Hey everyone! I'm a 14-year-old developer from Hyderabad, India, and I've been coding since I was 10. I'd like to share some of my achievements so far:
- I placed in the top 30 out of 300,000 candidates at the 2023 SIH Hackathon with a terrestrial mapper that creates detailed sketches of large buildings, making it easier for people to work with CAD software.
- I secured 3rd place in a competition focused on diabetes and won a cash prize of 10,000 INR. I created an IoT device that checks the weight of insulin bottles to ensure patients are using their insulin regularly.
- I traveled to IIT Delhi for a grand finale competition where I developed a nonprofit app prototype that allows restaurants and grocery stores to donate their surplus food to the needy through NGO volunteers, all built with Flutter.
Despite these accomplishments, I don't envision myself going down the competitive programming route. Instead, I'm aiming to work in a reputable company with a solid salary. I'm looking for advice on how to gain real-world exposure, maybe through freelancing gigs or working under someone. I'm skilled in Python for AI/ML and have built numerous projects with React. I'm currently pursuing a MERN certification. Any thoughts or suggestions?
3 Answers
You really should start working somewhere, even if it's a small gig. Sitting around theorizing won’t help you gain the experience you need. Just dive in and start coding for someone!
Freelancing could be a great way to build your portfolio! Try platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. There are plenty of people looking for help with web development. It can give you both experience and exposure.
Have you considered applying to larger companies? They often welcome younger developers like you, especially if you’ve got some solid projects under your belt, even if they're mostly academic. It could be a great way to jumpstart your career!
I appreciate the suggestion! I’m just a bit hesitant about whether I have enough experience. I thought maybe starting with a startup would be better first. Do you have any advice on how to actually apply to those big companies?