If there's a will, there's way

You Can Do This!
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Hello Campers :wave:

It has been a long time since I started my journey in 2021 here, in freeCodeCamp.
The highs are high, and the lows are low.

As described in my previous posts (stages of distress, in order):
:point_right: Looking for Portfolio Advice
:point_right: Opportunity Costs and Growth
:point_right: Finally made it in! (I think.)

As of January 1st, at nearly 35 years old, I am a full stack software developer.
A company has purchased the IP for two of my apps (one I made and published with Unity, the other made and nearly published with React Native).

On top of the IP purchase, the buyer has hired me full time to expand the first app and finish the second.

After nearly 4 years of relentlessly trying to wrap my head around some FCC project and figure out library/nuget “x”, “y” and “z”, I am confident in saying that it was a rewarding journey. Not because I am now getting paid, rather I enjoy it to the core.
I get the same human experience slinging some dirty, dangerous, and poorly designed code, as I do in my dirty, dangerous, poorly designed woodshop.

We can imagine something, figure out how it might function, then create it.

As shown in my previous posts, I understand the struggle. And I’ll tell you right now, having prior experience in the industry related to my new employer, was almost certainly the most deciding factor. I was reached out to after recording a few clips of an app I was working on and had posted it to my LinkedIn). q

My Advise: If you’re my age, and you actually love doing this stuff - keep your head down and keep slingin’ that nasty, dangerous, undecided, unconfident, and soulful code.

Build silly stuff, build useless stuff…just build.

:pray:Thanks to QuincyLarson for creating a vision, that led me to greater heights.
:pray:Thanks to ArielLeslie & vikramvi for your voice of reason, just being there for me, and replying to my panicked posts :laughing:

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WOW, congratulations buddy and god bless you :tada: :partying_face:.

Thanks for sharing your journey till now; kindly keep on sharing something new useful you’ve learnt on job as well ( TDD, BDD, any other good practices etc ).

All the very best, you’ve proven again that Grit & Patience do result in wonders

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one more thing, I would like to add here is THINK & DREAM BIG

FCC & @QuincyLarson has given same opportunities to all across globe; which was not there earlier for like minded developers & learners.

Do checkout podcasts from https://www.youtube.com/@AarthiAndSriram to make big in tech industry in USA ( land of infinite opportunity for anyone ), I wish I knew about these straightforward techniques in my 20s or 30s itself :wink:

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Wow, that’s impressive. Can I get some advices or tips how you got your first job?

I’m a beginner and have learned Java and Springboot. I’ve built my first projects by following the tutorial video.

Now I’m thinking about something that I can put in my resume. Probably building something with experienced programmers to simulate real work scenarios. I can learn how to team-work, how to code on github and something like that.

The question is I don’t know where I can find such resources. Can you give me some advices or tips about that?

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I may not be the best person to answer this, as I feel I was lucky, just to be honest. If there is one thing that can’t be denied, it is that someone is not going to hire you if you can’t show that you can build something. If I had not landed this job, I would be building something to show off. Whether it’s a useless product or potentially useful just show that I can produce and can add value in some way. Maybe someone might see the potential I have when they see my stat tracker for toaster oven speeds (this is one of those useless examples I mentioned earlier) I guess what I mean to say is just keep building and showing it to people who may see the value

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Congrats on your journey, @gsphillipsjr! Your story is really inspiring. For beginners, I’d say focus on building projects, even if they’re small or fun. Just keep creating and learning. Also, connecting with people in the industry can help open doors. Wishing you all the best

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There are lots of startups across globe ( with limited initial funding ) looking for interns / jr software engineers

Where can I find companies like that? Or just like other normal jobs in Indeed and LinkedIn?

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Google Top VC across globe and check their job page

My favourite is Y Combinator, their startups are always looking for passionate engineers who dream big

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Pitty, I’ve registed and wanted to find a job. But it needs people who live in US.

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Did you Google “y combinator remote jobs” ? or tried “filters” in job search page ?

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just now checked world’s No. 1 VC, Sequoia Capital jobs page ( I worked on it during my learning phase as an intern ), they have got 200+ Frontend Developer jobs “100% remote”

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I googled it as you said. But it requires more of a senior engineer. I searched “junior” and there’s no results.

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Thank you! I’ll try that now. So, when you apply for these jobs, you specify that you are looking for an intern job in the e-mail title?

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I would not worry much about senior / junior roles, will goto linkedin and get in touch with founders / founding engineers and share my GitHub profile.

Just keep connecting and applying

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I had connected directly through linkedin and offered to work at lesser salary and shown my work through GitHub projects.

Startups has got finite amount of money to survive and they wish to be alive as long as possible :wink:

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Amazing! Congrats on the purchase of your IP, that is a great journey from 2021! The key is LOVE - you love it, so you make great progress, and good things happen.

Keep up the great work, and we will always be cheering you on along your journey Phillip!

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Focusing on real-world projects is always a winning formula:) Thx for sharing!

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YES! Always keep building, coding, creating - and you will be winning! Thx for sharing this viewpoint Phillip :slight_smile:

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