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General Discussion

Nevermind

Nevermind

7 Answers

Max Senden
Max Senden
23,177 Points

Hello Codingtime,

I'm sorry to hear about your experiences. Where I live (Netherlands) there's a real shortage of good developers, especially in back-end. So jobs are kinda "easy" to find, even for inexperienced developer or those without degrees and professional experience (if you're willing to take on a junior position that is). But, I do see this situation changing. The past couple of years more and more people started to pursue a developer career. The consequence is that the shortage is slowly but surely decreasing. So in time finding a job will probably be much more difficult here as well.

Anyway, you raise good points. Especially when it comes to race and gender. But honestly (and sadly), it's not that much different from many other industries...

There is 100% a shortage of GOOD developers. I think people see everyone signed up here or other places and think "OH NO!" when in reality so many are going to start dropping when they find out it isn't easy, and not everyone is going to actually be good.

Anyone can say they're a developer. But is everyone an actual SKILLED developer.

Hello Codingtime, Few questions:

  1. For how long have you been with Treehouse? How long it took you to complete the courses?
  2. Have you been in the Techdegree?
  3. For how long have you been looking for a job?
  4. How many job applications you made (approximately)?
Oszkár Fehér
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Oszkár Fehér
Treehouse Project Reviewer

Hi Marius I am studying at treehouse since april and indeed i posted my cv over many sites but the feedback it's very poor and most of it requires years of experience which is impossible, nobody starts with years of experience. I started to learn coding because i really want to change my work and proffession but every time i read that they look experienced developers a little piece in me get confussed, the good part is that i really love coding specially python. Now i even make the techdegree to have something in my portofolio but this still doesen't give me enough confidence that i will find job very easy. It should be more disscosion about this here.

I don't have a degree in programming and I'm working in the field. It's not always about having the courses under your belt, but the natural/honed ability to solve problems, elegantly, efficiently, and timely in an engineering field.

Experience goes a long way and I can tell you I've had my period of professional adversity. It took a while to prove my worth. I provided value with the experience I gained in the real world and was able to move my way up in my career, so to speak.

Personally, I don't see Treehouse as a career path starter for a particular stack I'm interested in learning about. I see it as expanding on a foundation of knowledge I already have. Frameworks, for example. I just don't think it's realistic to expect Treehouse to be a career starter for someone right out the gate.

If you are starting out fresh, without any prior knowledge in programming, I really think Treehouse's courses about languages (specifically) should be approached from a hobbyist's perspective. That's just my opinion.

For whatever that's worth.

So let me ask you this. Well, let me ask a few questions actually.

First off did you bother reading up on what employers were looking for in ruby, python, etc developers before learning it here? I mean if I knew they were looking for mid-senior level I definitely wouldn't have started out with those things. While I'm no huge fan, PHP or even .net would have been a much better choice.

Second are you looking at job openings, seeing the phrase "degree required" and actually taking it literally? I see so many aspiring developers getting paralyzed by that phrase. Here's the not so secret, secret. Those "requirements" are actually wish lists. Meaning if they're not getting a lot of applicants and you have a good portfolio, you're a shoe in. Degree or not.

Third where are you applying? And if you give a response that's basically "no more than 15 miles from home" you my friend are seriously shooting yourself in the foot. Your first job you should be willing to go anywhere. If a company in Mobile Alabama for instance says "we want you" you go there. Some place in Denver says the same YOU go there. If it's not clear on your linkedin or your resume or whatever you need to make it very clear "willing to relocate". That's going to open up so many more opportunities for you.

Last of all.......you could just be a terrible interviewee , have no portfolio (and yes real site of fake work like a restaurant or whatever is fine.........so long as the code is real). Really it could just be you. This isn't taking away from your points. But I do feel many have a hard time being able to take a long look at themselves and admit they have flaws they need to overcome. So for instance if you're bad at interviews you need to be practicing. No portfolio? Start making stuff. You're not going to be able just to say "hey I learned on teamtreehouse". They're going to say "that's great but show ME what you've learned".

Also once anyone got hired without a four year degree it immediately made the four year degree thing being a requirement not such a requirement anymore.

I definitely agree with your sentiment on not being staunchly against relocation when it comes to an opportunity. I relocated for one of my programming jobs. But, I also recognized that where I was relocating to was ubiquitous of job opportunity for the career-path I chose.

I, too, was under the impression that when a job requisition stated that a degree was required - well, needless to say it wasn't, really. Your point exactly.

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Oszkár Fehér
Treehouse Project Reviewer

Relocating it's not an issue, i am currently 3000 miles away from home, and i am not afraid to change location specially for a new job. I do build some portofolio in the last 5-6 months, since i started programing. And the interview no problem to. i am working with manny kind of clients over 11 years, these aren't an issue. I am new in programing, i am new in this. and till now the requirments was obligation in my line of work. I am just a little confused because of job requirments but i am sure if i look hard enough i will find what i am looking for, till now i realized everything what i wanted. It took me some time to decide to do this and after i started i started to like it too, now i am programing because i love it, to find job in this, it will come sooner or later, i am sure of this because i know what i learned in 6 months what i can still learn. Me personally i want just some guids hoe to look and how to find. Sorry for the gramma , i am in hurry to write this Thank you