How to start working as a programmer?

Of course, to achieve the desired result, you need to put a lot of effort.

Step 1. Define your goal

Define your goal concisely, accurately and clearly. This will help you overcome all obstacles along the way. A clear goal can look like this:

• "I want to work as a programmer in a famous IT company."
• "I want to work in a start-up that operates in an industry I like."
• "I want to work in a team, and get paid well for it."

Step 2. Select a programming language

When they start, many people do not know which programming language to use. HTML? CSS? Ruby on rails? Python?

The truth is that once you learn a language well, it will not be difficult for you to move to a new one. This means that initially, you need to focus on the basics of programming. Once you have a solid foundation of knowledge, you can easily move on to a new language, framework or new technology.

Step 3. Practice, practice, practice

To start working as a programmer, you need to practice what you have learned many times. Every day you need to take time to learn new things and put them into practice. You can't become a programmer after only 10 hours of reading. This is simply not possible.

Step 4. Use the tools that real programmers use

To develop and learn in the right way, start using the tools you would use in your future work from the very beginning. This way you will not have to change your habits, and this will save you time and effort.

Step 5. View someone else's code

Another important aspect of starting a programmer's job is learning to read someone else's code. You can use GitHub for this purpose. By learning to read code, you will be able to understand what is happening and how a program works. This skill is also important when debugging, because you will be able to identify which piece of code is the problem.

Step 7. Work on projects

To learn to program, you must not only watch training videos and courses, but also put what you have learned into practice. Start working on a project, even if only for an exercise - this will not only speed up your progress, but will also show your potential employer that you have practical skills.

Step 8. Create a professional network of contacts

Even before you find a job as a programmer, you need to start creating your professional network of contacts. For this purpose, you can use friends and friends of your friends. Connect with people who work in companies you like. These acquaintances can win you an interview.

Step 9. Resume, cover letter, online presence

Even in today's modern world, resumes are a mandatory element of the job application process. In the resume you should briefly describe your skills and experience, and the cover letter is your opportunity to attract the attention of the employer.

In addition to resumes and cover letters, you should pay attention to your online presence. Recruiters always research candidates online, and it's important to impress them. As a programmer, your online presence consists of: LinkedIn profile, Github, personal website (portfolio), blog.

Step 10. Prepare for the interview

In addition to the standard strengths and weaknesses, you should be prepared for technical and behavioral issues. The interviewer may ask you to solve a task, or describe how you would deal with a specific problem. Therefore, take the time to prepare for different types of questions. For starters, you can use this extremely useful booklet - Cracking the Coding Interview .

Source: learntocodewith.me .