The Internship
After starting a small business and learning a lot about web development - though only scratching the surface - I needed more feedback and hands-on experience.
1) Pursue an entry level "programming" position.
- These types of positions near my city would be very language and framework specific. Think "React developer" or "php developer" rather than the all-encompassing web developer, software engineer, or programmer title indicating a wide range of tools and frameworks used.
2) Take a pay cut.
- Become an intern. Learn software development from a major company's perspective in preparation to fulfil an entry level software role for a business.
3) Study Algorithms and Data Structures
- Take 6 months to year to really dive into data structures
and algorithms. Pass a coding interview for a large tech company
...and potentially move to a big city.
I chose number 2
I wasn't the traditional intern. I was a career changer, so I expected to be slightly different and also ahead of the game since I had experience albeit from a different industry.
It was a great decision because I learned and gained professional experience while getting
paid just enough to not put myself in a situation to be desperate and take any
job that came my way.
...
What happen
Before finishing the internship, I was offered a full-time role at another company. Since I had all my "ducks" in a row:
- A portfolio
- Personal projects
- Professional experience
- Internship from a reputable company
...
I wasn't the traditional intern. I was a career changer, so I expected to be slightly different and also ahead of the game since I had experience albeit from a different industry.
...
The internship I felt was like the icing on the cake for the pre-start of my new career path. It gave me a great perspective of what happens in the industry in comparison to my previous industry of education. I lacked years of programming experience from school, so I started wondering how it would be to code all day... everyday? Simply, I loved it! The internship trained me to be a success within any company in the realm of software by allowing me to problem solve, gain experience, and code. My recommendation is that internships are a great way to dive into a career specifically for a career switcher or even for a new software developer.
Tags: study, work, student, transition,
by Kevin Scott 5 months ago 0 comments
More Posts to come...
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