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General Discussion

Jonathan Fernandes
PLUS
Jonathan Fernandes
Courses Plus Student 22,784 Points
Posted by Jonathan Fernandes
Jonathan Fernandes
Courses Plus Student 22,784 Points

Where to get started?

As I continue to learn and grow at Treehouse, I know at some point I am just going to need to get some experience. I was thinking that maybe starting out part-time somewhere might be a great start. I could ease myself into a career in development and grow from there.

What should I be focusing on in the next couple weeks that would set me up for a possible junior position somewhere part-time?

3 Answers

John Magee
PLUS
John Magee
Courses Plus Student 9,058 Points
John Magee
John Magee
Courses Plus Student 9,058 Points

A portfolio that showcases your abilities for whatever job you are looking for is what I've found is most important. I've worked 20+ years in non programming related jobs and the few interviews I even get on the phone they want to see examples, web sites, or code depending on the job, so come up with some projects of your own to build, refactor, and perfect...beyond the very basics of what they teach here. (Now figuring out what those projects are has always been a bugaboo for me so if anyone has any good suggestions for 'sample projects' for a portfolio please advise)

Samuel Webb
Samuel Webb
25,370 Points
Samuel Webb
Samuel Webb
25,370 Points

Figuring out personal projects is the bane of my existence. I usually don't try to promote my blog on here, but THIS is how I figure out new projects.

It's a lot of words and pretty much no pictures so...

John Magee
John Magee
Courses Plus Student 9,058 Points

TO Samuel Webb

For some reason Treehouse doesn't have deeply threaded comments, so I appreciate the link. My problem isn't so much finding personal projects, it's just the ideas I have are MASSIVE undertakings...

Samuel Webb
Samuel Webb
25,370 Points
Samuel Webb
Samuel Webb
25,370 Points

Maybe try to make a slimmed down version of one of your giant ideas. Try to figure out what the essentials are and only build it with those. Then once you're done, slowly add more and more to it. Over time, it will become the large application. Just make sure you make time for refactoring of your code fairly often.

Samuel Webb
Samuel Webb
25,370 Points
Samuel Webb
Samuel Webb
25,370 Points

It looks like most of your points are in iOS development. My suggestion would be to continue to make sure you have all the basics and some of the advanced techniques and knowledge of the language you're learning. Make a few applications that serve a need you have. Even if you already have an application on your phone that does it, you'll actually remember the things you've learned by practicing. There are tons of apps out there that tell you the weather, but that doesn't mean you can't make one.

Jonathan Fernandes
PLUS
Jonathan Fernandes
Courses Plus Student 22,784 Points
Jonathan Fernandes
Jonathan Fernandes
Courses Plus Student 22,784 Points

Thanks for all the feedback! I have begun prototyping some apps for practice and to make a portfolio! I appreciate you all helping point me in the right direction!