how can i start and manage a career as a programmer? · • introduction to web development •...

How Can I Start and Manage a Career as a Programmer?

Tampa Code Camp 2017

Jeff AmmonsChief Instructor

Code Career Academy

Who am I?

Jeff Ammons

Microsoft MVP

Pluralsight Author

CEO/Chief Instructor at Code Career

Academy

25 Years Professional Experience in Software

Starting a Career as a Software DeveloperShould I? If so How??

Learning To Code Takes

• Basic intelligence• Logical thinking• Hard work• Smart work• Practice• Practice• Practice• Practice

Learning To Code Takes

• Basic intelligence• Logical thinking• Hard work• Smart work• Practice• Practice• Practice• Practice

Time

Learning To Code Takes

• Basic intelligence• Logical thinking• Hard work• Smart work• Practice• Practice• Practice• Practice

TimeCommitment

Is It Worth It?

• That Depends on YOU• If you ENJOY programming

• Then ABSOLUTELY YES

• If you only LIKE programming• Then… MAYBE

Programmers Earn Good Salaries

https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/software-developer

Programmers Earn Good Salaries

https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/software-developer/salary

Programmers Earn Good Salaries

https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/software-developer/salary

Programmers Earn Good Salaries

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Computer_Programmer/Salary/0dfffed1/Atlanta-GA

Programmers Earn Good Salaries

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Senior_Software_Architect/Salary

You Tell Me?• Is It Worth It to YOU?

Awesome!How the Heck Do I Start?

How Do I Get Started?

• There’s more than one path

• No path is right for everyone

• Find the path that’s right for YOU

Paths

• 4 Year Computer Science Degree• 2 Year Computer Programming Degree• Code Bootcamp/Intensive School• Self-study

4 Year Computer Science Degree

• Takes 4 Years (at least…)• Costs between $7,000 and

$35,000 per year• $28,000 - $140,000• Private schools are MUCH more

• PLUS books, lab fees, etc.

http://www.uscollegesearch.org/blog/faq/computer-science/how-much-does-a-computer-science-school-cost

2 Year Programming Degree

• Takes 2 Years (at least…)• Cost estimated at $6,700 per year

• $13,400• Gwinnett Tech

http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/netprice/

Bootcamp

• 8-23 weeks• $7,000 –

$20,000 total• Super hands-on!

Self-Study

• 2-6+ years• Totally depends on

you

• $1,000-$6,000 wild estimate…

• Who knows?

• You're on your own…

Which Would I Recommend?

• It Depends• Already have a degree in something?

• Bootcamp

• Fresh out of high school? Already have money for college?• 4 Year Degree

• Fresh out of high school? DON'T have money for college?• Bootcamp• 2 Year Degree

•☺Bootcamp PLUS 2 Year degree☺

Which Would I Recommend?

• Don't have a degree, don't have time or money for one, but willing to work really hard to get ahead?

• Bootcamp

• Learn best on your own?• Self-Study with Mentoring

• NOTE!!!!• No matter what else you choose, you WILL self-study for the rest of your

career as technology changes!

A Different Opinion

https://medium.com/javascript-scene/want-to-code-a-university-degree-might-be-a-huge-waste-of-time-81e1817a2ef0#.3lqdmo98u

A Different Opinion

https://medium.com/javascript-scene/want-to-code-a-university-degree-might-be-a-huge-waste-of-time-81e1817a2ef0#.3lqdmo98u

Do Your Research!Not All Colleges, Bootcamps or Self-Study Routes are Equal!

Tips for Selecting a Bootcamp

Check Them Out On Course Report!

My listing:https://www.coursereport.com/schools/code-career-academy

Check Them Out On Switchup!

My listing:https://www.switchup.org/bootcamps/code-career-academy

Check Their Tech!

• Are they teaching technologies that are actually in demand in YOUR area?

• More on this in a bit…

How About Self-Study?

Self-Study

• Pluralsight• http://jeffa.tech/my-secret-weapon-pluralsight/

• O’Reilly Books• https://ericelliottjs.com/• Coding Bootcamp Prep/Intro to Web Development Course

• info@codecareeracademy.com for details• https://www.switchup.org/blog/the-best-bootcamp-prep-courses

Tech Stack Matters!Are There Jobs?

Which Tech You Choose Matters!

• Web development (client side or front-end)• HTML (structure and content)• CSS (style and appearance)• JavaScript (functionality)• Bootstrap (helps with the above)• Angular (advanced web clients)

Which Tech You Choose Matters!

• Web development (server side or back-end)• Node.js – JavaScript• Java EE – Java• Asp.Net – C#• Ruby on Rails – Ruby• Various others with less market share

How Many Jobs in My Area?

• Web development (server side or back-end)• Node.js – JavaScript (Node = 41, JavaScript = 177)• Java EE – Java (Java = 160)• Asp.Net – C# (.Net = 161) • Ruby on Rails – Ruby (Ruby on Rails = 18)• Python = 46• Various others with less market share

http://www.careerbuilder.com/

What Do I Teach?• Introduction to Web Development

• HTML, CSS, JavaScript

• Front-End Web Development• HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, AJAX, REST, Node.js

• Back-End Development with C# and the Microsoft Stack• C#, ASP.NET MVC Core, Web API, SQL, Entity Framework, Azure

• Data and Advanced Topics• Data Structures• Algorithms & Algorithm Analysis

So How Do I Get A Job?

• Show your work!• Open Source Software• GitHub• Volunteer• Blog!!

• Network!• User Groups• Conferences

Practice!!!

• Code Kata/Challenges/Games• Specific skills repetition

• Build your own projects• Pick something real!• Publish the code on GitHub

• Join open source projects• Help with documentation and testing at first

• Start your own company!• Make your own experience!

Next Steps1. Start with some Self-Study2. Build some projects

1. Build yourself a website2. Build yourself a mobile app

3. Figure out if you like writing code4. Join more Meet-Ups5. Decide which path you want to pursue

1. 4 Year2. 2 Year3. Bootcamp4. Self-Study

6. Go for it!1. Don’t let anyone stop you

Managing a Career in SoftwareHow Do I Advance?

Manage Your Brand!Your Career IS Your Brand! Market & Manage It!

Show the World You Exist!

Step 1: Produce TONS of Code!

Show the World Your Code

• GitHub, GitHub, GitHub!• Build real projects

• Freelance!• Volunteer• Build things YOU need

• Contribute to Open Source projects

Step 2: Blog!!

Get Started Blogging

• Use a Service like Medium or Wordpress.com• Concentrate on producing CONTENT

• Post regularly• Once per week if possible

• Don't bother with ads…

Why Should I Blog?

• Build your personal brand!• Advance your career!• Display your passion as well as knowledge!• Build a reputation as a "thought leader"!• Don't overuse exclamation points!!

An Example• This blog post helped me

get a job!

• Started as a problem:• Two copies of the same

site on the same server performed very differently

• One died• The other was fine

• Researching the problem led to something interesting!

• Blogging about it got attention

But I'm Not an Expert!

Cheer up, sunshine!

You don't have to be!

This is the story of your journey, not your destination!

Showing Your Progress is Important

• Start blogging now• Keep blogging for years• Eventually you will be an expert!

• Employers can see your progression over time

Step 3: Social Media

Twitter!!

• Best flow of technical links I know

• Here's My Curated List You Can Follow:• https://twitter.com/CodeCareerAcad/lists/ccatechfeed

Hyper Local

• Tech404 in Atlanta• Slack

YouTube, Vimeo, FaceBook Video

• Stick around at 11 for my talk• Recording and Sharing Screencasts

Step 4: User Groups & Meetups

Start as a Member

• Attend REGULARLY• Make Friends!• Exchange cards

• OK, go GET some cards printed!

• Connect on LinkedIn, etc.

Become a Speaker

• Same benefits as blogging!• Start small!

• Lightning Talks (10-15 minutes)

• Work your way up to a full talk• You'll never study a topic harder than when you agree to speak

about it!

Step 5: ConferencesLike Code Camp!

Start as an Attendee

• Attend as many as you can• NETWORK!!• Exchange cards, LinkedIn connections, etc.

Become a Speaker

• Same benefits as speaking at user groups on steroids!

Work Hard and Never Quit

Follow Me on The Web

• Blog: jeffa.tech• CCA: CodeCareerAcademy.com• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CodeCareerAcademy/• Twitter: jeffa00• Twitter: codecareeracad

Intro to Web Development

•First 3 weeks of all certificate based programs.•Study at your own pace•Price deducted from any future class you take.

•Can’t commute to our campus? Just opt in to our fully remote program!•Take our part-time classes from the comfort of your own home!

$600

Fully Remote Classes

CodeCareerAcademy.cominfo@codecareeracademy.com

Part-Time, Front-End Web DevelopmentJanuary 23, 2018 - April 30, 2018

•Become Front-End Certified•Create web sites using HTML, CSS + JavaScript•Study with Sam Luedke, Lead Front-End Developer•Build Projects for your Portfolio!

Part-Time, Full-Stack Web DevelopmentMarch 12, 2018 - October 1, 2018

•Become Full-Stack Certified•Evenings + Weekends•Remote in via WebEx or attend In-Person•Learn Front-End, C#, ASP.Net, and SQL•Study Under Jeff Ammons, Microsoft MVP

$4,000

$8,900

CodeCareerAcademy.cominfo@codecareeracademy.com