How to Become a Software Engineer in 2024 & Get a Job

Summary

In this video, the speaker reflects on the rewarding nature of a coding career and shares insights on breaking into the tech industry in 2024. They emphasize the importance of learning universally applicable skills like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and TypeScript, and advise against getting caught up in framework debates. The speaker also discusses the hiring process, highlighting the value of methodical problem-solving and a deep understanding of technologies over buzzwords. They recommend focusing on fundamental skills like data structures, algorithms, and software design, and share personal career lessons, including the importance of documentation, mentorship, and community involvement.

Takeaways

• 💼 Learning to code is a challenging but rewarding career choice that offers numerous opportunities and good financial prospects.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of researching and understanding the job market to make informed decisions about which skills to learn.
• 🛠️ HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are recommended as a solid foundation for beginners looking to break into tech in 2024.
• 🌐 JavaScript and TypeScript are highlighted as versatile first languages due to their broad application in web development, both front-end and back-end.
• 🐍 While Python is popular, it's advised that becoming proficient in it doesn't directly translate to jobs in data science or machine learning without additional skills.
• 🚀 The speaker advises focusing on learning technologies with wide applicability to maximize early employability.
• 📈 Optimizing the learning journey involves focusing on universally useful skills rather than getting caught up in framework debates.
• 💡 A growth mindset is crucial when learning to code; encountering errors is normal, even for seasoned engineers.
• 📚 Fundamental skills like data structures, algorithms, and software design are evergreen and essential for any software engineer.
• 📝 Documenting work and having a GitHub profile is important for showcasing completed projects to potential employers.
• 🏆 The speaker shares personal career lessons, emphasizing the value of mentorship, community involvement, and the importance of finishing projects for a strong portfolio.

Q & A

Why did the speaker choose to start a career in coding?

The speaker chose to start a career in coding because it is a rewarding type of career with many things to learn and it can lead to good income.

What is the speaker's advice for someone starting over in the coding field in 2024?

The speaker suggests starting with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build an early intuition about coding, then considering technologies with a wide area of application to maximize employability.

Why does the speaker recommend learning JavaScript and TypeScript over Java for a beginner?

The speaker recommends JavaScript and TypeScript over Java because they have a wider area of application in web development, allowing for work on both backend and frontend, whereas Java is typically limited to backend roles.

What is the speaker's opinion on learning Python as a first programming language?

The speaker views learning Python as a double-edged sword because while it's easy to pick up, becoming proficient doesn't necessarily make one a data scientist or machine learning expert, which requires additional skills.

What is the guiding principle the speaker advises for optimizing the learning journey in tech?

The guiding principle is to learn technologies that have a wide area of application or can be applied immediately to maximize employability.

How does the speaker suggest approaching the learning process in software development?

The speaker suggests approaching learning with a mindset that embraces challenges and errors as part of the process, and not getting discouraged by them.

What are some universally useful skills that the speaker recommends learning instead of focusing on specific frameworks?

Some universally useful skills include understanding the HTTP protocol, state management, unidirectional data flow, accessibility for frontend, and knowledge of databases, authentication, networking, and devops for backend.

What are the speaker's tips for standing out during a job interview in the tech industry?

The speaker's tips include being methodical in problem-solving, explaining solutions clearly, and not trying to impress with buzzwords without understanding them.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of data structures, algorithms, and software design?

The speaker emphasizes these because they underpin every software project and having a firm grasp of them is critical for success in the tech industry, often being a focus in job interviews.

What is the speaker's strategy for entering the job market in 2024 if starting from scratch?

The speaker's strategy involves starting with basic web technologies, choosing a specialization, creating a GitHub account, completing a project to showcase on a CV, and considering mentorship through platforms like Course Careers.

What lessons does the speaker share from their early career that they would do differently if starting over?

The lessons include documenting all work, getting involved with a community for accountability, and seeking mentorship early on to avoid the pitfalls of learning in isolation.