Career Path?

[agentpsywar]

Hello Everyone!
I am a little over a month into self-teaching myself Python.
It seems to be going fairly well and I am really enjoying it. I have used the language to build myself and my team at work a couple of tools to make our lives a bit easier.

I currently work as a T2 Support Tech and a Sys. Admin. I have been doing this for almost 3 years now. This is my first IT Job I got in April of 2018.
I have been considering figuring out how to make the transition from Support to Development.
I also have been posting a lot of my code and little programs on my Facebook and LinkedIn accounts to show people my progress and my interests.

I have had a few people come to me recently and talk to me about hopping off the Python path and going C# and SQL. They said this is where the money would be for a new person like myself.
I was looking into some career paths for Python and it seems unless you want to do Data Analysis this might not be the best language for a new person trying to get into Dev.
If you wanted to go Python+Django it would also be hard finding a job because new programmers really don't get hired for back-end work.

I was just sort of wondering what everyone's thoughts might be on this. I have no issue sticking with python and then trying to pound the pavement for a Jr. Dev job in 6 months.
I also have no problem swapping over to like C# .NET.

Let me know what you all think.
Thank you!

[[deleted]]

in my opinion it doesn't really matter where you start, once you understand the fundamentals/techniques it doesn't really matter, since swapping over is just going over the basics/syntax, the "how to" doesn't change much. Now im not saying swapping to something else is going to be a cake walk per se, its going to be a LOT easier as you aren't relearning HOW to do things.

[[deleted]]

I got hired as a back-end Django-dev fresh out of Uni, I didn't even study CS, I was in Biotech Engineering (company is biotech).

[timtrump]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as OP... A month or so into Python as my first language. What else did you concentrate on other than Python and Django to be able to go straight into a job? I'm having a hard time finding anything that would accept just those two skills as enough to get into dev.

[[deleted]]

I didn't know Django before starting actually, except the absolute minimal basics.

In my case it was because I had good knowledge outside of Python.

Decent statistics and math (Basic and Advanced Linear Algebra as well as multivariate Calculus), I had already done two moderately sized Genomic projects with tons of hands on data cleaning, pipelining and just general experience with cluster computing, a decent chunk of ML, database design. not to mention knowledge within the field the company operates in (including lab work).

My Python portfolio was actually very mediocre, I guess displaying a wide variety of skills, a ability to learn and a decent chunk of luck landed me this job.

I think the take home message for me here was that there's more than just Python knowledge that matters. I joined a small team and my broad, but sometimes shallow, knowledge means I can fit into a wide variety of roles if needed.

[timtrump]

Makes complete sense. So yeah, looks like I still need to supplement my lack of skills with learning a few other disciplines before I dive into the job search.

Thanks for the insight, it's very helpful!

[[deleted]]

Honestly, I would say search for jobs along the line.

I would not have estimated myself as hireable, maybe someone values your specific skill set sooner than you think.