Calling all web developers, software developers: advice needed

[Tamadrummer88]

Lately I've been thinking of transitioning into a new career. Been doing security/law enforcement for the last 6 years and my career is literally going nowhere. I'm 26 and I'm not getting any younger, and I'm far behind of where my peers are at now.

I've looked into web developing. Learning what goes into making a website, app, etc has always interested me. For the last year or so I've been dabbling in learning how to code (just the bare basics, nothing too fancy) and I really like it. I don't have much time for going back to school nor the money, and I've been seeing all these coding boot camps popping up. Been reading a lot about them and notice that while they are time consuming, they teach you what you need to know in a short period of time, whereas a degree in that take 4 or so years, and the graduates go on to get really good jobs. Then there's the other side of it, where some companies won't hire anyone without a degree, etc.

I know there's no substitute for a good degree these days, and if need be I'll look into a few schools, but these coding boot camps really caught my eye.

Any thoughts?


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[GoBlues38]

I read 10 resumes a week for IT related jobs. I can't tell you the last time I ever gave even a passing glance to someones education. I should add we are a large shop, and not really giving new guys jobs right out of school.

In IT, it's all about experience and what you can and can't do.

I care about your last 2 or 3 projects, which should cover your last 3-5 years. beyond that, it's all just noise.

Sounds like you are trying to start out on the ground floor. You need to get on with a company that does something you know, and start getting experience. As you are getting experience, you can training to learn new things.

.net and java developers are in big demand.

 

[Tamadrummer88]

I read 10 resumes a week for IT related jobs. I can't tell you the last time I ever gave even a passing glance to someones education. I should add we are a large shop, and not really giving new guys jobs right out of school.

In IT, it's all about experience and what you can and can't do.

I care about your last 2 or 3 projects, which should cover your last 3-5 years. beyond that, it's all just noise.

Sounds like you are trying to start out on the ground floor. You need to get on with a company that does something you know, and start getting experience. As you are getting experience, you can training to learn new things.

.net and java developers are in big demand.

Yeah, I'm basically starting out on the bottom of the totem pole. I know it's gonna be hard to transition since I've been in a certain career for a very long time, but I'm willing to work at it.

I've been toying with HTML, but haven't really given Java or .net a try. I'll look I I that.


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[Steve68]

I'm a software developer and team lead and as someone who sometimes (not frequently) evaluates and interviews new people I'll tell you that the first thing I look for in a candidate is a passion for the craft. And it's still that, a craft, that takes imagination and creativity. We're not at the point where the computers are writing the software for us. We may get there but we're not there yet. Some of the worst developers I've met and worked with over the years were college trained individuals with no passion for the work. I think they may have used the "pin the tail on the donkey" method of choosing a major. That is, they're there to collect a paycheck. It sounds like you have the passion so that's a good thing, and then of course, you have to have the patience for the tedious nature of the work. I agree with Blues in that education, while a consideration, is several places down on the priority list for me. The second thing I look for is someone who learns quickly and is constantly keeping their skills sharp because development technology changes happen often and fairly quickly. Even in a discipline such as .Net and Java development there are always new language features and class library changes around the corner. The third priority for me is quality over quantity. We're always under pressure to meet deadlines but I tell my guys not to cut corners on quality and I'm always pushing back on management in that area. Test test TEST.

I never set foot in college and worked my way in to software development but that was way back in the 80s. I think it's still doable but it will definitely be a challenge. I'd encourage you to go to those code camps, pick up books (that's how I did it before the internet) and use all the online resources at your disposal. Your biggest challenge will be landing your first job. If you can do that and are good at it you'll be on your way.

I'm currently a C#/.Net developer so I'd be biased in any recommendation around technologies but I love the work I do. The creative aspect is very rewarding. And the pay is pretty good, too.

Good luck!

 

[Tamadrummer88]

I'm a software developer and team lead and as someone who sometimes (not frequently) evaluates and interviews new people I'll tell you that the first thing I look for in a candidate is a passion for the craft. And it's still that, a craft, that takes imagination and creativity. We're not at the point where the computers are writing the software for us. We may get there but we're not there yet. Some of the worst developers I've met and worked with over the years were college trained individuals with no passion for the work. I think they may have used the "pin the tail on the donkey" method of choosing a major. That is, they're there to collect a paycheck. It sounds like you have the passion so that's a good thing, and then of course, you have to have the patience for the tedious nature of the work. I agree with Blues in that education, while a consideration, is several places down on the priority list for me. The second thing I look for is someone who learns quickly and is constantly keeping their skills sharp because development technology changes happen often and fairly quickly. Even in a discipline such as .Net and Java development there are always new language features and class library changes around the corner. The third priority for me is quality over quantity. We're always under pressure to meet deadlines but I tell my guys not to cut corners on quality and I'm always pushing back on management in that area. Test test TEST.

I never set foot in college and worked my way in to software development but that was way back in the 80s. I think it's still doable but it will definitely be a challenge. I'd encourage you to go to those code camps, pick up books (that's how I did it before the internet) and use all the online resources at your disposal. Your biggest challenge will be landing your first job. If you can do that and are good at it you'll be on your way.

I'm currently a C#/.Net developer so I'd be biased in any recommendation around technologies but I love the work I do. The creative aspect is very rewarding. And the pay is pretty good, too.

Good luck!

Thank you! I definetely want to learn, and I'm looking at all resources I have at my disposal to learn how to code. If companies are looking for someone with a degree, well, I guess I'll have to go back to school.


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[Steve68]

Some will want the degree, I think they're myopic. Look for job listings that say something like "...or equivalent work experience." Of course, starting out you won't meet that requirement either but they will be most likely to look past the lack of a degree. You might also consider a technical college and then try to get your foot in the door as a tester (software quality department) and then try to move laterally in to development.

 

[Turrizm]

I'm also a software developer and I probably have sort of an interesting perspective to offer as well... I actually had a passion for the craft when I was a kid in middle school in the 80s. Chose to go to a 4 year college with an accredited computer science program, and majored in Computer Science. Worked my ass off in school and got some great internships (with AT&T Bell Labs, which was biggest company in the country back then) and worked for them after I graduated.

I wrote some software for a social networking website back before facebook/myspace/etc and the website took off and I quite my job about 11 years ago. Been coding and helping people get jobs (via my social network) ever since. My biggest client (Microsoft) looks to me to help them hire computer programmers. They do not consider folks without a 4 year degree in most scenarios. From what I have seen, bigger corporate companies like to hire what they know (kids coming out of college with 4 year degrees) but smaller more cutting edge, innovative companies seem to care less about where you went to school but want to see what experience you have and your ability to demonstrate your knowledge and passion in interviews.

The more experience you have, the less you need the 4 year degree to get a decent job. If you have the 4 year degree you'll have lots of opportunities to interview with companies for internships and for full time positions when you're graduating (if you pick a good program).

But at the end of the day, you need to get familiar with the different programming languages and environments (web vs desktop vs mobile vs all of the above) and see which you like best so you can then focus on getting educated in it and looking for an internship or entry level position to get some experience.

 

[ConspicuousConsumption]

I work for a very well known university as a front end web development project manager. Keeping this short, I will totally hire an HTML/CSS developer from a boot camp. Already did once, actually, and he just left us for a mega-big consulting company.

BUT, like GoBlues38 said, you ABSOLUTELY need to provide a portfolio. If you can't show me what you've already done, I won't trust your skills. It's as easy as that. In other words, do side projects while in boot camp.

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JSon, jQuery, SASS... easy as heck to get a job. Even if you just do the JavaScript libraries alone.

 

[Tamadrummer88]

I work for a very well known university as a front end web development project manager. Keeping this short, I will totally hire an HTML/CSS developer from a boot camp. Already did once, actually, and he just left us for a mega-big consulting company.

BUT, like GoBlues38 said, you ABSOLUTELY need to provide a portfolio. If you can't show me what you've already done, I won't trust your skills. It's as easy as that. In other words, do side projects while in boot camp.

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JSon, jQuery, SASS... easy as heck to get a job. Even if you just do the JavaScript libraries alone.

Thanks. Im just trying to learn the languages for right now. Im actually finding JavaScript easier to learn overall than HTML/CSS, if that makes sense. Ill try learning different ones and see what i like best. Once i can get a particular language/languages down ill try some projects.

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