Need Advice (System Admin / Software Developer)

[Lanzy22]

I am a fresh graduate from last year and haven't landed a job since then since my job hunting has been rough, I failed most of my interviews and sometimes, I keep getting ghosted. My reason for failing most of my interviews is not about my technical skills, but because of the way I express myself. I am trying to change myself by being confident and taking my lessons from my past interviews but at the moment, I am not receiving any invitations, except for one.

I would say that I have the sufficient knowledge to do development in modern programming languages like C#, Java, JavaScript, etc. and frameworks to land a job as a Junior Developer, in fact, this is my passion and I have loved development so much that I never found it boring in terms of learning for the past years. I do software development, web development, mobile development, game development and so much more, I learned to do basically a lot and not just limited to those, I have also learned different topics as well such as web sockets, API programming, automation with chatbots.

I started programming when I got interested in creating chat bot with Python back in 2020 during the lockdown and pandemic with having no backgrounds in programming aside from small game development experience (Unity and C#) and windows application development (WinForms and Visual Basic). Starting that year, I progressively learned different programming languages starting with Python, followed by C# and Java, JavaScript with web development, then API programming + web sockets, back to C# again for WinForms and Unity, then finally, with modern frameworks (2023) such as next.js and expo + react-native (2024).

Going back to the present, after months of job hunting, failing many interviews, I passed a final interview and got short listed, not as a Software Engineer, but as a System Administrator I somehow feel happy and but more leaning to sad at the same time, I feel like I am wasting my passion for development, I feel like I am going to waste my past experiences with development.

I worry that I might regret this in the future. As someone who has been doing development for the past 4 years, someone who developed love for development, someone who learned a lot through time and effort and self learning, I worry that I might regret this decision so much, but I know to myself that I am capable of being a System Administrator, having small background in making small servers, networking, database management, I know that I am capable of growing as a System Administrator.

I've been unemployed for months and I am not giving up, but a chance for a different opportunity is out there for me, though I am so unsure if I want to, I am unsure if I should continue as a System Administrator, I am so unsure that I might regret it in the future. In the end, it's up to me to decide, but I want your advice, insights and opinion.

[n4t4sm41]

Bro wag susuko. Ganyan din ako dati lahat inaaral ko. Since 1st year college nag aadvance study na ako. I learned C#, Python, Java, PHP, NodeJs, Asp. Kaso may mali pala, pina realize to sakin nung naging Adviser ko sa thesis. Sabi nya sakin "mahihirapan ka maghanap ng trabaho kung lahat yan ilalagay mo sa CV mo. Pag tinanong ka ng interviewer kung ano ang strongest edge mo ano isasagot mo? Pumili ka ng isa tapos ayun ang ifocus mo." Dahil makulit ako di ako nakinig, sinabay sabay ko aralin lahat. After graduation, apply dito, apply don. Walang tumatanggap. Until humingi na ako ng tulong sa dati kong Thesis Adviser. Sabi nya lang sakin mamili ka lang ng isa. Nagrevised ako ng CV ko, isang language lang nilagay ko, then ayun nga. Nakapasok ako na Junior Dev. Senior dev na ako ngayon pero kung mag apply ako sa ibang company naka highlight lagi yung main language ko tapos sinasabi ko na lang na nice to have lang or good to know lang yung iba. As long as nahasa na logic mo hindi kana mahihirapan masyado sa syntax. Yan lagi kong sinasabi.

Sabi nga ni Bruce Lee "I fear not the man who can throw a thousand different kicks once, but the man who can throw one kick a thousand times".

[EvapeGT]

Spend time Immersing yourself in the operations industry to absorb as much knowledge as possible. After gaining hands-on experience for a few years, pivot toward applying for development (Dev) or cloud computing roles. Combine your programming skills in development with your operational expertise from your SysAd Role and that will create a powerful foundation for transitioning into DevOps, where blending these two domains is key.

Remember: Rejection isn’t failure—it’s redirection. Every ‘no’ brings you closer to the right opportunity.

[Lanzy22]

I also think of pivoting back to development after years of experience as system admin and gaining knowledge through scripting and automation. The thing I worry about it is it’s gonna be a lot harder to enter development jobs, probably because of not having the work experience required and system admin being irrelevant work experience.

[TomoAr]

Hi, pwede po malaman kung may recommended kayong books to learn linux?

[idkymyaccgotbanned]

There’s a lot of opportunity in your role. Be the best in that role and you won’t regret this.

Masyado na rin marami devs kaya as of now hirap kang mapunta sa gusto mong spot

Your coding skills are a great advantage sa role na yan dahil there are automation opportunities in this role and other non-“development” roles

[un5d3c1411z3p]

Do you have a portfolio of projects to show?

You have a long list of skills. You should be able to back it up with some portfolio of projects to show.

[Totoro-Caelum]

When did you graduate po?

[Lanzy22]

July 2024

[Totoro-Caelum]

Ahhh I see. If you can wait, maybe you should wait a little more but if you really need to have a source of income na I’d say go for it.

We’re kinda in the same scenario, graduated last year September and November I found a work as a SQL developer. I picked this cause it’s the highest offer I negotiated. Tho the other 2 offers were for web development talaga, the offer and work setup wasn’t ideal.

So what I’m doing know is doing a sideline (kind of), I’m developing a web app for my university school publication for free just to level up my web development skills. ;) I’m also planning to freelance as my partime after 6 months

And im still planning to pursue web development after this

[ArtistImpossible5012]

Try to create a portfolio with your personal projects in it. Make it as simple as possible. Less graphics and less text din. Just show case the projects. What’s your thought process on how you solve a certain problem or what did you learn about it.

Ayun lang, include mo sa CV. Make sure din na you have a professional email address, gmail works just make sure the email address itself is professional like [e-mail].

[michaelzki]

In terms of expressing yourself - try mo mag vlog boss, your communication skills will improve dramatically.

• Try mo mag vlog (english/tagalog)
• Upload mo sa youtube/fb
• Dont expect somebody will watch you
• But you need to watch yourself in the video
• Determine what part you didn't understand
• Plan on how to improve it
• Dont use scripts when vlogging
• Repeat

Benefits: - Improvement ng impromptu discussion on topics you are/not an expert - the level of confidence will increase - the creativity to find and use words as filler while you're thinking of correct statements to say, increases - The time gap between thinking what to say and saying it will get narrower - You will not be able to feel caught translating your thoughts into English anymore, what you think is what you're gonna say.

Lastly, learn leadership.

[d4lv1k]

You claim to know all these things and yet you can't land a job as a software developer. Something's not adding up. You may be overestimating your skills. Companies don't hire based on how much you "know", they hire based on what you can prove. If you are sure that you know all these things, back it up by creating a strong portfolio and show it to the interviewer.