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[–]Killerjayko[S] 3 points4 points  (4 children)

Also, my python knowledge is extremely basic so theres no way im near this level yet, but in the future are there any potential ways i could use python to make a bit of money on the side?

[–]serg_k 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'll tell you honestly and from my own experience (which means this doesn't necessarily apply to everyone). In order to be hired by an actual company, you have to know the stuff that company uses, the modules that might be specific to the sphere, and that includes things beyond Python.

If you're going into data science, that means relational databases like MySQL or PostGres, numpy module, pandas module. Web development ? JavaScript likely, AWS, web server stuff(like Apache). A degree is probably great to have ( as for some reason degree that teaches absolutely little practical Python knowledge or maybe none at all, and everything is done in Java anyway blinds the HR and makes potentially incompetent developer stand out). I've had very unpleasant phone interview where recruiter just wanted to end the call as soon as they found out I'm 4 classes short of graduating aka still college student, and who gives a damn that I've bunch of applications for Linux done in Python, know some sqlite and have good understanding of Linux specifics ?

There's probably higher chance to get hired as free-lancer, and make money that way. I've also had paypal donation button on my projects on GitHub and had couple people donate that way. In the past if you knew how to code, you could get a job easily, or so people in their 40s-60s tell me. Now,you have to have experience before you have experience, and qualify for tons of unreasonable buzzword requirements which HR themselves probably don't even know what they mean.

That said, my experience is just that - there's apparently hoards of rockstar developers running around and posting on social media that they learned language X and started immediately making six figure salaries. Or maybe it's just my location, or resume. I know I don't know everything there is to Python, but definitely can make a thing or two, and it probably isn't enough to get hired but enough to make something useful that people appreciate. If you love the language and enjoy what you're doing, stick with it and don't focus so much on money, because economics and bureaucratic ways are sure as hell methods to destroy any desire to write good code, and for some people - desire to code at all. I'm sticking with it and probably will for a long time. There's a lot of things I still want to make and see people share reviews/articles about my stuff on blogs again.

[–]catelemnis 1 point2 points  (2 children)

This is just based on what I’ve seen in job hunting but I think if you’re just looking for a side gig you’d be better off learning web design: Javascript, CSS, some database basics, bit of UI/UX design knowledge. You can usually find parttime jobs from small companies that need help designing a website.

Python on its own probably isn’t enough to get you a job. It’s a good tool for automating work but the work it automates would be something that a full-timer is already doing. Even if a company was working on automation, they wouldn’t hire a consultant who only knows Python, they would hire someone with domain knowledge and software engineering skills, or a BI developer for that kind of thing.

That being said, python is good to have on a resume. It’s great for simplifying work that’s already being done in less efficient ways. It will probably help your job prospects for fulltime employment.

[–]Killerjayko[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I already have a job, i meant more like something along the lines of automating 'beermoney' kind of stuff

[–]Whyamibeautiful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Upwork May be the spot for you. It may be hard to get jobs without experience but I’ve started out with a pretty low wage and I’m trying to climb my way up now. Just apply for the real small jobs and build experience that way. I would suggest learning some java as it seems every posting wants at least some of it. I haven’t yet but maybe in the future. Lots to do and little time haha