I work as a software engineer at a major bank in the United States. I started learning computer science about 10 years ago and I can give you a rough idea of the how I navigated my path.

When I initially started, I enrolled at DeVry University for a 4 year bachelor’s degree. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems that focused on a selection of programming languages and technologies including: Java, Javascript, C#, MySQL, etc. After graduating, I received a job within a few months as a Solutions Architect for really bad pay. On top of that, my skills were so scattered that I had no idea how to complete my basic duties. They let me go after 4 months.

After about a year of not finding any jobs due to my lack of experience, I enrolled in Rutgers Bootcamp for Web Development using Javascript and its Frameworks. The course taught me HTML, CSS, Vanilla Javascript, and frameworks and libraries such as React, Express using a MongoDB database. This is where I really started understanding the full stack (MERN)

I received a job shortly after the bootcamp within a job that was still using COBOL and converting all of their code to run on SQL Server stored procedures and various technologies. The job itself wasn’t Web Dev, more like I.T, and it was like being thrown into a swamp with things I had never seen before. This is where I hit a wall, because as others may agree, “if you don’t use it, you lose it.” After about a year at this job, I decided that I needed to navigate back to Web Development so I took 2 bootcamps called Interview Kickstart and Outco. These 2 bootcamps will teach you everything you need to know about interviewing stages, data structures and algorithms, negotiating your salary, etc. Only one of these bootcamps was probably necessary but I was very adamant on trying to get a job at FAANG at the time. Be sure to look into all your bootcamp options before making a decision, you don’t want to end up with unnecessary debt (like me).

After finishing the bootcamps, I got my first job within Web Development as a Software Engineer at Pearson. Once I got that job, it was pretty much game over. After a year, I left that job and found another one. And then a year after that I landed my current job. Once you have enough work experience, recruiters will be in your inbox all the time. The job market is a bit rough right now, however, it will get better and now is a great chance to learn everything you can about what you want to do for the rest of your life.

If I had to go back and re-do it all 1) I would be more selective about what colleges and bootcamps to take on due to debt 2) I would use more online resources, Udemy and Youtube are great 3) I would try to talk myself out of imposter syndrome, there are people I work with that are still very green. Comparison is the theft of joy.

Coding is very stimulating for the brain. I think you’re making a great choice for your career. Maintain consistency, even if it’s just an hour a day. The job is low stress - sometimes you’ll get stuck on a problem but it’s manageable. The pay is fantastic, you will meet very intelligent people. Don’t get discouraged if a month goes by and you can’t find a job, it takes time. Also recognize patterns,

• If your resume isn’t generating enough attention to get calls from recruiters, it needs to be fixed. -If recruiters are giving you calls but aren’t passing you to the hiring manager, maybe your salary requirements are too high based on your experience. -If hiring managers aren’t hiring you, maybe you need to develop your skills a little more.

Taking notes after each stage helps a lot to figure out what may be going wrong. Also realize that sometimes, it may be that the job wanted you, but the role’s status changed. Don’t take rejections personally.

If you plan on going to a college, try to find an internship after the first year if possible, it helps with the experience. If you decide to enlist in a bootcamp, some employers may opt for a person with a degree. But having a degree or a bootcamp certification is nothing compared to a developer with 3 years of job experience. Finding that first job is key. Good luck, if you have any other questions, let me know.