Beyond being technically able to show that I could build interfaces, I would say my communication skills were a big reason for getting my first job. As a junior, people expect your technical skills to need some work, however as a professional it helps to be able to communicate your ideas effectively regardless of your background. Also, a willingness to learn is obviously crucial.
Distractions with new shiny toys (libraries, frameworks etc) for sure. It's great to keep your ear to the ground and stay up-to-date with the industry, but as a junior I feel it's important to focus on the fundamentals of a language. So clarity of focus is a must-have skill, especially in the early days trying to break into the industry.
I try to learn from all different sources, as I find it helps solidify my understanding of concepts. So, from very early on I started reading books, doing online tutorials, building personal projects, listening to podcasts, attending meetups and also teaching others. I also made sure that I learned the same topics from multiple people to try and get a more well-rounded viewpoint, even if I already knew the concept.
I'm 27 and also trying to catch up FAST! This is great.
Unrelated questions:
What do you think are the most important skills that you developed that led you to your first job as a front end developer?
What do you think are the least helpful skills? (e.g. time wasters or can be developed later)
What are the other learning techniques that you used?
Thanks!
I'm on my late 30's now learning to code...
Glad you liked it!
Beyond being technically able to show that I could build interfaces, I would say my communication skills were a big reason for getting my first job. As a junior, people expect your technical skills to need some work, however as a professional it helps to be able to communicate your ideas effectively regardless of your background. Also, a willingness to learn is obviously crucial.
Distractions with new shiny toys (libraries, frameworks etc) for sure. It's great to keep your ear to the ground and stay up-to-date with the industry, but as a junior I feel it's important to focus on the fundamentals of a language. So clarity of focus is a must-have skill, especially in the early days trying to break into the industry.
I try to learn from all different sources, as I find it helps solidify my understanding of concepts. So, from very early on I started reading books, doing online tutorials, building personal projects, listening to podcasts, attending meetups and also teaching others. I also made sure that I learned the same topics from multiple people to try and get a more well-rounded viewpoint, even if I already knew the concept.
Hope these answers help!
Thanks Matt!