How to Master Coding and Secure an Incredible Job in Half a Year
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Coding is a transformative skill that can lead to personal achievements, financial rewards, and various advantages compared to many other professions. However, the journey to becoming proficient in coding can often be challenging.
It's common to feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of knowledge you need to acquire and the difficulty in finding suitable resources for your learning journey. Moreover, the definition of truly “knowing” a programming language can be quite ambiguous.
But is there a way to alleviate these challenges? Absolutely! The key lies in having a well-structured action plan. A roadmap that guides you clearly from point A to Z within a set timeframe.
This plan will eliminate uncertainties regarding where to start or which direction to take, allowing you to focus solely on the enjoyment of coding.
Let’s delve into a customized plan I've crafted for a smoother coding experience.
A 6-Month Strategy
The struggles associated with learning to code are not new to me. After nine years of coding, I can attest that discomfort often lurks in the background.
I’ve purchased numerous online courses, hoping they would propel me to professional status. I’ve also embarked on countless side projects that never reached completion. I learned the hard way how detrimental a poor learning strategy can be.
If you embark on your coding journey without a clear plan, the likelihood of burnout increases significantly, and the temptation to quit or skip coding sessions becomes ever more enticing.
To create a better approach, I reflected on my own beginnings. I asked myself: “How would I prefer to learn coding effectively?” With years of professional experience now behind me, here’s the comprehensive solution I propose.
This six-month strategy is designed to help you become a web developer, with weekly guidelines on what to focus on—an approach I recommend if my insights resonate with you.
Let's get started.
Month 1
Week 1: In your first week, focus on broad, introductory topics related to coding and web development.
You should familiarize yourself with:
- The fundamentals of the web and its functionality.
- The concept of programming languages and their application in web apps.
- Common terminology used in software development, such as client, server, IDE, and command line.
- An introduction to HTML and how to create your first web page.
This information is easily accessible through a quick Google search.
For HTML, consider taking free introductory courses on platforms like CodeAcademy or FreeCodeCamp to get hands-on experience in web development.
Week 2: With a foundational understanding of web development and HTML, continue to enhance your skills in web page creation. Focus on grasping what semantic HTML entails; experiment with various tags from Flavio Copes' "HTML Handbook."
Create a simple landing page, experiment with different elements, and practice identifying and fixing errors.
Week 3: By now, your HTML pages may start to feel monotonous. It’s time to learn about styling. Dedicate this week to immersing yourself in CSS and discover how to enhance the visual appeal of your web pages.
Team Treehouse offers an excellent course titled “CSS Basics.” You can access it through a paid subscription or a free trial for seven days.
Week 4: Now is the perfect opportunity to bring your ideas to life by building web pages. Utilize the skills you've acquired to create a portfolio website and host it on GitHub Pages. This platform will showcase your projects with engaging descriptions to attract potential employers.
Additionally, ensure you understand how to manage your projects effectively. Consider taking a Git crash course on YouTube, such as those offered by FreeCodeCamp or Traversy Media.
Month 2
Devote the entirety of the second month to mastering JavaScript. This is the best investment for your future learning in web development.
JavaScript is ubiquitous, utilized in web pages and job applications alike. Its relevance will endure, making any developer proficient in it well-equipped for future changes.
I recommend spending $10 on “The Complete JavaScript Course 2021” by Jonas Schmedtmann on Udemy. It’s a popular course that will take you from beginner to advanced knowledge in the language.
Here’s a suggested weekly learning structure for this month:
Week 1: Understand the fundamentals of JavaScript and its functionality. Write your first programs using variables, loops, and conditional statements while also learning about the new ES7 features.
Week 2: Gain a solid understanding of the DOM and how to manipulate it with JavaScript. Familiarize yourself with arrays, objects, and functions to understand how JavaScript operates behind the scenes.
Week 3: Explore Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts and their application in JavaScript. Learn about classes, encapsulation, inheritance, and how to make your code asynchronous using async/await and promises.
Week 4: Spend this week working on projects. The course I suggested includes a real-world budget application project. Completing this will add valuable content to your portfolio website.
Don't stop there; brainstorm ideas and create projects using your newfound skills. You already know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, so your results should reflect your efforts.
By now, you should also know how to manage projects with Git and publish them on your website. Your career is beginning to take shape.
Month 3
It's time to choose a frontend framework and learn it. After this month, you'll be well-prepared to apply for frontend developer roles, even though I still advise waiting a bit longer.
Why? You’ll understand soon.
Consider spending $10 on the “Modern React with Redux” course by Stephen Grider on Udemy.
Here’s how to structure your learning this month:
Week 1: Discover what React is and its purpose. Start building applications with the library—master JSX, state, and props, and understand the difference between functional and class components.
Week 2: Dive deeper into more complex React topics, including hooks, lifecycle methods, routing, form handling, and lists. Learn about the context API and the function of refs.
Week 3: This week may be challenging as you delve into Redux, an essential tool for React that will enrich your resume and enhance your frontend development skills.
Week 4: Once again, focus on creating projects independently. YouTube is filled with live coding sessions showcasing people developing React clones of popular apps like Instagram or Netflix—these are excellent projects to feature in your portfolio.
Additionally, you might explore another course by Stephen Grider titled “React and TypeScript: Build a Portfolio Project” on Udemy. This is optional, but it’s a concise course that guides you in building a CI tool using React and TypeScript, adding another impressive project to your portfolio.
Month 4
You're nearly there! You've done an excellent job up to this point. You can create web pages using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, or leverage a frontend library like React.
Moreover, you can integrate your frontend with a well-structured custom API using Node.js, and your personal website should now feature five or six projects to display your skills.
You can now apply for full-stack positions, but I sincerely recommend taking one more month before jumping in.
Why? Because there’s a crucial truth about coding interviews that you might not know.
Coding interviews are often flawed.
They can be confusing, with companies expecting developers to meet unrealistic standards, answer bizarre questions, and endure lengthy decision-making processes.
This scenario is common for every developer.
So yes, while software interviews can be tough, it also means you need to prepare effectively. Understanding their structure and anticipating what employers might ask will be crucial.
Dedicate this month to doing just that, and prepare yourself thoroughly.
I found significant help on the Educative.io platform, which offers a path titled “Ace the Frontend Interview,” where you can learn everything you need to excel in coding interviews as a web developer.
Here’s a weekly breakdown for this month:
Week 1: Master the first phase of a hiring process—the behavioral interview. This is the part where you need to showcase your personality and provide thoughtful answers to tricky questions posed by HR managers. "Grokking the Behavioral Interview" on Educative.io can guide you through this process.
Weeks 2 and 3: Begin focusing on JavaScript data structures and algorithms, as these are commonly assessed in software interviews. Understand concepts like linked lists and how to perform a binary search. Search for “Top 100 coding interview questions for X,” substituting X with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, and Node to prepare thoroughly.
Week 4: Read the essential FreeCodeCamp guide on take-home coding challenges, which often represent the final step before speaking with a hiring manager about compensation. Also, equip yourself with negotiation skills by exploring resources such as Joshua Fluke's YouTube channel or the @wellPaidGeek Twitter profile.
Month 6
This marks the end of your structured learning journey and the beginning of your new professional path. You now possess the necessary skills to apply for jobs in the coding industry.
You have acquired technical expertise, prepared for interviews, and developed an impressive portfolio.
Take your time crafting a polished resume that you can tailor for each job application, and ensure your LinkedIn profile is well-presented.
Apply daily, even sending out hundreds of resumes. Companies will eventually respond, and you will land your first interviews.
You might find a job quickly, but if not, don't lose hope.
Every rejection is a stepping stone to greater success and an opportunity to refine your interview skills—an ongoing necessity throughout your career.
Closing Thoughts
Imagine how much smoother your coding journey would be with a clear learning plan. The actionable guide I've provided allows you to focus solely on learning, alleviating the stress often associated with the challenging world of coding.
— Piero