For the Programmer Looking for a Job: Take This 3 Step Process and the Job Is Yours
Stop worrying, start doing.
“Ambition is the part to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” — Bill Bradley
Today, it was about two months ago when I signed my contract for a programming job starting in three months. I am still a student until I finish my master thesis in physics in two months.
To eliminate your doubts I might be simply a good programmer I should tell you, I am into coding since about two years for real.
The first deeper experience I had during my bachelor thesis. I quit the programming class in the first semester because I simply didn’t like the course. I started to like coding not until 2.5 years later and by far I wasn’t someone of special talent. I just had interest.
If someone who didn’t learn to code in university and never coded before can get a job at a software company then you can do that, too — no doubt.
The 3 Step Process
- Practice …
- Teach …
- Be available for the job hunter …
with persistence.
Learn persistently
“Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn fast.” — William Nicholson
This might be quite obvious. But it has to be clear, everything that remains in the end, are your skills — hard and soft skills.
Never stop learning — neither coding nor personal.
After getting a little bit into coding, developing Android Apps aroused my interest and I started a 15$ online course on Udemy.com.
I planned to take this course in the time without any lectures. So I started and during absolving this course I got to know Udacity that offered a challenge for a scholarship for their Nanodegree in Android Development. So I applied, got into a challenge and finally got the scholarship.
In principle, the only thing I did is to code 5–6 days per week and simply strengthened my skills. Remember, I was still studying physics and had a lot to do to keep myself on track. Coding time was regularly the first 1–2 hours of my day and another 1–2 hours in the evening.
Within about nine months I build a fundamental knowledge of Java and Android.
I realized with a little bit of persistence you are able to gain an unexpectedly high amount of knowledge, time by time.
“Most people overestimate what they can do in a day but most people grossly underestimate what they can do in a year.” — Jim Kwik
Help other programmers
In the challenge I mentioned above, there was a social component which came into account for the decision who finally gets the scholarships. The more you helped other students the better were your chances at the end of the challenge.
With helping other students you improved your coding skills and literally learned it twice. So helping others is a powerful tool to practice the stuff even deeper, and bring your knowledge to the next level.
Furthermore, you have the opportunity to join several platforms like Stack Overflow. Join these platforms and stay in contact with other programmers to learn more and more.
Additionally, these platforms are well known by the job hunters. By joining you directly enhance the chances to get contacted by interesting companies which otherwise you wouldn’t pay attention at all. Although I hadn’t an account on Stack Overflow, I would highly recommend to do this. The woman who reached out for me told me she is very active on these platforms to look for talents.
I didn’t know that the company even exists. But now I am very thankful, they reached out for me.
“While we teach, we learn.” — Seneca
Enhance your availability for the job hunters
The last step is simple. Sign up into all job portals you know, and build or enlarge your online presence.
Joining platforms like Stack Overflow is a good way but it helps to be open to several ways of connection.
I signed up for LinkedIn, and two local platforms already one year before I was interested in entering the job world. I still get offers regularly.
I believe a good online profile on a platform is grossly underestimated in today’s world. But it seems my belief is not widely spread yet.
Furthermore, I am convinced that one-day personal brands are the component which splits the performers from the high performers. That’s why I think a personal brand today is an absolute weapon to beat your competitors and probably will be a must in the future.
The motto will be:
If I cannot find you on Google you are outdated.
Call to Action
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