Learning to Code 🔗
Where should I start? 🔗
It depends on what you want to do. If you are serious about learning to code for a career change, there are some great schools out there.
If you are looking for a free guided course, I think Harvard's CS50 is hard to beat. If you are looking for something less structured, start with a project!
What is a good project? 🔗
As long as you are passionate about it, I think it can make for a good project. Most of what I learned was through automating spreadsheets at work because I was passionate about making parts of my job less redundant.
If that is a video game, I think Scratch is phenomenal for getting started with logic and fundamentals. If that is a website, start with learning HTML (there are a million great options).
Find a project that excites you and pursue that. Starting with an idea you are passionate about makes it more likely that you will push through when it gets challenging.
Software Career 🔗
How did you get your first job in tech? 🔗
I used my connections, I took a pay cut, and I got lucky. I still struggle with sharing this story because it forces me to acknowledge the privilege I had and how much luck played a role. If you want to get a job in software, you might have to do those things to land your first role, but this is not advice.
The situation today is different. I joined the industry at a time when bootcamps were not as prevalent. I think I was a worse candidate than the typical bootcamp grad is today.
How did you get a job at Google? 🔗
I applied four times over ten years. The fourth time I applied — the time I was successful — I had been teaching software engineers for five years. Depending on your approach to developer relations, the developer advocate role and teaching software can have a lot in common. Like with getting that first job in tech, I think luck plays a role.
I do not have any secrets for this one. I signed up for a job alert and applied to what I felt I was most qualified for. I was also rejected from similar jobs at similar companies in the process.
Will you refer me for a role at Google? 🔗
If we worked together previously and I can confidently recommend you based on that experience, I would be happy to refer you. If we've never worked together, I am not comfortable doing that.
Communication Preferences 🔗
Can I reach out to you cold? 🔗
Sure! But please have something to say (nohello.net). I've had people reach out to correct bugs in my labs, ask for career advice (some I ended up putting on this website), or to tell me they thought a joke in a talk was funny. I love that. Please don't reach out to sell me something.
Can we schedule a quick chat? 🔗
Probably not. I have two young kids and a job I really enjoy. My capacity for "just checking in" chats is basically zero.
If you see me at a conference or other event, I'm happy to chat! I love meeting new people, I'm just protective of my time.