!
