I'm in my early 30s and I'm curious about the job market for junior Laravel developers, especially since I don't have any formal qualifications. I know the field is pretty saturated, but I'm eager to give it a shot. What are my chances? Also, what are the essential skills or knowledge I should focus on to secure an entry-level position, even if it's minimum wage? I live in South Africa but I'm open to remote work as well.
3 Answers
For Laravel resources, you might want to check out Laracasts. They've got a ton of free videos that cover the basics and more advanced topics, and many developers swear by it for Laravel learning.
I've been around the block and I think it’s great to stick with Laravel if that's where you're comfortable. But keep in mind, being versatile can open more doors. If you can pick up other frameworks or languages while focusing on Laravel, that could make you more appealing to employers. Don't be afraid to explore job options in other tech areas too, especially if you can find a mentor to guide you.
That's a good point! I'm mainly focused on Laravel right now since it's what I know, but I'm keeping my options open. If an opportunity comes up in a different language, I’d be ready to learn.
Before you dive into job applications, it would help to know how much experience you have with Laravel itself. Have you done any projects with it? If not, you might want to focus on building a couple of small applications or working through tutorials to get a good grasp of the basics. Just practicing will help boost your confidence and skill set before applying for jobs.
I've only done a bit of front-end stuff and I'm currently working through a Udemy course for Laravel. I've also completed a PHP course on SoloLearn. I did manage to create a live website with some help from a friend, but I feel like I need more practice to be job-ready.
I'll definitely look into Laracasts! Do you know if they offer any certificates or something to show for the courses, or is it mainly just free content?