Hello campers!
I started on FCC a little less than a year ago. I was working part-time (sometimes full time) and I have a 3-year-old daughter.
I had been taking some web dev classes on Lynday.com for a few weeks, but javascript seemed… scary. I kept putting off learning it because I did not think I could handle the frustration of programming. I have always been drawn to things that were easy for me, and I didn’t enjoy struggling.
Someone sent me a link to FCC and I fell in love with the concept. So I powered through. I worked on it whenever I can: when my daughter was napping, when she was gone to bed or early mornings in the weekend… yes, I did wake up around 5-6am on weekends so I could have time work.
I finished the front-end certificate at the end of October. I tried the back-end but really struggled with it. When the Data Visualization certification came up, I started working on that. I am now just one project away from finishing.
While I was learning, I also got involved in our local FreeCodeCamp group and found another local group dedicated to helping people who are learning tech skills online. It was through that other group that I found my first job. A startup company approached the group to find some interns to build the prototype for their app. The app was IOS based, but they also needed a web-based administrator portal. The person responsible for the group recommended me, and just like that, I had the job. (No, I didn’t even interview for it )
So in the last weeks, I have been building this portal, reviewing how to properly create forms with React, figuring out how to use Firebase to handle much of the backend (good thing too! I still can’t do backend!). I am working on my own with the web stuff. It’s not easy.
Now the prototype is coming to an end. We are doing a demo on Wednesday and then not touching that prototype again. They want to start from scratch to build the real app soon. They will be hiring more experienced developers, but I hope they keep me on board as well. If not, at least I got some professional experience.
So the lesson is, there are many different ways to get a job. Networking helps. I am a very shy person, but somehow still managed to network in my own way. If you can, meet other people who are learning, and good things happen. Soon I might be running a web dev. learning circle and I will find other ways to stay involved in this community.
I am really excited to see this new career in front of me. I am turning 38 soon (yikes!) and so far only had career interest in fields that don’t offer much jobs (Masters degree in History, interest in urban gardening) and jobs that led nowhere (office clerk).