Stuart Bloxham, a web developer, shares his journey of transitioning to coding, the challenges of balancing a demanding job and learning to code, frustrations in the job hunting process, the importance of a good text editor for web development, and advice for aspiring developers. The chapter also touches on taking credit, flower horn fish, and shameless plugs.
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Quick takeaways
Stuart Bloxham's journey from salesperson to web developer emphasizes the importance of perseverance, communication, and compromise in balancing family life and learning.
Stuart's advice for aspiring web developers includes staying committed to the learning process, finishing projects, and avoiding excessive time spent on tutorials. He also addresses the need for breaks, physical activities, and engagement in other tasks to prevent burnout.
Deep dives
Stuart Bloxham's Journey to Becoming a Web Developer
Stuart Bloxham, a previous salesperson, shares his journey to becoming a web developer. After leaving his job in construction, Stuart dedicated his time to learning coding, taking a boot camp, and building a portfolio. He applied for jobs when he felt ready, focusing on completing projects and showcasing his skills. Stuart emphasizes perseverance, communication, and compromise for balancing family life and learning. He landed a remote job as a web developer, and his experience highlights the importance of soft skills and effective communication during interviews.
Tips for Learning Web Development and Applying for Jobs
Stuart's tips for aspiring web developers include sticking with the learning process, finishing projects, and continuously building new ones. He suggests dedicating time, even short periods, for learning and staying committed. Stuart advises against spending excessive time on tutorials or delaying completion of projects, as it can hinder progress. He also addresses burnout, recommending breaks, physical activities, and engaging in other tasks to allow the mind to wander. Stuart's advice underscores the importance of perseverance, time management, and continuous learning.
Stuart's Interview Experiences and Soft Skills
Stuart shares his interview experiences and the importance of soft skills in the hiring process. He highlights the significance of effective communication during interviews and the subsequent practice of speaking about coding concepts. Stuart mentions the challenges of technical interviews, including take-home exercises and evaluative conversations. He recognizes the value of networking, seeking feedback, and continuously improving interview skills. Stuart's success demonstrates the importance of open communication, perseverance, and continuously refining soft skills.
Balancing Family Life and Learning as a Web Developer
Stuart discusses how he managed to balance family life and learning web development. He emphasizes the importance of communication and compromises for carving out time for coding while fulfilling family responsibilities. Stuart shares strategies such as scheduling specific time slots, utilizing nap times, and setting expectations with his partner. He also highlights the need for self-care and recognizing signs of burnout. Stuart's experiences offer insights into creating a balanced routine and managing time effectively.
In this supper club episode of Syntax, Wes and Scott talk with Stuart Bloxham about how he learned to code, what his interview process was like when applying for a job, how he found the time to make it all work, and his thoughts on bootcamps and ways to learn.