I'm a 23-year-old working in a major construction firm in China, and I'm feeling the pressure of my demanding job. I want more freedom and control over my life, so I've decided to pivot towards coding. I've done some research and found that becoming a full-stack developer can take around 6 months to a year, but my work schedule makes that tough since I work from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM and commute 130 km daily. I've started learning on my own, focusing on frontend development first—HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React. Once I'm comfortable with that, I plan to tackle backend development. I'm curious if this plan is sensible and what my chances are of landing a frontend job as a self-taught developer? I'd really appreciate any honest advice.
2 Answers
You've got this! Just dive into as many tutorials as you can. Make a schedule that sets aside a specific number of hours each week for learning to help you stick with it. Don’t shy away from breaking things—it’s part of the process. Give yourself the chance to grow your skills and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Also, consider picking up some Python and SQL along the way. Find local developer groups, too; networking can lead to job opportunities!
Honestly, the 6 months to a year estimate is misleading. It usually takes much longer to become proficient, especially with how competitive the job market is right now. Full-stack developers are aplenty, which makes it harder to stand out without significant credentials.
Do you have any solid advice on what I could do to improve my chances?