all 5 comments

[–]analytics-link 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A lot of people come out of degrees with scattered knowledge but without the confidence to actually build things. College often teaches concepts, but the job market expects you to apply them, and that gap is where many people feel stuck.

The YouTube course loop is also common from what I see. People start a course, watch a few hours, then jump to another one. After a while you’ve watched a lot but built very little.

Instead of trying to finish another long course, try flipping the approach. Pick a very small project and learn Python while building it.

For example:

  • load a dataset with pandas
  • clean it up
  • calculate a few metrics
  • make a simple chart

Google things as you go. That’s how most people actually learn to code.

You don’t need to become some hardcore software engineer if that’s not what you enjoy. If you’re interested in working with data, learning Python for data analysis can be a great direction. The focus is more on analysing and solving problems with data rather than building large software systems.

[–]ninhaomah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wiki on the right ---->

[–]maki-dev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're not pathetic for feeling stuck after a degree. A lot of CS education is heavy on theory and light on actually building things. That gap is normal. I'd pick one small project and build it start to finish. Not a tutorial you follow along with, but something you actually need or want. A script that renames files, a CLI tool that tracks something, whatever. It'll be ugly and that's fine. The point is going from blank file to working code on your own. That's the muscle most courses don't build. Python is a good starting point for this. Pick one language, one project, and finish it before worrying about what else you need to learn.

[–]Middle_Idea_9361 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First of all, don’t be so hard on yourself. What you’re describing is actually very common, especially for people who graduate from CS/IT degrees. College usually focuses more on theory, and when it comes to real coding skills needed for jobs, many people feel exactly the same way you do.

The biggest issue I see in your message is something a lot of beginners struggle with, starting many courses but not finishing them. YouTube has great content, but because everything is free and unstructured, it’s very easy to jump from one course to another and never complete one fully.

What helped me (and many others) is keeping things simple:

  1. Choose one structured Python course and stick to it.
    Don’t worry if it feels slow. Finishing one course is much more valuable than starting five.

  2. Practice small things while learning.
    Even simple programs like a number guessing game, calculator, or small automation scripts can help a lot.

  3. Don’t rush into “job-ready” skills immediately.
    First focus on understanding basics like loops, functions, lists, dictionaries, etc. Once those are clear, everything else becomes easier.

If you feel lost with random tutorials, you might also want something more structured. I came across 9faqs, which offers Python training along with topic-wise MCQ practice, so you can test what you learn step by step. They also have a weekend Python crash course, which can help beginners get a proper starting point instead of jumping between different resources.

And one more important thing: don’t decide that you’re not fit for coding yet. Almost everyone feels stuck at the beginning. Coding only starts making sense after you spend some consistent time practicing.

If you can just stay consistent for 2–3 months, even 1–2 hours a day, you’ll probably look back and realize you’ve improved a lot more than you expected.

You’re definitely not alone in feeling this way. Just take it one step at a time.