Getting That First Programming Job: Easier Than You Think
We refer to someone’s anniversary as their “work anniversary” or “birthday” in Kevel lingo when they have been at Kevel for a certain amount of time. We take a cue from Redditor culture and refer to the person’s anniversary as their “work anniversary” or “birthday” in Kevel lingo when they have been at Kevel for a certain amount of time.
Today is my first cake day. This marks not only my first year working at Kevel, but my first year working anywhere professionally as a software developer.
I was still settling for a menial desk job that provided security and benefits but not quite enough satisfaction a year and a half ago; now, I get paid to do what I love, and my overall happiness level has skyrocketed. To say I am excited to be working in programming is an understatement.
How To Get That First Programming Job
Being a good software developer doesn’t always necessitate a computer science degree or years of experience; it does, however, necessitate dedication, passion, and a willingness to see problems through to completion, which I believe many programming enthusiasts possess but may not realize how desirable they are to employers.
Prerequisites for programming jobs are overrated
If you don’t have a four-year computer science degree, it can be difficult to find work as a software developer; some people believe that knowing X language or Y application framework is required to succeed at the top level of software development, but this isn’t always the case.
Barriers to entry such as these are not uncommon in other industries, but are actually fairly unheard of in the world of software start-ups.
When I applied for coding jobs, I noticed a pattern: larger software companies would either never respond or dismiss me early in the process, whereas start-ups were more lenient about a job applicant’s level of education or experience.
But you have to be somewhat competent at programming too
If you have a representative handful of personal projects, you are probably a sho-in for a software start-up. Software companies look for a strong general coding competence. Different companies have different strategies for assessing your aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned aforementioned
Adjusting your programming job perspective
A software start-up is a truly unique work environment, and people from various backgrounds will have different experiences. I was used to being given tasks and having less control over what problems I worked on, and for some people, not having this degree of freedom at work may be unimaginable.
It turns out that things like patience, being able to work in a team, effective time management, and attention to detail are all skills that can help you do your job better, no matter what your job is.
I was worried that I wouldn’t have the necessary job skills to be a software developer, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I’d already acquired many of them from working in industries other than software, such as customer service.
Uh, doesn’t this only apply to start-up entry level programming jobs?
If you’re looking for a programming job at a software start-up, your GitHub portfolio may be useful, but if you want to work for a larger, well-established company, open-source projects may not be as useful.
But, look at it this way: your first coding job at a start-up company might just be a stepping stone toward bigger things.
If you’re looking for a start-up job, look for one that allows you to substitute years of work experience for a university degree; who knows, maybe you’ll become addicted to the start-up lifestyle and never want to leave (as I have).
Update: Five cake days later
I’ll be celebrating my sixth cake day at Kevel on November 15, 2020, and I recently spoke with my colleague Jane O’Hara about how my job has changed over the years, as well as some new advice for those looking for their first programming jobs.
How do I get a programming job with no experience?
Here are some ideas for gaining experience without working or interning.
- Creating side projects
- contributing to open source projects
- starting a side business
- reading books relevant to the job you want and writing reviews on a personal blog (or on Medium)
How do I get my first programming job?
First and foremost, get some experience before you graduate from high school.
- Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door of a software development company.
- Freelance.
- Collaborate on Open Source Projects.
- Commit Personal Projects to GitHub.
- Write a Technical Blog.
- Start your own company.
What do entry level programmers do?
There are two types of employers for entry-level programmers: problem-solvers (e.g., Google, Apple, Microsoft) and soon-to-be experts. Problem-solvers (e.g., Google, Apple, Microsoft) want to hire problem-solvers. The math folks or algorithm-wizards; people who can invent solutions to new problems.
How much do beginner coders make?
The national average for an entry-level coder is $53,000 per year, but depending on where you live, you can earn up to $80,000 per year.
Is Python enough to get a job?
No, just knowing Python won’t get you a job.
Do companies hire self taught programmers?
As a self-taught programmer, you may be wondering if it’s even possible to get a job at a major software company. The short answer is that software companies do hire self-taught programmers.
Can I get a coding job without a degree?
Getting a programming job without a degree or previous experience is difficult because the industry interviews in such a way that other companies are willing to take a chance on newcomers. The key is to make yourself less risky, which a degree or previous experience can provide, but you don’t have either.
How long does it take to learn coding?
Learning the basics of coding takes about 3 to 6 months on average, though you can learn at your own pace.
How much do coders make in a year?
Computer programmers are well compensated, with an average annual salary of $63,903 in 2020, with beginners earning around $50k and experienced coders earning around $85k.
What is a good entry level salary?
What Is the Average Salary for an Entry-Level Position in Each State?
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $33,388 | $2,782 |
| New Hampshire | $33,159 | $2,763 |
| Delaware | $32,935 | $2,745 |
| California | $32,086 | $2,674 |
What skills do you need to be a junior programmer?
In general, the following skill set is required:
- Problem solving.
- Algorithms and data structures, algorithm complexity analysis.
- Strong command of a programming language.
- System design.
What is a coding job like?
Because coding is a creative job, the majority of the time is spent thinking, reading, and learning new things, especially when you need to create something new or use a new technology; I estimate that only about 30% of the time is spent u201csitting in front of the computer and typing lines.u201d In fact, I used programming to advance my career in finance.
Is coding a good career 2020?
Coding skills are especially valuable in the IT, data analytics, research, web designing, and engineering segments, so it’s no surprise that coding is one of the core skills required by most well-paying jobs today. Here are a few programming languages we recommend for coders who want to make it big in 2020.
Are coders in demand?
Coding jobs are in high demand: The tech industry adds jobs to a variety of programming careers every year, from software to web development and systems engineering, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which predicts an 8% increase in web developer employment from 2019 to 2029.
Are coding jobs in demand 2020?
In 2020, the following are the top seven programming jobs that will be in high demand.
- Data Scientist.
- Cloud Engineer.
- App Developers.
- Computer Vision Engineer.
- Network Analyst and Programming Job.
- Business Intelligence Analyst.
- Business Intelligence Analyst