Quincy Larson, founder of freeCodeCamp, shares insights from his exclusive AMA. He discusses the merits of hiring junior developers and the evolving project-based curriculum at freeCodeCamp. Larson addresses remote work challenges post-COVID and offers tips for excelling in virtual interviews. He also explores the balance between maintaining freeCodeCamp as a nonprofit while growing its media presence. Finally, he encourages contributions to open-source projects, emphasizing that beginners can start without being experts.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Building an Award-Winning Dev Team
Hire a senior developer with diverse experience at multinationals to guide junior developers.
This saves money long-term and builds loyalty, as seen with FreeCodeCamp's eight-person team.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Navigating FreeCodeCamp with Prior Experience
Work through FreeCodeCamp's curriculum sequentially, even with prior experience, to avoid knowledge gaps.
If comfortable, test your skills by jumping ahead to certification projects and reviewing lessons as needed.
insights INSIGHT
Remote Work's Impact on Hiring
Remote work won't significantly change developer hiring; the economic downturn will.
Companies like WordPress and FreeCodeCamp already hired remotely pre-COVID.
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This book provides valuable insights, strategies, and practical tips to help candidates navigate the product management interview process. It covers various aspects such as the variation of the 'PM' role across companies, necessary experiences, how to translate existing experience, and how to master different types of interview questions including estimation, behavioral, case, product, technical questions, and the 'pitch'. The book is designed to help candidates prepare effectively for product management interviews in startups and larger tech companies.
freeCodeCamp Founder Quincy Larson answers questions from his exclusive AMA only on This Week in Startups' Slack!
If you’d like to participate in exclusive AMAs, jam sessions, and discuss all aspects of startup life with Jason and our community of 20,000+ founders, join us at: https://launchevents.typeform.com/to/kLq5Bi
Watch Quincy on E1049: https://youtu.be/OgxTDl2Z9II
Follow Quincy: https://twitter.com/ossia
Check out freeCodeCamp: https://www.freecodecamp.org/
Thanks to Klaviyo, Fiverr and Mint Mobile for keeping this AMA ad free!
Questions:
0:33 Emin asks: What is the best tactic to build an award-winning dev team? Hire junior developers and incubate them or hire more senior people?
4:29 Rob asks: What does FCC moving to a project-based curriculum look like for someone with a moderate programming background, and where should they start approaching the freeCodeCamp curriculum?
5:41 Ilya asks: What are your thoughts on remote work for developers post COVID. What are the biggest challenges companies are facing? And how can candidates stand out in a remote job interview?
7:55 Swyx asks: What are your thoughts on SEO/building a media empire out of FCC? What about keeping FCC.org nonprofit, but making FreeCodeCamp’s YouTube and Content presence for profit?
11:06 Farjad asks: What is your advice on contributing to open-source projects like FCC and when it is appropriate/how to begin? Do I have to become an expert first? How can a beginner contribute?
13:27 James asks: Many online courses and MOOCS have high drop off rates and struggle to retain users. Have you found this with freeCodeCamp and, if so, what measures have you found work best to keep people learning?
16:40 Brady asks: What are the plans for future courses? Will there be other languages or frameworks included?
20:40 Cpulido asks: I am new to coding. I have a vision of what I want to build but I am wondering if I am being too ambitious. How do I effectively learn and build at the same time?
23:24 Jean asks: In an age of low-code and no-code, what are your thoughts on total beginners exploring a new career path today?
28:01 Luke asks: Which other founders/leaders and companies in the free code/online learning space do you think are also doing great work for the community?
30:14 Charles asks: Is there a place for those that are passionate but don't think they could ever be a great coder? Are the skills learned at FCC transferable or useful for gaining employment in another part of the tech/startup industry?
31:55 Jacqui asks: I'm curious about your experience teaching in China. What ages and subjects did you teach, and what are some differences you've seen between the education systems in the US and China and how do those differences play out into careers?
36:47 Heidi asks: As a nonprofit (public charity), what do you find is the most difficult part of soliciting donations? Is it easier to get corporations to buy into what you’re building/doing or 1:1/community to give donations?
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