#188 - 3.5 Mistakes Career Changers Make When Learning to Code (And How to Avoid Them)
Nov 14, 2024
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Discover the common pitfalls career changers face when learning to code. Memorizing won't cut it; understanding the code is crucial. Quality coding practices trump quantity in project portfolios. Focus on mastering a single programming language instead of spreading yourself too thin. Build essential skills in JavaScript and Python to enhance job readiness. Cultivating positive habits is pivotal for success in your coding journey. Embrace failures as stepping stones and engage deeply with your learning.
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Quick takeaways
Avoid the tutorial trap by actively engaging with your code to build a solid understanding rather than just replicating examples.
Focus on developing one or two complex projects for deeper learning and stronger employability, instead of many trivial applications.
Deep dives
Avoiding the Tutorial Trap
Many aspiring developers fall into the tutorial trap, where they merely replicate code without understanding its functionality. This often leads to a false sense of skill as they may create visually appealing applications but lack the foundational knowledge of how their code works. For instance, a woman who completed a coding bootcamp built a movie finder app but could not explain how crucial components functioned, revealing her reliance on following instructions blindly. To truly learn coding, it’s essential to engage with the code by modifying and understanding it, ensuring mastery rather than superficial knowledge.
Quality Over Quantity in Projects
Developers often mistakenly believe that building numerous small projects will enhance their employability, but this strategy may actually hinder their progress. Focusing on one or two complex applications, which require deployment and security measures, is far more beneficial and allows for deeper learning. Interviewers are more impressed by candidates who can articulate their role in a technically challenging project rather than by a long list of trivial applications. Concentrating on substantive projects helps candidates stand out in a competitive job market where deep knowledge is preferred over mere quantity.
The Dangers of Being a Swiss Army Knife Developer
Aspiring developers often try to learn multiple languages and technologies simultaneously, which can lead to a chaotic and ineffective learning experience. This approach, often referred to as the Swiss army knife developer path, spreads knowledge too thin and results in inadequate proficiency in any one area. It is more effective to focus on mastering a single programming language, like JavaScript or Python, and then branching out to relevant technologies. Employers typically look for candidates who demonstrate depth in a few areas rather than superficial familiarity with many tools.
When you went to school, you were rewarded for completing assignments on time and memorizing facts.
This same approach will NOT work for becoming an employable software engineer.
In fact, it will have the opposite effect.
On your learning-to-code journey, there are many mistakes you will make. You're going to mess up, produce sh*tty code and fail a ton of interviews. These are unavoidable and necessary to your growth as a developer.
Some pitfalls, however, should absolutely be avoided. I've spoken with literally hundreds of you out there and learned what's holding you back. Here are the 3 (and a half) biggest mistakes career changers make when they're learning to code and how to avoid them.
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