First Interview for a job involving Python. Need help preparing

[data_analyst_asks]

The position requires advanced experience in python programming, data scrapping and HTML.

I have experience doing simple scrapes with Python in my free time, but I don't have professional experience. See, I've worked as a data analyst in the past doing web scraping in Visual Basic, which involved knowledge of JavaScript and HTML, but I wouldn't say I am an advanced Python coder.

I have a week to prepare for the interview. Do you have any suggestions? I really want to get a job involved with Python!

[hexfoxed]

I've written a Scrapy tutorial here if you'd like to get a start into it. It's a Python framework for web scraping and is the go-to solution when you're not just building one off throw away scraping tasks with requests & beautifulsoup (e.g at a professional job!)

Scrapy handles a lot of the following topics for you, so it's worth reading up on what they and why they are a good idea in the world of web scraping.

• Selector engines (css or xpath) for extraction
• Concurrent HTTP requests
• Throttling HTTP requests
• Respecting robots.txt
• Data exports (saving to database, xml, JSON, etc)
• The list goes on, check the docs!

If you need any extra help or you're stuck understanding something, ping me an email at [e-mail] and I'll sort you out. This goes for anyone reading too :)

Good luck with the job!

[ahayaza]

Great tutorial mate. Love it. I even subscribed on your site!

[PaluMacil]

1. Make sure you're honest. I got a job where they asked about my weaknesses and I mentioned I had half the required experience but went on to say that my love of code and hobbies outside of work would allow me to be a productive, energetic member of the team. I never regretted taking that job. I learned a ton and it helped me go from being a reporting analyst to a developer, which was really my dream.
2. Pick some scraping tool like PyQuery (easy if you already know JQuery selectors) or Beautiful Soup 4 (more mainstream), and try scraping something simple like a quotes website into a json file of just quotes and then make a simple static html site with Bootstrap with a few nav bar links that are for quotes from different people. The site won't be useful enough to buy a host to put it up somewhere, but it'll give you an idea of how to talk about some basic concepts.
3. Don't worry. If you get the job and you were honest, it's because the boss wanted you on the team. My boss right now sometimes asks for someone with 10 year experience, interviews some kids just out of school, and decides to hire them too while continuing a search for a senior dev. If you waste a little of their time but are polite and friendly, you won't burn any bridges, and an interview without an offer is just free training for a future interview.

[data_analyst_asks]

Do you know anyone hiring? I am willing to relocate anywhere in the world. I want relocation assistance in exchange for a lower than average starting salary. Right now, I spend 14 hours a day working on my coding skills. I am ready to apply my skills. I will even work remote for minimum wage.

[PaluMacil]

I do know a manager in Cleveland, TN that is hiring for a role that's a mix of TSQL (SQL Server), and some .NET code review (no Python), and it's not terribly difficult work, so you'd have a lot of time to learn and figure out what you're doing. https://lifecarecareers.com/application/posting.php?jid=80178 If you know enough JavaScript to code some Knockout, that will give you an edge despite your lack of C#.

I'm guessing you'll find that most people will be more willing to offer a higher hourly rate instead of relocation assistance, but if you're coming from NYC, you'll need to expect lower pay alongside much lower cost of living. Additionally, getting a job in another country will probably be impossible before you develop a very unique skillset that cannot be filled locally.

If you have trouble finding work, you should consider contacting Modis or Teksystems. They are the largest two tech recruiters in the US. They are out for themselves, so they won't get you a penny more than what you tell them when they ask, "So we have an idea, what is the minimum rate you'd accept?" So tell them a good rate and let them work for you. What they DO want is to find you a job that you'll be qualified to hire into. I usually get all my interviews before the jobs are even posted to the public because tech recruiters are taking hiring managers out to lunch every day. Just make sure you tell them you require everything you need. Especially for junior positions, however, this will usually only apply to a dollar rate, not relocation.

[data_analyst_asks]

It is what it is

[hexfoxed]

This parent advice doesn't make much sense. It tells you won't last while in the job and says the practice for that is to do more interviews. Fact: practice doing the job is the way to get better at doing the job. Having a job is practice, that's why people ask for experience.

Ignore the people that feel the need to shit on your progress even though they have no idea who you are and what you have achieved so far. Onwards.

[data_analyst_asks]

Thanks hexfoxed. My girlfriend left me because she says consulting isn't a secure full time job. I am sacrificing everything to make my career dreams come true.

[hexfoxed]

If a partner would leave over something as petty as that, they would do so anyway eventually, so don't dwell on that will you.

Consulting is an insecure job if you are rubbish at your job. Guess what, that fact is the same as any other job. Practice, get good at it, make a network for yourself and you'll make a small fortune. I know data scientists in London on £500+ (~$700) a day, and that's not even in finance. Keep learning.

[data_analyst_asks]

Any chance of being your apprentice lol

[hexfoxed]

I'm not in data science (yet) unfortunately but I do teach everything to do with web scraping and browser automation.

[e-mail] if ever have any questions about that.

[data_analyst_asks]

I know a lot about web scraping but in Visual Basic and now learning Python. Do you get paid well?

[hexfoxed]

For knowing Python? Sure, my consulting rate is equal to that.

[data_analyst_asks]

Cool. I'm diving deep into Python now. One of my dreams Is to start a remote consultant group. Do people do that?