How to Build a Career in Tech: A Live Interview Series where Developers Connect the Dots
Breaking into the technology industry and building a successful career as a developer is an aspiration for many. But the path is not always straightforward, and aspiring developers can benefit greatly from the wisdom and experiences of those who have gone before them.
This is why I‘m excited to share that Jason Lengstorf, a prolific developer and long-time host of the Learn with Jason show, is bringing his acclaimed interview series to freeCodeCamp‘s YouTube channel. In this special career-focused series called "Developers Connect the Dots", Jason will sit down with accomplished developers every Friday to dig into their stories and extract insights to help light the way for the next generation of tech talent.
Meet the Developers Connecting the Dots
Each of the developers joining Jason for this series has a unique background and path into tech, but they all have one thing in common – a wealth of knowledge to share from their journeys.
The first guest, Henri Helvetica, is a self-taught developer who has worked extensively in e-commerce. Henri‘s journey into tech began with a degree in graphic design. He freelanced for several years before deciding to teach himself web development. He‘s since worked as a developer for over a decade, including roles at several major e-commerce companies.
Cassidy Williams, software engineer and educator, will share her experiences from her roles at companies like CodePen, Amazon, and Netlify. With a degree in computer science, Cassidy interned at Microsoft and dove into full-time development roles after graduation. Alongside her work as a software engineer, she‘s passionate about teaching and mentoring other developers.
Kurt Kemple, who has led developer relations teams, will bring insights from his work at Apollo GraphQL and Fauna. Kurt‘s career change into tech came after years working in sales and customer service. He quickly discovered a knack for explaining technical concepts and transitioned into developer relations.
Tara Z. Manicsic, a lifelong learner and Director of Developer Experience at Appwrite, will discuss her winding path into tech and strategies for continuous growth. Tara‘s background is in biomedical engineering, but she found herself drawn to programming. After several years as a developer, she moved into developer relations and experience roles.
April Speight, a fashion model turned software engineer, will speak to her transition from the fashion industry to her current work at Microsoft. April‘s interest in tech was sparked during her modeling career when she took on some web design projects. She made the leap into software engineering and has worked in the industry for close to a decade now.
And Jordan Jackson, a senior engineer at Netflix, will share lessons from his nearly 15 years in tech. Jordan studied computer science in college and has been building a strong technical career ever since. He‘s worked at a range of companies, from startups to large corporations, and climbed the ranks to senior leadership positions.
These interviews will go beyond the code to explore the pivotal moments, challenges overcome, and life lessons that have shaped these developers‘ careers. Viewers will come away with a deeper understanding of what it really takes to build a fulfilling and successful career in tech.
The Unconventional Paths into Tech
One common thread in the backgrounds of the developers interviewed in this series is the diversity of their paths into tech. From fashion to sales to biomedical engineering, these developers bring a wealth of experiences from other industries.
This is reflective of broader trends in the tech industry. According to a 2021 Stack Overflow survey, nearly 45% of professional developers do not have a degree in computer science or a related field. Many developers are self-taught or have attended bootcamps or other non-traditional training programs.
| Highest Educational Attainment | Professional Developers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor‘s degree in CS/related field | 38.1% |
| Master‘s degree in CS/related field | 18.3% |
| Doctoral degree in CS/related field | 2.2% |
| Some college/university study, no degree | 16.3% |
| Secondary school | 11.5% |
| Associate degree | 6.7% |
| Professional degree | 1.8% |
| Primary/elementary school | 0.3% |
| Other | 4.9% |
Source: Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2021
This data shows that there are many viable paths into a technology career. While a computer science degree is still a common route, it‘s by no means the only way to break into tech.
In fact, many of the skills and experiences gained in other industries can be valuable assets for a career in tech. Tara Z. Manicsic, for example, credits her background in biomedical engineering with honing her problem-solving and analytical thinking skills. April Speight‘s experience in the fashion industry helped develop her creativity and eye for design, which she‘s carried into her work as a software engineer.
Overcoming Challenges and Imposter Syndrome
Breaking into tech and navigating the early stages of a development career is notoriously challenging. According to the 2021 Stack Overflow survey, a lack of experience or skills is one of the top barriers for developers early in their careers. Imposter syndrome, not knowing where to start, and getting stuck in the tutorial rut also commonly hold new developers back.
| Greatest Challenge to Productivity | Professional Developers |
|---|---|
| Distracting work environment | 16.3% |
| Meetings | 15.9% |
| Lack of experience or skills | 12.9% |
| Imposter syndrome | 12.5% |
| Not enough time | 11.1% |
| Collaboration/communication challenges | 9.8% |
| Technical debt/bad codebase | 7.3% |
| Lack of documentation | 6.7% |
| Unclear direction/requirements | 6.1% |
| Other | 1.4% |
Source: Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2021
The developers interviewed in this series have all faced and overcome these common challenges in their own careers. They‘ll share their strategies for dealing with imposter syndrome, filling skill gaps, and staying motivated through the learning process.
Jordan Jackson, for instance, stresses the importance of continuous learning and taking on new challenges to grow as a developer. "Early in my career, I would seek out projects that scared me a little bit, because I knew that‘s where the growth would happen," he shares.
Cassidy Williams advises new developers to focus on building projects to apply and solidify their skills. "Having tangible projects to point to makes a huge difference in your confidence and your marketability as a developer," she says.
Expert Advice for Aspiring Developers
In addition to sharing their own stories, the interviewees in this series offer valuable advice for aspiring and early-career developers. Here are some of their top tips:
- Build projects: Applying your skills to real projects is the best way to learn and grow as a developer. Look for opportunities to contribute to open source, freelance, or build your own projects.
- Find a community: Surround yourself with other developers who can offer support, advice, and collaboration. Join online communities, attend meetups and conferences, and don‘t be afraid to reach out to developers you admire.
- Focus on fundamentals: While the specific technologies you use will change over your career, strong fundamentals in programming concepts, problem-solving, and communication will always serve you well.
- Embrace continuous learning: The technology industry moves fast, so a commitment to continuous learning is essential. Stay curious, take on new challenges, and always be looking for ways to improve your skills.
- Develop complementary skills: Technical skills are important, but they‘re not the only factor in a successful development career. Work on your communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership skills as well.
The Power of Stories and Community
This is where Jason Lengstorf‘s mission with his Learn with Jason show really shines through. By sharing the real, human stories behind successful developers, Jason aims to provide the encouragement and roadmap that new developers need to power through the difficult early stages and see what‘s possible in a tech career.
As someone who transitioned into tech himself, Jason is passionate about showing that there are many paths into the industry. "I‘m continually surprised by how many skills I learned outside of tech that help me to do better as a developer every single day," he says. "There‘s a lot that goes into a successful career as a developer, and quite a bit of it has very little to do with writing code."
The live format of the interviews offers unique benefits for viewers. The live chat provides a supportive community aspect, allowing viewers to connect with and learn from each other in real-time. And the opportunity to ask the interviewees questions directly means viewers can get targeted advice for their specific situations and career goals.
"There‘s something really powerful about hearing these stories and getting to interact with these successful developers in real-time," Jason says. "It makes the path feel more achievable when you can see yourself in their journey and ask them your burning questions."
Join Us to Connect the Dots in Your Developer Career
Ready to soak up some career inspiration and advice? Tune in live to freeCodeCamp‘s YouTube channel every Friday at 1 pm EST (6 pm GMT) to catch the latest interview in the Developers Connect the Dots series. You can set a reminder on YouTube to be notified when the stream starts.
If you can‘t make it for the live broadcast, don‘t worry – all of the interviews will be available for replay on freeCodeCamp‘s YouTube channel. But there are perks to joining live, like participating in the live chat and potentially getting your question answered by the interviewee.
Building a successful career as a developer is an ongoing journey full of continuous learning, overcoming challenges, and moments of triumph. No matter where you are in your journey – whether you‘re considering a transition into tech, currently learning to code, or searching for your first developer job – surrounding yourself with relatable stories and expert advice is fuel for moving forward.
That‘s exactly what the Developers Connect the Dots interview series aims to provide. By tuning in, you‘ll gain knowledge and inspiration that you can take with you into your studies, projects, job search, and career.
Subscribe to freeCodeCamp‘s YouTube channel today and set a reminder to join us for the live interviews. Equip yourself with the insights and inspiration to connect the dots and build an amazing career in tech. Your future self will thank you.
