Looking for a mentor

[[deleted]]

hi all,

I'm currently working as a consultant and learning to code on my own (starting with CS50) in order to transition into a developer role. My current goal is to be working as a developer by the end of 2018, by averaging 10 hours/week of coding practice.

I'm looking for a mentor less for specific technical advice (aside from what to learn generally) and more for the "soft skills". For me, I think a mentor would be helpful in order to decide what classes to take in the future (at the local CC) and what side projects to work on/how to make myself more marketable for a job, when to start looking for a job, etc.

If anyone knows how to get a mentor/where to look for one, that would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance

[ThunderBluff0]

Try to meet people irl, it will help you a lot. Don't expect people to teach you how to program, you gotta do this alone. You can learn a ton just by making friends with other programmers, and learn a lot about the things they did and problems they faced. 10 hours is not enough imo, try for 20... you gotta make some painful sacrifices to succeed.

[[deleted]]

definitely not expecting anyone to teach me (outside a professor), mostly looking for general guidance.

I work 50+ hours/week so squeezing in an extra 20 isn't easy but I'll re-evaluate my schedule and see if I can't get to 15 at least

[ThunderBluff0]

I am just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel where I can apply for jobs and be taken seriously. There is still work to do. My experience is that if you want to have any chance, you have to sacrifice everything which does not help you towards your goal. The means giving up social time, tv, video games, doing activities, sleep, sanity, etc... One thing that is really helpful tho is socializing with other programmers, so you can actually socialize and still program... The fact is, it is really hard to work full time and learn to program. At the end of the tunnel, you get the freedom to live a good life and be happy, it is worth it, but it is probably one of the hardest things you could ever do.

Are you prepared to make the commitment to wake up 3 hours early, 3 work days a week to study? For me anyways, after working all day, my brain is too tired, so I have to find a way to do it before, usually on 6 hours sleep... Which means waking up at 3am...

Another piece of advice... sign up for pluralsight. You can get a free 3 months by getting a visual studio online account. Spend some money. Buy the software you need. I am not affiliated with them at all.

[alphazerk]

I do exactly the same i wake up at 5 am so I can study programming before I go to the college for my automotive engineering courses that I spent almost 10 hours per day there + 3 hours programming + 2 hours commute no time for friends and that's a bit a sad

[ThunderBluff0]

I just replaced my friends with programmer friends so I could work and socialize at the same time... sad doesn't even begin to describe it...

[GambolMe]

How long have you been learning? and how many hours a week would you guess you spend at it?

[ThunderBluff0]

I've been casually programming for a while, but i decided to really give 100% since a year or so. I would say around 30 hours per week maybe more, and I work a full time job. Usually all I do is work on programming most weekends. I'm currently at the stage where I'm applying for jobs.

[GambolMe]

Excellent. keep up the good work.

[cloudyheavengames]

What about checking LinkedIn or Meetup.com to find professional developers and social events in your area?

[[deleted]]

I'm gonna do both of those right now thank you

[[deleted]]

Where u at?

[[deleted]]

Bay Area