The Scrimba Podcast

Meet Jean Lee! She was the nineteenth engineer at WhatsApp (that was even before it got acquired by Facebook!) and then worked at Meta as an engineering manager for six years after the acquisition. She helped set up WhatsApp's London office and also worked on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Her coding journey didn't start there - she discovered tech almost by chance after her family moved to California. She wanted to study art - but after taking art courses at her university, she realized that coding was her thing. She worked at a tiny startup competing with YouTube and a huge corporation, IBM, before she realized which company size suited her best. She became an engineering manager at Meta without ever planning to become one - but when an opportunity arose, she took it. Because how are you ever going to know what you like doing or not if you don't try things? Today, Jean is a cofounder of Exaltitude, providing resources and coaching to software engineers navigating the ever-changing tech landscape and cultivating a community where everyone can grow together.

In this episode, Jean shares her best career advice. You'll also find out what it was like to work at WhatsApp during the expansion, why company culture always changes when a company is scaling up, why inclusive hiring practices are important, and what is one thing that juniors never remember they need to do.

? Connect with Jean

??? Linkedin? Website? YouTube

? Timestamps 

"I had never really met adults who were so into their work before" (01:08)How Jean decided to learn to code (02:50)Should you go to university to become a developer (03:52)Jean's first role: internship at a Youtube competitor (05:14)Jean's second role was at IBM! (05:41)Are bigger companies better? Was WhatsApp a happy medium? (06:49)Is there a difference in how startups and big companies hire? (08:21)The startup scene then vs. now (09:40)Should you follow trends and disruptors? (12:20)Community Break with Jan the Producer (14:50)The challenges of joining WhatsApp early on (16:57)How Jean progressed into a management role (19:19)Give it a go! (21:32)Alex's personality type, and how personality types relate to work (22:21)What was it like to set up the WhatsApp London office? (24:28)"Whenever there's growth, you have to shift the culture" (27:57)Why we need diversity, equity, and inclusion (28:52)"Siri would not understand me, and I was offended" (31:04)How can we support the professional growth of underrepresented people in tech?  (32:23)What is Exaltitude (34:05)The number one thing developers struggle with (36:02)Make a brag journal! (39:38)Next week on the podcast: Ian Douglas! (41:44)

? Resources Mentioned

ExaltitudeExaltitude YouTube channel

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

?Use this link for a free month of O'Reilly Learning and read Anna's book and any other resource on the platform! ? Meet Anna Skoulikari! She's a UX designer turned front-end developer, senior technical writer, and the author of "Learning Git" - a book published by O'Reilly Media that teaches Git in a simple, visual, and tangible manner so that you can build a solid mental model of how it all works.

Anna started teaching Git because she had to understand it herself. It's powerful but not the most user-friendly of tools. Yet, Git is what we all have in common, whether we're working on back-end or front-end development, on Windows or a Mac. Even GitHub's lawyers use Git!

If you're learning to code, you probably have many questions. Should you use GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket? What's the difference between a merge request and a pull request? Does it make sense to use Git from your command line, or is a GUI good enough? Where are all those files? And how, for the last time, does any of that work? This episode will help you understand Git and provide you with plenty of practical insights to navigate its complexities effectively.

? Connect with Anna

??? Linkedin? Website

? Timestamps

Anna?s journey into coding via UX design (01:44)How Anna decided to conquer her fear of Git (02:25)What is Git? (03:28)What can you use Git for? (04:38)What is GitHub, and what other platforms are out there? (05:35)GitHub?s lawyers also use Git (07:58)Should you use Git for your own projects, even if you?re not collaborating with anyone? (08:27)What is branching? What is merging? (10:39)How do companies typically use Git? (12:14)Community Break with Jan the Producer (16:47)When should a new deveoloper start learning Git? (18:36)Git is a unifying technology (20:27)Why is the terminology around Git so confusing? (21:38)How Anna teaches Git: the colors of the rainbow (23:08)Making the four areas of Git tangible (25:12)How to use git: command line or GUI? (28:04)What are merge conflicts and how to handle them? (33:24)How to practice merge requests and conflicts? (35:47)How Anna decided to write a book on Git, and how O?Reilly chooses animals for the book covers (37:57)

? Resources Mentioned

Use this link for a free month of O'Reilly Learning!Learning Git

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

?Use this link for a 20% discount on the Scrimba bootcamp! ? Meet Michaella Rodriguez! If you're already in the Scrimba Discord community, you probably know her. If not, she's a career changer who discovered Scrimba while learning, like many; she was active in the Scrimba community when Guil recruited the first-ever code reviewers for our bootcamp. Now, she's a bootcamp lead at Scrimba. And no, she never thought she would be a coder - but a friend made her try it.

Yes, Micha and Alex do talk about the Scrimba bootcamp in this episode. But even if you're not interested in the bootcamp, this interview brings a wealth of information that can help you if you're learning to code. You have probably already heard that trying and teaching somebody else is the best way to solidify your learning. Well, in this episode, you'll find out how to do that as a junior, why you should be able to talk about and explain code, and whether you can bring anything to the table in a discussion or a code review if you're not an expert. Also in this episode: group projects, GIT, accountability, (not) letting yourself slide, and Alex's unorthodox StackOverflow strategy.

? Connect with Micha

??? Linkedin? Twitter??? GitHub? michaellala on Scrimba Discord

? Timestamps

How Micha started to learn to code after a friend told her he thought she'd be good at it (01:57)Micha used freeCodeCamp but turned to Scrimba for JavaScript (03:19)Eventually, Micha started working at Scrimba! (04:42)What is the Scrimba Bootcamp? (06:07)What challenges do coding students typically face? (09:45)How Scrimba bootcamp keeps students accountable (10:57)Community Break with Jan the Producer (15:04)Why code reviews are important (17:03)Why you should look to give code reviews and not just get them (18:29)Pay it forward, learn by teaching, and foster community (20:25)How Alex used StackOverflow while learning to code (21:39)Why you should be able to talk about code (22:42)Can beginners actually help someone with their code? (23:28)The best person to teach a subject is somebody who just learned it (26:01)ELI5 (26:54)Some teachers love sounding smart, and that's not always the best for students (28:03)The common traits of successful self-taught developers (29:09)Where to learn more about the Scrimba Bootcamp (30:53)Do group projects as a learner! (33:38)Next week on the show: O'Reilly author of Learning Git, Anna SKoulikari! (35:02)

? Resources Mentioned

Use this link for a 20% discount on the Scrimba bootcamp!Scrimba BootcampFrom Lab Coat to Code: Vanessa's Path from Lab Scientist to Developing Lab SoftwareAnna Skoulikari

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

Meet Parul Singh ??! Parul is a Tech Careers & Neurodiversity Consultant, ADHD advocate, board member at Manchester Tech Festival, Public Speaker, and a former recruitment marketing partner and tech recruiter. The last time she was on the show, she gave us advice on how to stand out and land a role in tech.

Today, we're talking about neurodiversity! What does it mean, why do we need it, why do tech companies seem to attract neurodivergent talent, and how can we create a more inclusive workplace? In this episode, you'll find out why neurodivergent conditions aren't superpowers (but sometimes feel like they are), why some people get diagnosed late, and whether self-diagnosis is valid. Parul is passionate about these topics because of her own lived experience with ADHD and autism, which intersects with her being a woman of color. But even if you're not neurodivergent yourself, chances are you've worked with or managed somebody who is... so tune in!

? Connect with Parul

??? Linkedin? Parul's Dopamine Diaries Newsletter? Linktree? Twitter

?  Timestamps

What are they: neurodivergent, neurotypical, neurodiversity (02:22)The medical model of neurodivergent conditions is deficit-focused (04:13)Stereotypes and internalized ableism (05:53)What is masking? (08:16)Are neurodivergent conditions classified as disabilities? (09:02)Is being neurodivergent a superpower? (10:08)What are the challenges for an employer in working with neurodiverse employees? (12:43)How many people working in tech are neurodivergent? (14:01)You have probably already worked with neurodivergent coworkers (15:43)On setting expectations, handling challenging situations, and sharing personal stories (16:43)Double empathy problem (20:20)Modern corporate culture and delivery pressure (22:09)How Parul got diagnosed with ADHD at 25 (24:56)Misdiagnosis, and why autism and ADHD mask each other out (26:34)You are diagnosed based on how much you inconvenience other people (28:13)ADHD medication (30:26)The importance of intersectionality (32:29)Learned skills vs. habitual skills (34:10)Is self-diagnosis valid (37:22)

? Resources Mentioned

Annual Report: Diversity in Tech in the UKParul's Dopamine Diaries NewsletterParul's previous interview

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

Meet Özge Ahras ??! Özge studied computer enigneering, but felt her coding skills weren't up to par. She yearned to transition into frontend development and explore cutting-edge technologies, but the company she had spent eight years in was relying on vanilla javascript. Eventually, she discovered Scrimba, back in the day before the Frontend Career Path even existed. Can you imagine?

Özge fell in love with Scrimba's pedagogy and enrolled in the Path. But the journey wasn't without its challenges. It took her two and a half years to complete the course, balancing her studies with a demanding full-time job. And in February 2023, a devastating earthquake struck her hometown in southern Turkey. Yet Özge persevered, realizing that the true investment lay in nurturing her own growth and peace of mind.

Today, Özge is a front-end developer living in sunny Malta! You'll hear how she picked where she wanted to move and how she went about hunting for jobs, as well as learn one trick that boosted her job application success rate. Özge also shares the details of her interview process (spoiler: there was a bit that was slightly unconventional). 

This is a story about giving yourself grace and time, staying motivated, and remaining curious!

? Connect with Özge

??? Linkedin? Portfolio??? GitHub

? Resources Mentioned

Özge studied computer engineering and worked at the same company for eight years, but wanted to get better at frontend (01:03)How it felt to relearn JavaScript and React (04:15)Why JavaScript fixed 90% of Özge's work problems (06:43)Community Break with Jan the Producer (07:48)How Özge stayed motivated and learned to code alongside her full-time job (09:43)Özge's mindset shifted after a devastating earthquake that hit her hometown (11:13)Invest in yourself, that's the only thing you can't lose (12:50)The aftermath of the earthquake (14:02)Letting go of material goals (17:38)Why Özge moved to Malta to continue her career (18:35)Özge's job-hunting process: ChatGPT and reaching out directly (22:09)Özge's job interview (22:41)How Özge got a same-day coding assignment... And successfully completed it! (24:53)HR questions and a technical interview (26:31)And finally, the latest technologies! (27:41)

? Resources Mentioned

Learn React for free!Scrimba BootcampFrontend Career Path

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

Meet Amy Posten ??! Amy was a veterinary technician for fifteen years before she decided to switch careers. First, she discovered freeCodeCamp while on maternity leave. Later, she joined a premium bootcamp but didn't feel quite ready to apply for coding jobs afterward, so she turned to Scrimba to polish her skills. Nowadays, she's a front-end engineer and instructor.

In this episode, you'll learn how to figure out what kind of job you want and what was a small change in her job-hunting approach that brought Amy immediate results. You'll discover what are the gaps in knowledge one might have after a bootcamp, and how you can make learning to code less lonely. Finally, Amy and Alex discuss generative AI tools and how you can use them in your job hunt.

? Connect with Amy

??? Linkedin

? Timestamps

How Amy became a Veterinary Technician (01:32)Maternity leave on freeCodeCamp, and a career change brought up by the pandemic (04:38)Why Amy likes JavaScript, HTML, and CSS (06:59)Why Amy decided to join a bootcamp (08:56)The importance of getting to connect with people (11:16)Social media break with Jan the Producer (12:43)How to make learning to code less lonely (14:12)Joining a bootcamp is like drinking from a fire hose (16:27)Amy discovered Scrimba through her bootcamp! (18:31)After the bootcamp, Amy also joined the Scrimba bootcamp (19:37)Why Amy decided to start from scratch on Scrimba (21:35)How Amy found her north star and became a teacher (24:48)Amy changed her approach to job applications and got immediate results! (28:26)Amy's reach-out strategy and how she got a job interview at the company she currently works at (31:52)How to figure out what kind of job you want (35:11)Amy's job interview (36:04)How to use AI tools in your job hunt (40:22)

? Resources Mentioned

Scrimba podcast: The State of React (and Should You Still Learn It in 2024), with Dev AgrawalScrimba podcast: An expert guide to technical interviews with Ian DouglasScrimba podcast: This Is How You Onboard: Actionable Tips for Developers On a New Job from Ian DouglasLearn React for free!Scrimba BootcampScrimba's Discord community

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

Meet Chris Webster ??! Chris is a full-stack developer based in Reading. In a past life, he taught Mandarin to both children and adults and obtained a master's degree in education. If you're guessing that this episode is about pedagogy, maintaining your mindset, and learning hacks, you're on the right track.

When Chris decided to switch careers, he enrolled in a premium London boot camp. Was it worth the money? Or the time? In this episode, Chris lays out the differences between a boot camp and learning to code by yourself online. He ended up on Scrimba afterward?sometimes even while at work at his first coding job?which helped him land his dream job. But that wasn't the only thing! It's the perseverance, strategies for successful adult learning, and knowing what to look for in the myriad of teaching methods available to us that paved Chris's path to success. In this podcast, you'll learn all about them!

? Connect with Chris

??? Linkedin

? Timestamps

How Chris discovered computers (but became a teacher and only later took up coding) (01:09)Was changing careers an easy decision? (03:57)What do bootcamps promise, and do they deliver? (06:32)How did Chris structure his learning? (06:46)Was Chris happy with what he got out of the bootcamp? (08:36)Did the marketing of the bootcamp match the actual offering? (10:41)Midroll with Jan the Producer: Tweet about us! (12:31)The appeal of a bootcamp: the path + the community (13:27)How Chris discovered Scrimba (14:34)The problem with many teachers nowadays (17:40)Chris's Number One Learning Hack (19:20)Don't keep hammering the problem (23:18)The system for problem-solving (25:52)The stigma of (not) working hard enough (27:18)Pomodoro technique vs being in the zone: there's a right time for both (29:30)How Chris found his first job (31:34)What's it like working for a consultancy (32:38)How Chris landed his dream job as his second job (34:33)Chris's LinkedIn strategy (36:37)Just be enthusiastic! (37:49)Chris's message to a recruiter on LinkedIn (38:35)

? Resources Mentioned

Learn React for Free! Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanBook: How to Solve It by George Polya

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

Meet Dev Agrawal ????! With a name like that, how could he not become a developer? He's a software developer, developer advocate, and content creator. Moreover, he's a React expert deeply ingrained in the React community. That's why we invited him onto the show to shed light on the current state of affairs!

You've probably noticed certain discontent surrounding React recently. A basic React app has become significantly more complex. It has been quite some time since there has been a significant update to React, with the recent ones relying heavily on meta-frameworks. And what about the React core team? What's happening there?

All of this might sound disheartening. However, we're delving into whether these concerns hold true in this episode. Let's find out together!

? Connect with Dev

??? Linkedin? Website? Twitter

? Timestamps

How Dev became a dev (01:34)Teamwork is a skill you can learn! (07:06)Should you go to college or learn to code by yourself? (09:10)Studying coding can be a "choose your own adventure" game (11:04)Community break with Jan the Producer (12:42)How Dev landed his first role in tech (14:28)Disappointment with React: what's that about? (15:42)What are meta-frameworks, and why are they gaining traction? (18:55)React was originally all about the front end... And now? (20:55)GraphQL and React Server components (22:23)Pete Hunt, Rethinking Best Practices, and separation of concerns (23:09)History is repeating itself (24:24)The most common problem with server components (25:34)The battle of the frameworks (26:10)Is Next.JS in an advantageous position? (28:08)Most people nowadays are using Vue! (34:13)Should you have FOMO about server components? (36:37)

? Resources Mentioned

Niche Down to Blow Up: Scrimba Student Leo Reveals How to Land an Awesome First Dev Job

Meet Parul Singh ??! Parul is a Tech Careers & Neurodiversity Consultant, ADHD advocate, board member at Manchester Tech Festival, Public Speaker, and a former recruitment marketing partner and tech recruiter. If you're familiar with the topic of neurodiversity in tech, you've probably come across her name. In this episode, we're speaking with Parul because her advice on how to stand out and land a role in tech is anything but ordinary. 

This episode contains refreshingly unique and honest insights and perspectives on hiring in tech, along with some new job platforms you can use to inspire or recharge your developer job search. Everybody's on LinkedIn, and that can be a blessing and a curse! In this episode, you'll learn about the best alternatives. Standing out as a junior developer can be challenging, but we'll discuss some ideas on how you can do it. What should your CV look like? Do you need a cover letter? To wrap things up, we'll learn from Parul why some recruiters don't advertise the salary range and what you can do when you see a job ad like that!

Plus: Why should tech recruiters know how to code, and is JavaScript more similar to a ham or a hamster?

? Connect with Parul

??? Linkedin? Linktree? Twitter

? Timestamps

How Parul became a tech recruiter (01:19)Java vs. JavaScript (03:18)How Parul learned to code (03:34)Why it's important to find a coding instructor and method you vibe with (05:35)Why tech recruiters should know how to code (06:36)Community break with Jan the Producer (08:42)How can a developer be recognized by a recruiter (10:08)Job platforms other than LinkedIn (11:12)Make sure your profile is up to scratch (12:08)Who swipes right? (12:49)How to stand out as an entry-level candidate: your CV (15:01)Send your CV using normal methods, but THEN follow up directly (17:40)Do recruiters really only spend a few seconds on each resume? (18:38)Is sending a cover letter necessary? (20:21)Should you apply on the weekends? (22:10)What should you do if you're applying for a job that doesn't list the salary? (23:07)Why we need to be good negotiators (26:23)We need empathy (32:59)

? Resources Mentioned

https://hackajob.com/https://cord.co/https://www.haystackapp.io/https://otta.com/https://wellfound.com/https://hired.com/

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

Meet Shawn Wang (Swyx) ??! Swyx is a developer, writer, and startup advisor. If you listen to our show regularly, you know him as the biggest advocate for learning in public! Today, he's the founder of smol.ai and a podcast host and teacher at Latent Space. Last summer, Swyx wrote a blog post titled The Rise of the AI Engineer, which quickly went viral.

In this episode, Swyx will revisit that blog post to see if anything changed. You will learn why AI engineers are a thing, the differences between AI and ML engineers, and why the demand for this specialization is larger than the supply. Swyx also reveals what defines an industry (and why it's not only about tools) and gives many good examples of successful products made using existing foundation models. Swyx and Alex also talk about the inner workings of AI and whether it's a good idea to run AI models on your own hardware.

? Connect with Swyx

??? Linkedin? Website? smol.ai?Latent Space

? Timestamps

Swyx wrote a blog post about The Rise of the AI Engineer, and it went viral (02:32)The three-stage progression of an AI engineer (04:33)Can an AI agent become a CTO? (05:36)We can become AI engineers now. What changed? (07:50)We didn't invent AI foundation models; we discovered them (11:27)Are we evolving new intelligence? (14:20)AI researchers vs AI engineers (15:36)Why is AI engineering a specialization? (17:04)What's an inference API (20:50)What are weights (21:09)There's a lot of interest in small AI foundation models (24:27)Should you use the cloud or run your AI models locally? (25:37)Is there a demand for AI engineers? (27:26)What AI products do companies want to build? (29:40)Updated career advice for new developers (34:51)

? Resources Mentioned

The Coding Career Handbook by Swyx (30% discount applied when you use this link)

Meet Adam Broda ??! Adam is a tech lead and career coach who helps career changers break into tech. He did the same - after a decade of working in aerospace engineering at Boeing, Adam now works at Amazon! Through his coaching business, Broda Coaching, Adam aids career transitioners in constructing personalized job search strategies.

In this episode, Adam unveils the four pillars of his framework: identifying your passions, skills, desired environment, and needed compensation. Alex and Adam also delve into the current state of the job market: have we moved beyond significant tech layoffs, are return-to-office policies contributing to attrition, and what implications do these factors have for software development jobs? Adam will also tech you about different phases of networking?short-term networking, advocacy networking, and engagement networking?detailing how to navigate each of them and which one is most effective.

? Connect with Adam

??? Linkedin? Website

? Timestamps

How Adam transitioned into IT (and became a career coach) after a long career in the aerospace industry (01:30)Adam's engineering background vs. his new roles (05:19)The tech industry changes frequently (08:32)How Broda Coaching came about (10:32)Fail fast! (14:22)The state of the tech job market (and should we be worried about layoffs (15:32)Why is there fewer junior roles? (18:12)Returning to the office forces attrition (19:41)Does social media give you a good overview of what's happening in the job market? (20:59)Before the pandemic, junior roles had a lower experience requirement (23:19)Adam's job-hunting strategy (23:51)Start with your why (25:14)Passions, skills, environment, and compensation (27:13)Is niching down limiting your opportunities? (28:02)Adam's three-phase networking approach (32:17)Demonstrate potential! (36:07)Go where you're passionate (39:50)

? Resources Mentioned

Broda Coaching

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Cassie Lewis ??! Cassie has a fine arts degree, which turned out to be too fancy for the real world. After working in different fields, from photography to retail, she got interested in coding - and it turned out to be just the right fit with how her mind works! Cassie is fueled by curiosity, creativity, and challenges. And learning to code alongside a day job was certainly a challenge.

Two years into her learning path, Cassie realized she had hit a wall. In an attempt to get unstuck, she joined the Scrimba bootcamp. She also challenged herself to read more non-fiction and embarked on a path toward effective living. In this episode, Cassie explains effective living and how it can make you a more effective coder, too! You'll hear how Cassie defeated burnout, how she approached learning, and how she - only nine months after joining the bootcamp - landed her first dev job. This is a story about setting goals, establishing systems, frictionless networking (even if you don't live in a tech hub), and keeping your plans realistic. But also: this is also a story of creativity and exploration!

? Connect with Cassie

??? Linkedin? Website

? Timestamps

How Cassie went from a fine arts degree to retail to coding (01:24)How Cassie chose her careers and roles and basically created her last retail position (03:35)Cassie originally discovered coding through WordPress (05:11)Is coding similar to making art? (05:47)Learning to code was a gradual shift (06:53)Why you should maintain some balance while learning to code (08:39)How Cassie managed her self-confidence (10:03)Community break with Jan the Producer (10:59)Resources Cassie used to help with her mindset during her coding journey (13:39)What is effective living (15:39)What did Cassie do to put herself back on track when she slipped? (19:32)Cassie's systems (21:13)Identify the key pillars in your life (23:07)How Cassie landed her first developer job (26:50)You never know who can help you (28:07)How's Cassie's new job going after three months? (34:15)Getting paid to learn on the job (35:54)

? Resources Mentioned

Scrimba BootcampHow Johnny Learned Angular and Typescript in Three DaysCooking Up a Career Change: Overcoming Burnout and Finding Your Why, with Scrimba Student JimmyEssentialismAtomic Habits

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Bob Ziroll ??! Bob is Scrimba's Head of Education and one of the Internet's favorite React teachers. His latest course is on AI, but don't worry, there's React... I mean, ReAct in AI as well!

In the previous three episodes, we defined an AI engineer and demystified their tools. We explored foundation models and discussed how to personalize them through retrieval augmented generation and fine-tuning. We also delved into various use cases for incorporating AI models into your projects and explored why ChatGPT has brought a fundamental shift in how we perceive AI.

Today, Bob will guide us through the realm of AI agents, representing the future of automation. An AI agent is capable of perceiving its environment. What does that mean, and how can one create an AI agent? Also, will they eventually take over the world?

Bob will also give us actionable advice on how to stay ahead of the curve in the fast-changing world of AI models, and discuss his vision for the future of AI.

Bob's AI agents and automation course is part of Scrimba's brand-new AI path. Let's dive in!

This is the final episode of our series on AI engineering, introducing Scrimba's AI Engineer Path. This path is your gateway to unlocking the full potential of AI for your projects.

? Connect with Bob

???? Linkedin? Twitter

? Timestamps

Nowadays, Bob teaches both React and AI (01:34)AI is moving even faster than the front end (02:16)What's new in the world of AI and coding (02:46)ChatGPT vs. the GPT foundation model (04:15)What is an AI agent (05:45)The Terminator! (09:33)We didn't invent AI; we discovered it (10:29)Midroll! (11:56)Prominent examples of AI agents today (12:35)Will AI agents replace people (15:25)Why you shouldn't fear nor ignore AI (18:12)Any predictions about AI are temporary and short-lived (21:36)How can you build your own AI agent? (24:34)React... and REact (31:26)Advice on how to stay up-to-date without getting totally overwhelmed (35:58)

? Resources Mentioned

The AI Engineer PathAgentGPT

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Guil Hernandez ??! He is a developer and educator with over 15 years of experience in tech. He's also a Scrimba teacher who is a part of the team bringing you the AI Engineer Path, and in this episode, he's helping us understand retrieval-augmented generation.

In the previous episode, Tom Chant helped us understand the world of AI models. Today, Guil will further teach us how these models work under the hood. AI models don't understand the world like we do. When we interact with them, they turn our inputs into mathematical representations known as embeddings. By creating our own embeddings, we can teach AI to do what we want it to.

Today, we're getting an introduction about making a model aware of your own data source so that that data can be considered for the AI output. For example, using the techniques you'll learn from Guil in this episode, you could connect a model to your customer support conversations so that the model knows what is necessary to answer unique questions about your (or your client's) business.

This is the third episode of our series on AI engineering, introducing Scrimba's AI Engineer Path. This path is your gateway to unlocking the full potential of AI for your projects.

? Connect with Guil

? Twitter?  Website??? Github

? Timestamps

Guil focuses on RAG and embeddings (01:42)RAG makes a foundation model aware of your data (03:14)Spotify has been using RAG since 2014 (05:56)How embedding works: embedding model + vector database + generative model (09:00)You're enhancing content retrieved from a database with a generative model (10:26)A foundation model can't just understand text (10:34)What's a vector database? (12:35)Can we make an AI chatbot for the Scrimba podcast? (15:05)You can chunk the files directly at OpenAI now! (16:49)OpenAI's Assistants API (17:33)AI is evolving quickly (19:07)Assistants API does RAG (19:55)What is fine-tuning? (20:39)Differences between RAG and fine-tuning (21:14)Community break with Jan the Producer (23:58)

? Resources Mentioned

The AI Engineer PathLearn Embeddings and Vector DatabasesScrimba Podcast with Saron Yitbarek

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

Meet Tom Chant ??! Tom is a Scrimba instructor who is a part of our in-house team that brought you a brand new career path available on Scrimba.com - the AI engineer Path.

In this episode, we're diving into the world of AI foundation models: what are they, how do they work, and how can you use them to build front-end applications that you, until recently, couldn't even think of unless you were a big company with loads of resources.

AI is fundamentally changing the features and user experience of front-end applications. In this episode, you'll learn how to use different foundation models out there (so, not just OpenAI) for your own projects.

This is the second episode of our series on AI engineering, introducing Scrimba's AI Engineer Path. This path is your gateway to unlocking the full potential of AI for your projects.

? Connect with Tom

??? Linkedin? Twitter

? Timestamps

One year is a long time in AI (02:14)What are some of the recent applications of AI that have converted the skeptics? (04:06)Revenue-boosting usage of the new AI models (07:50)Is AI a revolutionary shift for developers? (13:03)What are foundation models (15:41)How do foundation models work? (18:12)Multi-modality of foundation models (20:04)What are the differences between different versions of GPT- 3.5, 4, 4 Turbo... (22:20)What's OpenAI Whisper? (25:49)HuggingFace and are alternatives to OpenAI (28:50)What to do if OpenAI goes down? (32:20)Why ChatGPT is slow... and running an AI model on your own hardware slower (35:35)What is fine-tuning? (38:01)What is RAG? (39:12)Using RAG can save you money (41:03)Scrimba's AI Engineer Path and Tom's course (43:46)Social Media Break with Jan the Producer (46:39)

? Resources Mentioned

The AI Engineer Path

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Per Borgen ??! Scrimba's co-founder and CEO returns to the show after more than two years. In this episode, Per and Alex delve into the emergence of a new breed of developer?the AI engineer.

What defines an AI engineer? What key skills set them apart? Is machine learning knowledge a prerequisite? Why did ChatGPT bring a paradigm shift in our interaction with AI? Dive into these topics, discover how to utilize and personalize existing AI models, and explore alternative options beyond OpenAI.

Since the Scrimba podcast always brings you practical advice, this episode is a guide to the AI engineer stack. Prepare to take notes as Per unravels the terminology and technology crucial for navigating the AI landscape as a developer.

This episode begins a five-part series on AI engineering, introducing Scrimba's AI Engineer Path.

? Connect with Per

???LinkedIn? Twitter

? Timestamps

Scrimba's launching its AI Engineer Path! ? (03:11)Why an AI path is so critical at the moment (04:01)Why AI engineering is not just a fad (07:32)Community Break with Jan the Producer (10:41)Why ChatGPT brought a change in the way we perceive AI, and what's the difference between discriminative and generative AI (11:40)What's the difference between GPT and ChatGPT (15:50)What companies build AI tools for developers other than OpenAI? (21:50)Human + AI is still better than just AI (23:11)The context is the product (24:56)Tuning a foundation model - data are the secret sauce (28:53)What is an AI engineer (29:54)How is AI engineering different from prompt engineering? (31:20)How's an AI engineer different from a data scientist or a machine learning engineer (32:04)OpenAI vs open-source alternatives (34:11)Making sense of the AI engineering stack (36:26)HuggingFace has machine-learning models that can run in a browser! (39:15)What is RAG and how to perform it (39:59)What is LangChain (41:55)How's the AI path structured? (45:29)

? Resources Mentioned

The AI Engineer Path

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Matt Ehrlich and Eric Winkelspecht ??! They are the hosts of the Self-Taught Devs podcast. And, you guessed it, they are self-taught devs and career changers to boot. Matt was a park ranger, and Eric worked at an IT solutions company but didn't code. Today, they are a front-end developer and a full-stack developer, respectively, who met through LinkedIn and then decided to host a podcast!

In this episode, you will learn about their coding journeys, the resources they used, and why they decided to be self-taught. They talk about motivation and keeping yourself going, how to create structure, and what to do if you feel guilty when you take a break. If you're curious about what makes a successful self-taught dev, this episode is for you!

? Connect with Matt and Eric

??? Matt's LinkedIn, Eric's LinkedIn? Podcast?? Matt's blog? Matt's YouTube, Eric's YouTube??? Matt's GitHub, Eric's GitHub

? Timestamps

How Matt Ehrlich took up coding after being a park ranger for years (01:09)A coding career gives you the opportunity for unlimited growth (02:44)The Self-Taught Devs podcast tries to fill a gap in information (03:39)Eric just landed his first full-time software development role! (06:19)How Eric decided to learn to code (08:06)How does it feel to change careers after more than a decade (08:43)Eric's learning resources (10:10)Community break with Jan the Producer (10:58)Why Matt took the self-taught route (13:39)Matt's learning resources (14:54)Quitting your job to learn to code: pros and cons (16:11)How long did Matt take to learn to code (17:45)Can you learn discipline, and how can you stay motivated (19:12)What can you do if you get stuck (27:26)Should you be taking breaks from your job search? (29:55)Listen to this if you get discouraged after getting a rejection letter (30:54)What is productivity anxiety (33:03)How did Matt and Eric meet and what makes them work as podcast co-hosts (36:15)

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Anna Ha ?? ??! Anna was born in Poland, where she majored in English and minored in Chinese. She then moved to South Korea and set off to learn Korean and coding at the same time! Today, she works at a startup that creates tools for learning Korean. Perfect match!

In this episode, you'll discover if coding is a language. Anna also shares her learning strategy, how she discovered Scrimba, what amazing projects she worked on via Chingu, how she kept herself motivated, and how finding a community helped her stay on track. You'll also discover what's the key to both landing a job and looking forward to going to work every day!

? Connect with Anna

??? LinkedIn? Website??? GitHub? X? annannanna on the Scrimba Discord

? Timestamps

How Anna discovered coding when she had a blog as a teenager but ended up studying languages (01:14)Anna started learning to code after moving from Poland to South Korea! (03:00)Anna always wanted to live somewhere else at least for a year (05:16)How Anna learned to code (06:02)What to do if you think that coding just isn't for you (08:39)Community break (11:46)Focus on one step at a time (14:41)How Anna juggled different learning resources (15:28)How Chingu helped Anna get relevant coding experience (18:02)How Anna landed her first tech role (22:01)Anna's interview process and what was most important (24:19)Anna's current company: Learn Korean in Koren (25:19)Your background is important, and so is your attitude (26:58)Quick-fire questions! K-pop, Flutter, and Scrimba (30:41)How Anna found out she was getting an offer (31:45)The importance of community and support (34:53)Advice to younger Anna (35:33)

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Ready for your first dev job? Today on the podcast, you'll learn how companies work and how teams stay efficient. How does a typical team operate? Who do you report to? How do you know if you're the right culture fit? Why should you know what you need from your team? And why do job postings sometimes... not make sense?

We have compiled the best, most actionable advice to help you understand a corporate environment. You'll hear from engineering manager and career coach Tiffany Jachhja, founder of Technical Integrity Dave Mayer, opera singer turned developer and developer coach Ana McDougal, and engineering manager Jason C McDonald.

? Listen to the full interviews

Understanding Corporate Hierarchy (and Perfecting Your Resume), With Tiffany JachjaAdvice from a Junior Developer Career Coach, with Anna McDougalWhat Are Company Values? and Why You Should Know Your Own, with Dave MayerLessons Learned Recruiting and Managing Junior Developers for 10 Years, with Jason C. McDonald

? Connect with everybody

Tiffany: ???? Linkedin, ? Twitch, ? Twitter, ?  WebsiteAnna: ???? LinkedIn, ? Website, ??? GitHub, ? Twitter, ? YouTubeDave: ? Twitter, ?  Website, ???? LinkedInJason: ???? LinkedIn, ? Website, ??? GitHub, ? Twitter, ? Dead Simple Python - Idiomatic Python for the Impatient Programmer

? Timestamps

Understanding corporate structure (02:14)Differences between smaller and bigger teams, and project management vs. people management (04:54)What should a junior developer look for from their engineering manager? (07:57)Nine Belbin Team Roles (09:49)How to find a mentor online, and why you should know how to code in a team (11:08)A job interview is just looking for compatibility (13:31)Community break (16:20)What does it mean to be a culture fit? What is a culture add? (19:12)Company culture vs. company values (21:55)How to understand your own values (23:16)Why you shouldn't get discouraged if you don't meet all the requirements on a job ad (29:22)

? Resources Mentioned

Learning in public!How to Avoid Burnout, Improve Your Confidence and Keep Coding Fun, with Scrimba Student Sylvia

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

This is a rebroadcast of one of our most popular interviews. Meet Nadia Zhuk ??! Nadia made a switch to coding from journalism at the age of 25. That decision has got her moving countries not once but twice! Nowadays, she lives in London, works at Intercom, and helps aspiring developers. She's also written a book, Crossing the Rubycon, filled with practical advice and insider tips on learning to code and building a programming career.

In this episode, Nadia shares her story and many things she's learned along the way! You'll get to know what's it like to learn to code without a technical background, how to manage your mindset and mental health during the process, and what's Nadia's take on choosing your first programming language. Nadia and Alex also discuss common stereotypes about programming,  gatekeeping within the industry, and what are the critical but often overlooked factors in choosing what to learn. 

? Connect with Nadia

???? LinkedIn? Dev.to? Twitter? YouTube

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Johnny Proano ??! Johnny had a long and happy career in sales, spanning almost two decades. But, something was missing, so he decided to explore coding. He thought he had to have a degree, but when it turned out he couldn't afford it, he enrolled into a bootcamp and signed up for Scrimba.

This is a fun and exciting story about career change and looking for your purpose. It is also a story of networking at your daughter's school events, as well as learning Angular and TypeScript (and creating a project using them) in only three days! You'll hear how Johnny approached learning and what kept him going, how to introduce software engineering to toddlers, and how can you turn your failed job interviews in learning experiences once and for all.

? Connect with Johnny

??? LinkedIn? Website

? Timestamps

How Johnny discovered coding because he needed a website (01:35)Why Johnny wanted to switch from a successful and long-lasting career in sales (04:38)How did Johnny learn to code, and why did he have to drop out of school (08:07)Community break with Jan the Producer (13:36)Johnny's bootcamp experience... and how he found Scrimba (16:02)How Johnny started applying for jobs, and how he dealt with imposter syndrome (18:27)Johnny's approach to job applications and LinkedIn (20:33)Quick-fire questions: DJing, learning resources, and Vue (24:09)How Johnny turned failed interviews into learning opportunities (26:23)Johnny got a job via networking at his daughter's school event! (26:56)How Johnny had only three days to learn a new technology and get ready for an interview (29:30)"I need to do something that's going to make an impact" (31:52)Interview tip: ask questions (36:11)Johnny got a job offer within 24 hours! (36:37)Do you need a degree to be a developer? (38:59)Coding for toddlers (39:39)

? Resources mentioned

Johnny's bootcampScrimba's Frontend Career Path

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Shona Chan ????! Shona was an anesthesiologist. Now, she's a developer. It all started when she wanted to write an app to solve a problem she had at work as a doctor. One thing led to another, and eventually, she took the plunge into coding, realizing that a career switch might not be such a bad idea.

This is a story of intrinsic motivation, amazing portfolio projects, and landing a job without even having to go through a tech interview. You'll discover how to identify your purpose, find out how to muster enough motivation to tackle difficult decisions, and learn why Shona saw her career change as a lateral move instead of a fresh start. Shona reveals what ten years in medicine taught her and how that relates to her new career If you listen to the end, you will get some fantastic ideas to integrate into your study plan or job-hunting strategy. Plus, you'll find out the ideal music for a cesarean section.

? Connect with Shona

??? LinkedIn? Website??? Github? Twitter

? Timestamps

Shona never thought she would code for a living, although she did play Neopets (02:13)How Shona started coding because she wanted to solve a real-world work problem she had as a doctor (02:58)Shona's career in medicine (05:48)Community Break with Jan the Producer (09:55)Why Shona eventually wanted to switch careers, and did it feel weird after dedicating so many years to medicine? (11:47)What skills Shona learned as a doctor helped her become a developer? (14:01)Doctors on TV vs. programmers on TV (14:55)Learning to code on YouTube, and when does it become not enough? (15:46)How Shona enrolled into a bootcamp (18:26)Why did Shona feel like she needed to give coding a go? (21:35)Quick-fire questions: Lo-fi Disney and the perfect music for a C-section (23:02)Shona's new role in a health tech startup (26:03)When did Shona feel ready to apply for jobs? (Also, her portfolio projects are amazing. )(27:26)Shona's cold email that brought her a job (31:05)Shona got hired without a tech interview (32:55)Why unique projects are never a waste of time (33:55)Start networking earlier than you think! (35:28)How Scrimba podcast helped Shona with her career change (36:12)How to deal with sunk cost fallacy (38:53)

? Resources Mentioned

Kevin PowellKevin Powell on the Scrimba podcastStephanie Chiu on the Scrimba podcastSoundState

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Zuza Gro?ska ????! Zuza is a recently hired new developer with a previous career in social media marketing in the music industry. She's also a Polish transplant who moved to the Netherlands during the pandemic. She craved a career change, and when it turned out that all of her work friends were from the software development team, she put two and two together and decided to learn to code. She landed her first dev job after only four months of intense studying! 

Zuza has ADHD, which can be a hindrance and a superpower. In this episode, she talks about the importance of spreading awareness of ADHD and neurodiversity in general. You'll also learn how she approached her portfolio projects, why you should think like a marketer, and how you can stand out in a world where every new developer has a unit converter in their portfolio. Zuza shares how she approached learning to code, what kept her going when she felt unmotivated, why she wanted to leave Poland, and why a career in social media marketing can be draining even though it sounds glamorous. 

? Connect with Zuza

??? LinkedIn? Website??? Github

? Timestamps

How Zuza started coding in the early 2000s, but never pursued coding (02:26)How misogyny plaid a part in Zuza's career choices (04:21)Zuza worked in social media marketing, until she realized it was time for a change (05:46)How Zuza approached learning to code (spoiler alert: hyperfocus!) (07:30)Community Break with Jan the Producer (08:54)Following schedules, and good and bad sides of ADHD (11:35)How Zuza kept herself motivated (14:25)How Zuza approached her porfolio and went beyond the stretch goals with her porftolio projects (18:45)How to think about your projects like a marketer (19:56)How Zuza applied for a job, even though the job ad was in Dutch and she didn't speak it (24:39)Why Zuza wanted to leave Poland (and eventually moved to the Netherlands) (29:24)Zuza's new job (31:22)Zuza's interview process (32:34)Quick-fire questions! (33:26)Zuza's tech interview (36:39)Zuza became a CSS expert! (37:45)Working with ADHD (40:17)Zuza only got diagnosed with ADHD two years ago (44:10)Why spreading ADHD awareness is important (45:12)

? Resources Mentioned

Frontend Developer Career PathScrimba BootcampKevin PowellMDN Web DocsSassKink.nl radio

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Luke Hovee ??! After a career in the US Army, Luke didn't know what to do next. He was considering a career in construction, until he stumbled upon a bootcamp teaching army veterans how to code. Today, he's a full-time web developer with a passion for helping other aspiring web developers getting into tech. Currently, he's creating a software apprenticeship program so that he can help people at scale.

In this episode, you'll find out whether army is a good training for having to deal with product managers, why grit and determination are important, and what's the most important thing you should have to break into tech in today's job market. Luke and Alex also talk about LinkedIn, why getting your second job in tech is way easier than landing the first one, and the current state of the market for junior developers.

? Connect with Luke

??? LinkedIn

? Timestamps

How Luke stumbled upon coding by accident (02:11)Why Luke chose a career in the Army in the first place, and why he eventually retired (04:00)Why learning to code was challenging (06:19)On drive and (intrinsic) motivation (09:02)Were there any transferable skills that Luke gained in the Army? (12:11)Community break with Jan the Producer (14:11)How Luke got his first role in Tech (17:13)Job candidates lack attitude (19:02)Luke's first role was basically a learning opportunity (20:56)Why gettint your second developer job is easier (22:27)Quick-fire questions (23:05): Is Web3 dead?!Why LinkedIn is Luke's main platform, and why he helps aspiring developers (25:33)Luke's apprenticeship program (28:41)Job market's tough right now (33:34)Can you cultivate the right attitude? (36:11)

? Resources mentioned

Danny Thompson on YouTubeScrimba Podcast: How to become a successful Junior Developer, with Danny ThompsonScrimba Podcast: Freecodecamp Founder Quincy Larson: Why Learning To Code as an Adult Might Be Easier Than You ThinkDavid Roberts on YouTube

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

No matter where you are in your career journey - whether you're a new developer just looking to break into the industry or an industry veteran - having a strategic and up-to-date LinkedIn profile is a must. LinkedIn is something we often talk about on this podcast - many people, from experts to recently hired Scrimba students, have shared their tips and tricks for this social network over the course of 130 episodes.

In this episode, we have compiled their best, most actionable advice. If you're looking to refresh your LinkedIn profile this fall, or you're just about to create one for the first time, this is the episode for you!

Tune in for LinkedIn tips from the LinkedIn profile review guy Austin Henline, pastor-turned-developer Chris Mccoy, GitHub program manager Laura Thorson (who has only ever gotten jobs through LinkedIn), and iOS engineer at paypal and career mentor Stephanie chiu.

? Listen to the full interviews

How to make your LinkedIn profile stand out according to a LinkedIn expert, with Austin HenlineHow Pastor-Turned-Developer Chris Crushed It on LinkedIn and Landed an Internship... and a JobIt's about Who You Know: An Introvert's Guide to Networking (and Becoming Amazing at LinkedIn), with Stephanie Chiu from PayPalLaura Thorson From GitHub: This Is How You Master the Mindset of a Programmer

? Connect with everybody

Austin: ???? LinkedIn, ? TwitterLaura:??? Linkedin, ?  Website, ? Twitter, ??? GitHubStephanie: ? Instagram, ??? Linkedin, ? Website, ? Twitter, ??? GithubChris: ???? Linkedin

? Timestamps

Who is Austin Henline (01:32)Why LinkedIn is a must for aspiring developers (03:00)What are the most important sections of your LinkedIn profile? (04:04)How to reverse-engineer what recruiters are searching for (05:26)Should you be careful not to spam your LinkedIn profile with keywords? (07:54)How to know if you're ready to put a skill on your LinkedIn (09:37)Skill assesments (11:37)Community break! Your tweets and reviews from Apple Podcasts (12:18)Chris McCoy signed up for LinkedIn halway through Scrimba (14:15)How to be genuinely present on the platform (15:59)How to find your tone of voice... and not spread yourself too thin (18:35)How Chris added Scrimba to his education on LinkedIn and THINGS WENT WILD (19:30)You shouldn't let LinkedIn replace your portfolio or GitHub profile, but it can be a significant part of your strategy (21:41)How to make the LinkedIn algorithm work for you, with Stephanie Chiu (22:50)Keep your goal in mind and remember nobody likes to scroll (24:46)Check what a recruiter sees on LinkedIn and optimize accordingly! (26:46)How Laura Thorson went to interview at Facebook and realized they had printed out her LinkedIn profile (28:18)LinkedIn bio in third person (29:52)Life-changing advice from a recruiter on LinkedIn (31:24)What to do if you don't want to make content on LinkedIn (35:07)

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
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? About the episode

Meet Tomá? Luke? ??! Tomá? is an audio engineer turned primary school teacher turned developer! In only nine months, he learned to code alongside a full-time job, created an awesome portfolio, and then landed a job in three business days. What?!

In this episode, you'll discover exactly how he did it! Tomá? will reveal why he approached learning to code as if it were an RPG, how he selected his projects, why going the extra mile while crafting your portfolio is a must, and how you can transform code-alongs into something of your own. You'll also learn the definitive answer to the question of how many hours it truly takes to reach a hireable level of coding proficiency. Tomá? and Alex also discuss job hunting strategies,  the power of persistence, self-discovery,and the importance of knowing the exact industries you want to work in.

? Connect with Tomá?

??? LinkedIn? Website

?  Timestamps

How Tomá? went from audio engineering to learning development (01:25)Why sound technicians make good develoeprs (02:10)Tomá? had always been interested in coding (03:15)How Tomá? learned to code alongside a full-time job, and how long did it take? (04:39)What courses did Tomá? use? (06:35)Learning coding during the AI boom (07:06)Community break with Jan the Producer (08:19)How Tomá? approached projects - by taking course projects and making them his own (10:53)Why you need good projects to impress HR people (13:59)Tomá? learned to code at a hireable level in this many hours! (15:12)How Tomá? approached job hunting, and landed a job in three business days (15:30)Why Tomá? only applied for local jobs (17:53)Startups hire quicker than bigger and older companies (19:26)Why you should say "I don't know" during an interview (21:17)Quick-fire questions: Tailwind, Josh Tried Coding, and Steve Lacy (23:47)How to learn to code: persistence and self-discovery (25:54)Advice for building portfolios (28:44)Localized job search (33:18)Trust the process! (34:53)

? Resources Mentioned

Colt Steele on UdemyScrimba's Frontend Developer Career PathJosh Tried Coding on YouTube

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Johannes Kettmann ??! Johannes is a Fullstack JavaScript Developer from Germany who's also the mastermind behind profy.dev - it?s a React Job Simulator program for aspiring Junior React developers. Originally, Johannes studied physics before transitioning into coding, and he's been working as a freelancer or contractor ever since!

In this episode, dive into Johannes's coding journey and discover why he's all about React. Get ready for tales of his first freelancing gig - it wasn't a walk in the park, but it taught him loads and gave him a taste of freedom. That's why Johannes never considered a 9-to-5 job and embraced contracting. Tune in for the lowdown on why React rocks and the rookie mistakes even experienced developers stumble upon. Curious about a React Job Simulator? You'll learn what it is and why we needed one. Plus, hear what are the skills that aspiring junior developers usually don't have, that can really make you stand out.   

? ???Sign up for profy.dev with 10% discount using coupon code SCRIMBA at checkout!

? Connect with Johannes

? Profy.dev??? LinkedIn? Website? X

?  Timestamps

How Johannes went from experimenal physics to software development (01:36)Johannes started from Android development, but the first steps were shaky (04:51)Johannes worked on a project for six months... and didn't get paid (07:31)What Johannes learned from his first freelance experiences, and why he never considered getting a full-time job (08:22)Freelancing vs. contract work (11:20)Community break with Jan the Producer (13:06)Is contracting a good way to get your first job in tech? (15:09)Is freelancing a good way to get your first job in tech? (16:12)How Johannes eventually focused on React (17:06)What is profy.dev? (22:09)Why code rewiews are cool, and what are the most common React mistakes (26:37)Quick-fire questions and Kent C. Dodds (31:33)How can junior developers stand out during job interview process, from the perspective of someone who interviews a lot (37:05)Should a junior learn TypeScript? (39:19)Why your personality is important (40:26)

? Resources Mentioned

Podcast: Intentional career building with Kent C. Dodds

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Mohamed Amine Hachemi! Mohamed is a full-stack developer who recently landed his first dev job! But that's not the most amazing part of his story. He actually found that job through Instagram! In a world where everyone is applying through LinkedIn, Mohamed decided to take a different approach and utilize social media. In this episode, you'll discover exactly how he did it. And no, it doesn't involve cold DMing.

After completing his law studies, Mohamed realized that a career in law wasn't what he truly desired for the next few decades. He reflected on his childhood interests and rediscovered his passion for coding. With some prior experience in HTML and CSS from editing Blogger templates as a teenager, he immersed himself in front-end development. Eventually, he expanded his skills to backend development when he joined his current company. Tune in to hear more about his coding journey.

? Connect with Mohamed

??? LinkedIn

? Timestamps

Mohamed was always interested in tech, but he studied law (01:29)Why Mohamed decided to switch careers (02:21)How Mohamed learned to code and did editing Blogger templates in his teen years help (04:24)Why is JavaScript more challenging than HTML and CSS, and how did Mohamed learn it (on YouTube, of all places)? (07:34)Community break with Jan the Producer (10:26)How long did it take Mohamed to learn enough to start applying for jobs (12:33)How Mohamed try the typical job-hunting strategy (applying on LinkedIn) and then decided to pivot to social media (14:06)Can you land a job on Instagram, and how?! (15:02)Mohamed's new job, and learning back-end (19:06)Why you need an internship (20:49) Working remotely vs. a saturated job market (21:09)  What did Mohamed's interview process look like (22:38)Quick-fire questions: Friends, not followers (23:14)What happens if you get an internship that doesn't turn into a job afterward? (24:14)What does an employee want to see from an intern? (25:50)Mohamed blogged about his learning progress on LinkedIn, but didn't care how many people saw that (27:31)  Was it difficult to decide to switch careers? (32:40)Don't truest everything you see on YouTube (33:52)

? Resources Mentioned

Scrimba's Frontend Developer Career PathMarian Rydzanych on Instagram

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Danny Vogel ????! Danny is a lawyer-turned-developer who decided to switch careers after ten years in law! In high school, he thought he could never do maths and picked a different path. It was meeting his wife, who is a software developer, that made him stop seeing coding as something unachievable, and the search for a better work-life balance that made him start learning. When he quit his job, he focused on coding. But nobody was responding to his job applications. Danny then went to a developer meetup in Barcelona, where somebody gave him wise advice...

In this episode, Danny shares about his coding journey and the struggles along the way. You'll learn how to approach projects, why a "shotgun" approach might work for you, and why it's better not to work remotely if you're just starting out. Danny also talks about his experience with Chingu.io, a platform that pairs you with other developers to create group coding projects, and how he's benefited from joining it. Ultimately, you'll find out how Danny landed his first dev job, even though the company didn't advertise the job he's doing now as a junior position!

? Connect with Danny

??? LinkedIn

? Timestamps

Danny always liked computers but never saw himself as a coder (02:26)Is coding more about letters or numbers? (03:03)Danny went into law, studying in Barcelona and New York. How did it feel to switch careers after ten years? (03:45)What made Danny learn to code? (05:22)Did Danny?s wife, a developer, play a part in his decision to learn to code? (06:10)Coding and law are often misrepresented in movies and on TV (07:20)How Danny learned to code (07:45)Frontend vs backend (08:43)Was learning to code hard? (09:14)Community break with Jan the Producer (10:35)How Danny knew it was time to quit his job in law (12:21)What was Danny?s approach to looking for dev jobs (13:47)Danny went on a meetup and got a great piece of advice (15:09)Danny also joined Chingu.io - what is it? (20:38)Group projects vs. solo projects (21:49)How Danny?s projects helped him land the job he now has (22:26)Shotgun approach! (23:06)People often talk themselves out of applying for jobs not classified as junior (24:07)Give yourself options! (25:35)Quick-fire questions: Danny?s wife, coding to Muse, and videogames! (27:07)Danny?s interview process (30:12)What?s HackerRank, and why you should be prepared for it (32:45)How Danny felt when he got the job (37:01)Does Danny?s experience in law help in his new role? (39:13)Should new developers work remotely or at the office? (41:43)

? Resources Mentioned

Danny's gameState appScrimba BootcampChingu.ioAngela Yu?s web development course

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here. 

? About the episode

Meet Vanessa Vun ??! Vanessa is a long-time listener of the Scrimba podcast. She's also a career changer who has spent a decade working as a lab scientist before realizing she would be happier coding. She started learning front-end in April 2022. By September, she started applying for jobs. In June this year, she landed a job at a startup making lab software!

However, Vanessa's path to success was not without challenges. She started applying for tech jobs during layoffs, facing rejections due to a lack of relevant experience. In this episode, she shares how she tackled that and whether or not unpaid internships and volunteering are a good idea. You'll also learn how Vanessa created her own curriculum by analyzing what people learn at bootcamps, why it's essential to get outside feedback on your coding projects, and how to make the most out of your LinkedIn, mentorships, and the podcasts you listen to. 

? Connect with Vanessa

??? LinkedIn? Website ?  Twitter, I guess

? Timestamps

How Vanessa gave up on coding and became a lab scientist (01:25)Vanessa was surprised at how analog lab management tends to be (02:55)Why Vanessa decided to leave her lab career behind (04:17)How Vanessa learned to code - but this time, for real (05:36)Vanessa has been a webmaster of Lady Crvsh Crew since 2019. What did she learn making a website with Squarespace? (08:58)Vanessa started applying for jobs during layoffs! (09:45)Community break with Jan The Producer (10:22)How Vanessa stayed motivated during tech layoffs, and tackled her lack of tech experience  (12:36)Why volunteer experience is different to just working by yourself (15:07)What is SciShield? (17:01)Vanessa's LinkedIn strategy (18:16)How Vanessa discovered a position at SciShield (19:18)The power of domain knowledge: SciShield liked Vanessa being a former scientist! (20:10)How Vanessa went through six rounds of interviews (21:08)Quick-fire questions: Learning resources, Javascript superpowers, and people to follow (22:27)What Vanessa gained from consultations with a mentor (23:56)Should you go for unpaid internships, or should you always insist on being paid for your time? (25:16)Careful where you volunteer at! (26:53)What is Hack for LA? (27:47)How does domain knowledge help Vanessa at her new job? (29:16)Should a front-end engineer know databases? (32:24)The importance of having a good manager (33:37)Was learning to code worth it? (34:39)

? Resources Mentioned

Front-end Developer Career PathLearn React for free! Podcast: Homeschooler, College Dropout, Developer and Master Networker: Crush Your Career with Madison KannaPodcast: Listen to This If You're Working on Your Developer Portfolio, with Alex from TechRallyBrian JenneyVanessa's Lab Kanban

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Personal branding is something we often mention on this podcast. However, it is also something many developers don?t prioritize. 

In today's job market, having a strong personal brand is vital for success in the tech industry. Personal branding involves crafting a distinctive image and reputation for yourself, setting you apart, and ensuring you get noticed rather than ignored. When others appreciate your work and projects and understand your capabilities, they may approach you with enticing job opportunities or freelance projects. A hiring manager at a company you applied for will, for sure, google you. Wouldn't it be great if you could control what they see?

Also, by maintaining a personal brand, you?ll be more visible to your peers - which will help you create or find community. 

In this episode, we?ve compiled advice from multiple experts to help you get started with or further develop your brand as a developer. Get ready for actionable advice from Gary Simon, Cassidy Williams, Josh Comeau, Shawn Wang (Swyx), and Madison Kanna!

? Timestamps

What is a personal brand (02:22)Why you should have a blog (04:02)Allow yourself to iterate (04:34)Why you shouldn?t rely solely on social media (06:27)What can you do if you?re not good at design? (07:21)Community break with Jan The Producer (16:40)Why you should blog about your learning process (18:54)How to streamline your content production (23:46)How can you do all this while actually learning without just becoming a content creator? (26:24)Different ways of learning in public (28:10)How to organize your portfolio projects and talk about them (30:52)Putting yourself out there is intimidating, BUT (33:19)Start small and just write (35:50)

? Resources Mentioned

The Coding Career Handbook by Swyx (30% discount applied when you use this link)Learn in Public by SwyxJosh's book, Building an Effective Dev Portfolio (it's FREE!)xScopePixelSnapFontpairPodcast: Becoming a six-figure freelancer, with Gary SimonPodcast: Homeschooler, College Dropout, Developer and Master Networker: Crush Your Career with Madison KannaPodcast: How to Create a Web Dev Portfolio That Both HR and Other Developers Will Love, with Josh ComeauPodcast: Ace the job interview with Cassidy Williams Podcast: How to make your own luck with Shawn Wang (Swyx)

? Connect with Gary Simon

??? LinkedIn? YouTube

? Connect with Cassidy Williams

??? LinkedIn? Twitter

? Connect with Josh Comeau

???? LinkedIn? Blog + Website

? Connect with Shawn Wang

? Website? Twitter

? Connect with Madison Kanna

???? LinkedIn?  Website

?? Leave a Review
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Jen-Li Lim ??! Jen is a writer-turned-developer who has recently landed her first developer job! Although she had been tech-adjacent in the past (before becoming a full-stack developer, she worked in content marketing) and had always been interested in coding, it wasn't until the lockdowns that Jen started learning to code. She was doing it alongside a full-time job and quickly realized that she shouldn't compare herself to other learners since everybody has different circumstances. 

Jen started learning to code as a hobby. But after a couple of years and only about 400 hours of studying later, Jen realized - hey, this could also be an exciting career! She now works at a company offering free, lightweight vector animations for your website and tools to create, edit, and embed them. In this episode, you'll learn about Jen's struggles with coding and how she overcame them. She'll share invaluable insights on selecting portfolio projects, navigating roadmaps, and why learning to code is akin to learning to swim. Get ready to be inspired!

? Connect with Jen-Li

??? LinkedIn? Website

? Timestamps

How Jen got interested in tech back in the days of Neopets but never pursued it (01:40)Do you need to be good at math to become a developer (02:29)How Jen became a writer and worked in content marketing (03:32)Are there any similarities between content marketing and code? (04:21)What was it about coding that drew Jen in? (05:57)The hard part of learning web development is that there's no single path, and that's why Jen ultimately learned on Scrimba (07:55)How Jen structured her studying (08:50)Community break with Jan The Producer (10:42)How Jen logged her studying time and learned to code in only 400 hours! (12:48)Why you should learn to code at your own pace (13:39)How to get project ideas (15:32)Did Jen plan to switch careers? (18:18)Changing careers challenges your identity (19:38)Jen changed careers by means of an internal transfer. How's that different from applying for a job from the outside? (21:01)How Jen felt about the competition, and what was her advantage (22:23)Shortcuts vs. strategies (23:09)What is LottieFiles? (24:15)How Jen found out she was getting her first dev job (25:52)What Jen wishes she knew when she was starting to learn to code (26:51)  

? Resources Mentioned

Frontend Developer Career PathPodcast: From Classroom to Code: How Teacher-Turned-Developer Jess Secured a Tech Job Prior to Diving into Software DevelopmentLottieFilesOne More PageSteph SmithRoadmap.sh

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
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? About the episode

Meet Ian Douglas ????! The first repeat guest on the Scrimba Podcast and author of The Tech Interview Guide, Ian Douglas, has been coding professionally since 1996. With experience at several notable companies and currently working at Postman, Ian is not only a software engineer but also a mentor, streamer, and career coach.

Whether you're a new developer or aiming for a mid-level or senior position, the onboarding process can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Ian shares his invaluable insights on how to make your onboarding experience truly worthwhile. From essential do's and don'ts to areas where proactive engagement is crucial, Ian covers it all. Discover the importance of taking notes, effectively handling negative feedback, and the significance of asking questions. Worried about asking too many questions? Ian addresses that too. With these insights and more, you'll be equipped to have an amazing first few weeks at your new job.

? Connect with Ian

???? LinkedIn? Website? Twitter

? Timestamps

Ian's background (02:20)Last time we spoke, Ian had been "live blogging" his job search on LinkedIn. Why? (03:07)What is onboarding? (07:38)How formal is the onboarding process? (08:54)Onboarding at startups vs. at bigger companies (11:55)Do this to make your onboarding better (12:58)What are the expectations from new developers during the onboarding period? (14:06)Tip 1: Don't rush your onboarding (15:22)If you're maid to feel you're a drain on someone, that's a sign of bad company culture (19:13)Be proactive and take time to get to know your coworkers (21:55)Tip 2: Find a mentor (23:15)You should also have a mentor OUTSIDE the company (24:01)How to identify a mentor or a buddy internally (25:41)When does a coworker become a mentor? (27:16)Tip 3: Ask lots of questions (30:26)What are the good questions? (34:09)Tip 4: Make it easy for people to give you feedback (35:09)Feedback vs. criticism, and how to deal with the latter (35:54)Keep track of good feedback, and good track of feedback (40:08)How to handle feedback you don't agree with (42:51)In software, there's a lot of ways of accomplishing a goal (48:00)What are the most improtant traits a developer should have during onboarding? (49:51)

? Resources Mentioned

Our previous show with Ian: An expert guide to technical interviews 

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Kyle Tan ??! A business major with an unrelenting passion for coding, Kyle decided he couldn't wait any longer to pursue his dream. Taking a leap of faith, he left his job, discovered Scrimba's Frontend Career Path, and within only four months, he found his first developer job. Talk about lightning speed!

In this episode, Kyle shares his approach to learning, unveiling the secrets behind his rapid progress. Discover the invaluable role of downtime and gain insights into the way Kyle chose his portfolio projects: what are the right ones, and why embracing open-source resources is a game-changer. Kyle also takes you through his interview process, when he had to dive into backend technologies for a week so that he could build his take-home project in less than 72 hours. 

Kyle also reveals how his business background played a role in landing his dream job, what's the power in having a community, and what's his advice for everybody currently learning to code. Tune in and unlock the secrets to accelerated coding mastery!

? Connect with Kyle

??? LinkedIn? Twitter?  Portfolio? TikTok

 ? Timestamps

How Kyle decided to learn to code after getting a degree in business (01:14)How Kyle discovered Scrimba and chose frontend (02:13)What challenges did Kyle face, and how did he solve them? (06:03)Kyle finished the Career path in only three months by doing it full-time (07:04)The importance of downtime (07:48)How Kyle branched out of Scrimba (09:47)Kyle?s portfolio projects (11:21)Why simple projects rock (13:06)Community break with Jan The Producer (14:23)How Kyle started applying for jobs after only four months of learning to code (17:07)To interview for the job he got, Kyle had to take a week to learn backend! (20:08)The interview process: Kyle had to build an app in 72 hours (21:38)Kyle?s tips for presenting your code in job interviews (23:33)Culture fit interviews (24:39)How Kyle felt when he got the job (26:55)Quick-fire questions (27:44)What motivated Kyle to change careers (29:47)Did Kyle?s previous experience help him to land a job so quickly? (31:13)Did working as a developer live up to Kyle?s expectations? (32:40)

? Resources Mentioned

The Coding Career HandbookScrimba's Discord CommunityFrontend Developer Career PathPodcast: How to make your own luck with Shawn Wang (Swyx) html.new

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Jess Gilbert ??! Jess recently made a career change from being a primary school teacher to becoming a developer. In this episode, we delve into her journey and explore how she successfully transitioned in less than a year!

What was it like being a teacher? Are there any similarities between teaching and coding? How did Jess manage to secure a job offer before diving into her coding education? Jess and Alex also discuss Code First: Girls and why it's worth exploring if you belong to an underrepresented group in the tech industry.

Jess shares why Instagram is her social network of choice, which may surprise you since it's not commonly associated with developers. Plus, find out how she learned to code while working as a full-time school teacher and whether the tech industry lived up to her expectations.

? Connect with Jess

??? LinkedIn? Instagram

? Timestamps

Jess had never considered a career in tech and became a teacher (01:48)What made Jess learn to code, and how she found Code First: Girls (03:01)Why learning to code at her own pace was challenging for Jess, and why in the end, she shouldn't have been as worried (05:42)Why teachers are sometimes reluctant to work on their personal development (09:03)Community break! Your Tweets and LinkedIn posts, with Jan The Producer (10:20)How does Code First: Girls work? (12:57)How Jess landed a job offer even before learning to code? (14:43)Why do companies invest in programs like Code First: Girls? (17:51)What was it like to learn to code while having a full-time job? (20:10)Why the support of a cohort was important to Jess? (21:17)Was there variation in the ability level of the people in Jess's cohort, and why do soft skills matter? (22:58)How do Jess's skills as a teacher transfer to coding? (24:17)Is there a better work-life balance in coding? (25:55)Quick-fire questions! Do teachers listen to lo-fi bears? (28:56)How Jess found a community on Instagram as a developer (31:27)Why are so many people transitioning from teaching? (33:38)Learning to code is hard, but there are great resources out there, and you can pick the style of learning that works for you specifically (37:59)How long did it take for Jess to switch careers? (40:12)What was her first week on the new job like? (41:18)Why the size of the codebase is a BIG difference between learning to code and working at a company (42:23) 

? Resources Mentioned

Programming with Mosh on YouTubeWeb Dev Simplified on YouTubeKatherine Gilligan on InstagramLearn React for free!Podcast: What a good developer resume looks like and how to write one, with Gergely OroszPodcast: The Power of Domain Knowledge: How Katrina Skipped Junior Roles and Immediately Landed a Senior Developer Job

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.
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? About the episode

This is a rebroadcast of one of our most popular interviews. Meet Kevin Powell ??! Kevin is a CSS Evangelist and educator. He makes weekly YouTube videos, streams on Twitch, writes articles, and teaches courses. His mission is to show new developers that CSS is fun and teach them how it works... and why it works the way it does.

In this episode, you'll learn how not to get frustrated with CSS, how to debug it, why people struggle with it, and how come we might never see a launch of CSS 4. Kevin also explains why different browsers render CSS differently and how much you should actually care about that. Alex and Kevin also discuss how the web gets made behind the scenes and how you can join the conversation and suggest the features you'd like to see in certain technologies. Plus: Bad design trends, tools and plugins, CSS memes, and tabs vs. spaces.

? Connect with Kevin

? YouTube? Twitter? Website??? GitHub

? Timestamps

How Kevin found himself in the world of web design (01:40)Can a new developer focus solely on CSS? (04:38)What is a CSS Evangelist? (07:24)Why do people struggle with CSS? (09:26)Community break! (11:00)Why CSS works the way it does (13:25)CSS tools you should use (15:25)CSS extensions for your editor (17:26)The learning curve of CSS and the Importance of Experience (17:17)Why different browsers render CSS differently (and why it sometimes doesn't work) (22:31)Progressive enhancement and accessibility (27:05)The History of CSS (30:34)Will there ever be a CSS4? (34:24)How to stay in the loop and join the conversation around features (36:30)Quick-fire questions (38:43)

? Resources Mentioned

Kevin's courses on ScrimbaMiriam SuzanneAdam ArgyleModern CSSPodcast: Ace the job interview with Cassidy Williams 

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and let us know who you want to see on the next podcast.

You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so they can thank you personally for tuning in ? Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here. 

? About the episode

Meet Katrina Tucker ??! Katrina recently changed careers and got her first software engineering job. But here's the interesting part ? she didn't start as a junior! No, Katrina was immediately offered a senior title.

In this episode, you'll discover the importance of never labeling yourself as a junior, especially when transitioning careers. Katrina dives into the significance of language and emphasizes how your domain knowledge can make a significant impact. Get ready to uncover Katrina's networking strategies (spoiler alert: you're probably overthinking yours) and gain insights into how she learned to code while juggling a full-time job and family responsibilities. Plus, find out the number one thing you should know about technical interviews and what you can do to work on your interviewing skills.

Join us as Katrina shares her inspiring journey, challenges conventional notions, and reveals valuable tips and tricks for career success. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by Katrina in this podcast are solely her own and do not represent the views or opinions of her employer.

? Connect with Katrina

??? LinkedIn? Twitter?  Blog

? Timestamps

Katrina learned to code at school, thanks to her father, but ended up majoring in international finance (02:19)Katrina's career in finance and law (04:14)After the stock market crashed, Katrina went on to work at IRS (05:04)Suddenly, Katrina realized she was coding! (05:46)Katrina's current job combines all of her skills (06:39)Don't call yourself junior! (07:18)What made Katrina transition into software engineering (08:10)Why we should retire the term "breaking into tech" (08:50)How Katrina joined #100Devs (10:28)How to learn to code when you have a family and full-time job (11:50)Community break! Your LinkedIn posts and tweets, with Jan The Producer (14:22)How Katrina wanted to address her knowledge gap (16:40)When did Katrina start to feel ready to apply for coding jobs? (18:52)The most important thing to know about coding interviews (19:47)How Katrina practiced her interview skills with Brilliant Black Minds (20:56)Katrina's networking strategy (22:22)What's the difference between networking and just talking to people? (24:10)How Katrina found her first software role (26:56)Find your unique angle and double down (31:44)How Katrina prepared for her final interview round (32:58)Why you should ask your prospective employer business questions (33:54)Why your domain knowledge is important (37:04)

? Resources Mentioned

#100DevsfreeCodeCampBrilliant Black Minds

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.

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? About the episode

Meet Tom Chant ??! Tom is a Scrimba instructor who has just released a course on building your own AI apps! In this episode, he joins Alex to discuss everything about AI for developers. You'll find out how AI can augment your skills. You'll learn how to use ChatGPT, Codex, and GitHub Copilot, all powered by OpenAI, what their limitations are, and where they overlap.

Tom will also give you useful tips for prompt engineering. You'll hear about the ethical and security risks of using AI when writing code. You'll also get to know how you can train your own ChatGPT model for a specific use! Finally, Tom and Alex also discuss the future of AI. Will coders be replaced with AI language models? Spoiler alert: nope.

? Connect with Tom

??? Linkedin? Twitter

? Timestamps

What AI tools can developers use in their coding today? (01:11)GitHub Copilot vs. ChatGPT for coders (02:57)Why is generating code with GitHub Copilot superior? (04:34)What is prompt engineering and how to get better at it (06:01)What parameters can you tweak when using the OpenAI API to get more customized results? (10:08)Using AI for debugging (13:03)The downsides of using AI: security risks and false information (15:05)How to find balance and use AI wisely (18:08)Ethical considerations of using AI for coding (19:50)Why some companies aren?t okay with developers using ChatGPT (23:31)Community break! Your tweets and LinkedIn posts with Jan The Producer (25:25)Tom taught English before joining Scrimba (27:27)Why student examination is broken, and how AI might help change it (28:19)What?s in Tom?s OpenAI course (30:49)How to train and fine-tune your own ChatGPT using OpenAI API (35:07)Why does training data need to be checked by a human, and can you automate that (41:01)How will developers and AI coexist in the future? (43:21)

? Resources Mentioned

Course: Build AI Apps with ChatGPT, Dall-E, and GPT-4

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.

You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so they can thank you personally for tuning in ?  Or tell Jan the Producer he has butchered your name here.

? About the episode

Meet Shaun Jackie Hickman ??! Shaun is a new developer who has recently landed his first dev job after meeting his now boss at a LAN party, playing Call of Duty! Earlier, Shaun wanted to become an English teacher but ended up studying social sciences and graduating in business.

Eventually, Shaun realized there was another language he was interested in - and that language was JavaScript. Within a year of dedicated studying, he changed careers. In this episode, Shaun shares how he learned to code while working a full-time job and why it's important to take breaks and have hobbies other than coding. He reveals why long interview processes are not necessarily a bad thing and talks about the philosophy of AI and the ethics of using ChatGPT. Plus: Shaun and Alex delve into the power of determination and maintaining the right mindset. 

? Connect with Shaun

??? LinkedIn? Twitter

? Timestamps

Shaun's long and winding journey into tech (01:29)Shaun discovered Scrimba by listening to the Scrimba podcast while at work at his previous job! (04:52)How Shaun learned to code alongside a full-time job, and why you should not overwhelm yourself (05:54)Power hour (08:16)What motivated Shaun to get back into coding, and why this episode almost got titled "Learning to code after a breakup" (09:08)Community break! Your tweets, LinkedIn comments, and Apple Podcast reviews (12:25)How Shaun met his future boss at a LAN party (14:25)Increase your surface area! (17:10)Nobody talks about LAN parties, but they can actually be great for networking (18:08)Shaun's interview process was long. But that was a good thing! Also, he was at a crossroads: React or PhP? (18:52)Contacts don't always turn into opportunities overnight, and that is why Shaun wanted to take things slowly (20:45)Quick-fire questions: Favorite projects, ChatGPT, NetworkChuck, and coding to soundtracks and lo-fi Synthwave (21:56)Finding a balance in using AI (24:24)What is business development (27:07)How Shaun combines his background in business with coding (28:03)You always bring something from your previous experience with you (29:51)On failing and sucking at things, and why you shouldn't avoid that (32:24)Commitment and drive are all you need (34:39)

? Resources Mentioned

Frontend Developer Career PathKevin PowellNetwork Chuck

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? About the episode

Meet Angie Jones ??! Angie is a veteran software developer currently working as a global Developer Relations executive at TBD. Before that, she worked as an automation engineer at Twitter and as a software engineer and master inventor at IBM (where she worked for nine years)! Angie is also a teacher and an international keynote speaker who has authored 27 patents.

In this episode, Angie takes us through her career path, from falling in love with coding through automation engineering to eventually discovering her passion for teaching and DevRel. You'll learn the differences between large enterprises, medium-sized companies, and startups and find out what to look for if you're just breaking into the industry. Angie also talks about teaching, patenting your ideas, and finding specialization. Plus: decentralized technologies, changing jobs with the same company, and why it's important to keep learning new stuff. 

? Connect with Angie

??? Linkedin?  Website? Twitter??? GitHub

? Timestamps

Angie's father thought she should familiarize herself with computers, so she took a C++ course. The rest is history! (01:41)What Angie loved about programming (03:14)Are developers missing out if they don't study computer science at university? (04:02)What makes a good teacher? (05:51)Community break! Your Tweets and LinkedIn posts (10:00)Angie got his first role in tech through an internship (11:23)How Angie spent nine years at IBM (12:54)What are the advantages of changing jobs within the same company? (13:31)How does working at a huge corporation compare to working at smaller companies and startups, and why should you try a bit of both (15:12)What does career progression look like? (17:17)As a beginner, should you prioritize learning opportunities? What size companies should you go after? (17:55)Pay attention to the ratio of juniors vs. seniors (19:18)Software development is about much more than coding (19:39)How Angie discovered automation engineering and, subsequently, DevRel (20:22)There are gaps in the market for specializations (23:56)How to find a slight specialization within frontend (28:06)Quick-fire questions: Java, decentralized technologies, Sarah Drasner and Kelsey Hightower (29:53)Angie Jones has 27 patents! Here's how that happened. (34:00)What does a patent look like? (35:24)What's it like to invent patents within a big corporation like IBM? (37:54)Closing advice: Aside from technical competency, what else should new developers focus on? (39:31)

? Resources Mentioned

Sarah DrasnerKelsey HightowerScrimba Podcast with Chad Stewart: Tech Is Hiring, and Here's What You Need to Do!

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? About the episode

Meet Jimmy Johnston ??! Jimmy is a sous-chef turned developer who's just landed his first developer job after working in the culinary industry for twenty years! The career change took Jimmy eleven months. It also involved going through burnout, figuring out his "why," as well as hitting a dead-end with job applications and changing the strategy from the ground up! In this interview, Jimmy will let you in on all of these things so that you can learn from his experience.

You'll find out the similarities between cooking and computing, how Jimmy learned to code, and why you shouldn't try to learn too many technologies at once. Jimmy also talks you through his interview process so that you can figure out at what point you are ready to apply for a similar position.

? Connect with Jimmy

??? LinkedIn? Website

? Timestamps

Jimmy was always interested in computing but became a chef instead (02:30)The restaurant industry was hit hard by the pandemic, but coding is almost like cooking (02:54)How Jimmy learned to code and chose what to focus on (04:59)Why you should learn how to learn (07:21)Cooking and web development: science or art? (08:37)Community break: Your LinkedIn posts, Tweets, and Apple Podcast reviews from the past week (10:41)How Jimmy discovered the Scrimba bootcamp (12:58)Jimmy needed mentorship and community, and on Scrimba bootcamp, he found all of that and more (14:31)If he hadn?t enrolled in a bootcamp, Jimmy would have been back to cooking (19:31)Quick-fire questions: brain food, getting old, game development, and learning in silence (21:08)How Jimmy dealt with burnout (25:43)Jimmy?s job hunting strategy: start with ?why? (27:07)Jimmy tried the ?spray and pray? method before, and it didn?t work - but when he changed his strategy, he saw results immediately (28:51)Jimmy?s interview process (30:27)What do you need to know to start interviewing for jobs? (33:09)Jamie?s first technical interview (34:08)How Jimmy got his first developer job (37:48)What Jimmy wishes he had known when he was starting to learn to code: Stick to one programming language! (40:38)

? Resources Mentioned

Scrimba BootcampFront-end Developer Career PathScrimba's Discord CommunityBook: How to Speak Machine: Computational Thinking for the Rest of UsKevin PowellScrimba Podcast: An Introvert's Guide to Networking (and Becoming Amazing at LinkedIn), with Stephanie Chiu from PayPalScrimba Podcast: Homeschooler, College Dropout, Developer and Master Networker: Crush Your Career with Madison Kanna

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? About the episode

Meet Laura Thorson ??! Laura is a Program Manager at GitHub and has previously worked at Facebook, Twitter, and Salesforce. She broke into tech after attending the first-ever coding bootcamp in history and has only ever gotten jobs through LinkedIn. So... there's a lot we can learn from her!

In this episode, Laura talks about her career path and how he went from not knowing what coding was to working in high-profile tech companies. You will hear how she approaches LinkedIn and what was the one piece of advice she got from a recruiter that enabled her to get back into tech after a four-year hiatus. You'll also hear how she got a second chance at Facebook after bombing a job interview - and it only took sending a single email!

Laura and Alex also talk about best practices for job interviews, why you should stalk your interviewers, and what to do about impostor syndrome at a new job. Ultimately, Laura reveals how, no matter how you learn to code, the technologies you know come and go - and what you should focus on instead.

? Connect with Laura

??? Linkedin?  Website ? Twitter??? GitHub

 ? Timestamps

Laura studied oboe, then English, and then enrolled in the first bootcamp in history! (02:05)How Laura knew made sure she wanted to code before paying for the bootcamp (05:26)On bootcamps vs. learning on your own (06:35) What was the first ever bootcamp like? (07:55)Community break: We got some new reviews on Apple Podcast! Plus, your tweets from last week. (10:06)Laura?s career in tech: it all started when Salesforce reached out to her on LinkedIn (12:44)Laura?s role at Twitter (14:07)How Laura bombed her interview at Facebook but got another chance after sending an email to the hiring manager (15:08)At Facebook, Laura worked on the Live Video API (18:32)How Laura approaches LinkedIn (19:49)Why Laura?s LinkedIn bio is written in the third person (21:37)How to use your LinkedIn about section (23:19)Why you should send follow-up emails and research your interviewers so you can ask them better questions (25:21)If you?re going to ask a question, be prepared, BUT LISTEN (27:42)When you interview, every touchpoint is an opportunity for them to assess whether you?re the right culture fit (29:22)The killer LinkedIn advice Laura learned the hard way (30:18)What to do with your LinkedIn (and portfolio) if you don?t have relevant coding experience (32:05)Interviewers will do homework on you (33:33)Quick-fire questions: Ruby, Taylor Swift, water, and AI (35:11)Laura?s career journey at GitHub (38:47)Why your most valuable asset is not the coding language you?ve learned (41:29)Imposter syndrome? Don?t overcompensate but talk to a peer or mentor (44:28)

? Resources Mentioned

Erica Brescia on TwitterScrimba Podcast with Shannon Brown

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? About the episode

Meet Gabriel Pedroza ??! Gabriel is a Scrimba student who has just landed his first internship. And the internship is at Meta (formerly known as Facebook)!

After finishing Scrimba's Frontend Career Path, Gabriel studied computer science at a university, so if you were wondering about the main differences between Scrimba and university, he's the right person to talk to! You'll also hear how he approached learning, how he's already been teaching others how to code, and what did it take for him to get an internship at Meta. More importantly, Gabriel will teach you how to follow your interests and passion, why you shouldn't be afraid of AI, and how to maximize your chances when applying for jobs!

? Connect with Gabriel

??? LinkedIn

? Timestamps

How Gabriel got interested in coding when he saw Bruno Simon?s portfolio (01:17)How Gabriel learned to code (03:23)Gabriel had imposter syndrome! (04:18)Scrimba and a university: do they go together, and how do they differ? (05:17)Community break: Your tweets and LinkedIn posts (08:10)How Gabriel got his foot in the door at companies like Meta and Google, and the importance of keywords (09:40)What are OAs (open assessments)? (10:42)Gabriel almost didn?t apply at Meta! (11:37)Gabriel taught programming workshops at the university where he?s studying (12:11)Hard skills or soft skills? Gabriel only had behavioral interviews in person at Meta! (13:03)How Gabriel prepared for an interview at Meta (14:28)Why you should practice LeetCode and learn to think like a programmer (15:17)Gabriel?s internship at Meta (16:10)Quick-fire questions: coding languages, AI, and people to follow on YouTube (17:00)Will AI take over coding? (18:43)Follow your passion (20:52)Is AI relevant for front-end development? (21:33)Learning coding is just like learning anything else (23:15)Don?t try to memorize everything! (24:46)It?s easy to apply for jobs: here?s what you can do to maximize your chances (25:45)Gabriel?s plans for the future (28:26)Next week: Laura Thorson from GitHub! (30:59)

? Resources Mentioned

Front-end Developer Career PathScrimba's Discord CommunityBruno Simon's portfolioTheo BrowneThePrimeagenFind your Ikigai!

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? About the episode

Meet Chad Stewart ??! Chad is a Senior Front End Engineer and the founder of TechIsHiring - it's a hashtag, a community, and a transnational job listing channel helping great jobs and great engineers discover each other. 

In this episode, Chad talks about the inspiration behind TechIsHiring, plans for its future, and how he cultivated a community around it. More importantly, Chad will teach you how to cultivate community yourself! We all know we need to network, but networking can be daunting. Chad reveals how he networks, who he follows on Twitter, and why being part of a community can help you get jobs, grow as a programmer, and get help when you need it.

Chad and Alex also talk about different paths to getting into tech. Becoming a developer is not the only way, and we hope this interview gives you some ideas. Plus: computer bugs, the threat of AI, and water.

? Connect with Chad

??? Linkedin?  Blog?  TechIsHiring ? Twitter? Tech Is Hiring Twitter??? GitHub

? Timestamps

How Chad got interested in computers from a very young age (01:54)There were literal bugs in his computer at times! (03:07)Why do you eventually need to learn how to learn on your own so you can keep growing (04:35)Also? Chad learned React using Scrimba! We had no idea. (05:32)What is TechIsHiring, and how did it start? (07:36)Community break! We?re highlighting tweets and LinkedIn comments from the past week. (09:27)Starting a hashtag is not enough - here?s how Chad cultivates community and what the community says about it (10:57)Becoming a developer is not the only way you can get into tech (13:28)What TechIsHiring is about, and why Chad doesn?t want to branch out into other niches (18:51)Quick-fire questions: Will AI replace software developers?What is the most important thing that a new developer should focus on so they can get their first job? Leverage your connections to get jobs, but don?t forget to grow with your network (25:32)How to create a network and get involved in communities if you?re not good at networking? (28:42)Networking is a marathon, not a sprint (31:26)

? Resources Mentioned

TechIsHiring (also on Twitter)Learn React for free with ScrimbaAngie Jones on TwitterVirtual CoffeeScrimba Podcast with Dan Moore, author of Letters to a New Developer

?? Leave a Review

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? About the episode

Meet Leo de Leon ??! Leo was a successful self-taught motion graphics designer. Today, he's a successful self-taught developer! He used to design motion graphics for billboards at an arena in Kansas City that seats 20,000 people. But he needed a change. Eventually, he taught himself how to code in 314 hours over 3.5 months and landed his dream job in a Web3 startup around four months later.

In this episode, you will hear why it's essential to know your learning style and how not doing great at school doesn't mean you cannot learn new things. Leo will teach you how to approach your project and portfolio website, as well as his number one tactic for landing your dream job: niching down.

Alex and Leo also talk about some shady recruiter practices you can come across nowadays, the perks of working at startups (yes, especially in this economy!), developers to follow on YouTube, learning opportunities, consistency, and blessings in disguise.

? Connect with Leo

??? LinkedIn?  Website

? Timestamps

How Leo decided to do something with computers after he saw a Matthew Broderick movie when he was 8 (01:59)How Leo worked as a motion graphics designer for a decade (03:15)Why Leo wanted to change careers and get into coding, and how a failed job opportunity propelled him forward (04:20)Why Leo is equipped to teach himself new skills (06:49)Leo signed up for a bootcamp and then realized it didn?t work for him (when he discovered Scrimba!) (08:31)How long it took Leo to learn to code (11:01)Why you need to set realistic goals (11:45)You?re not too late: there?s never a bad time to get into tech (13:37)Community break: Highlighting tweets and LinkedIn posts from our community (that?s you!) (15:26)How Leo approached finding a job and positioning himself in the job market (17:25)When choosing portfolio projects, choose something difficult! (18:08)Here?s how to make sure your projects and portfolio look nice! (20:07)Leo got his first developer job when a recruiter reached out to him on LinkedIn (21:27)Why a culture fit is important at startups (25:14)Leo?s trial project took an entire month, but he still got the job! (27:48)Quick-fire questions: first lines of code, favorite tech YouTubers, and music with lyrics (32:16)How to create an appealing LinkedIn profile, and how to recognize shady recruiting practices (34:15)Leo works at a Web3 and blockchain-related company. How did he optimize his LinkedIn profile to get there? (37:30)Let other people review your LinkedIn profile and your resume before putting yourself out there! (38:36)Why do you need to niche down and focus on one field or technology (39:56)Don?t get FOMO: you can?t be known for everything (41:07)Be consistent and purpose-driven because motivation comes and goes (45:12)What?s ReadMe Driven Development and how to apply that approach to your career (48:39)

? Resources Mentioned

Front-end Developer Career PathScrimba's Discord CommunityDonTheDeveloper on YouTubeJames Cross on YouTubeChris Sean on YouTubeSyntax.fm

?? Leave a Review

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? About the episode

This is a rebroadcast of one of our most popular interviews. Meet Randall Kanna ??! Randall is a software developer, lead product engineer, and the author of The Standout Developer.

Once upon a time, Randall learned the unsettling truth that almost everyone on her team earned more money than her. She mustered the courage to confront her boss and said, ?Hey! Google is interested in me. I could go there, or you can give me the fair salary bump I deserve!? They obliged, and at that moment, Randall learned just how important it is to advocate yourself.

Randall wants you to have the best possible start to your tech career and joins the podcast to share what she?s learned about how to stand out and thrive in tech. Spoiler: It?s not just about your coding skills.

? Connect with Randall

? Twitter? Website? LinkedIn

? Resources mentioned

? The Standout Developer

?? Leave a Review

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? About the episode

Meet Spencer Dye ??! Spencer is a new developer who recently got his first dev job! In the past, he was a designer, but before that, he studied to become a biologist, and then, an accountant! While moonlighting as a designer during his studies, he discovered Webflow, and from there, realized that development is... kind of fun?

In this episode, you'll hear how Spencer learned to code, kept up his motivation by practicing stoicism and filling in a habit tracker, and ultimately landed his first dev job after only five months since he decided to change careers. Alex and Spencer discuss whether you should focus on any job or only the jobs you like, why your background is your asset, and are your coding skills the only thing you should focus on. You'll hear how Spencer interviewed his interviewers and focused on making a human connection - which resulted in one of the shortest interview processes we've heard about on the pod!

Plus: YouTube recommendations, your tweets, and many words of encouragement.

? Connect with Spencer

??? LinkedIn? Website

? Timestamps

How Spencer went from computers to design to biology to accountancy, back to design, and eventually, into development (01:25)Before learning frontend, Spencer freelanced as a designer and worked with Webflow (03:03)Spencer dropped out of college and decided to learn development (03:44)How Spencer created his own curriculum and why he used a habit tracker (04:40)What challenges Spencer faced while learning to code (06:17)Nobody teaches problem-solving, but it's essential (06:51)It only took Spencer five months to learn to code at a hireable level (07:53)Community break! Here's what you've been tweeting and posting on LinkedIn (08:35)Interviewing is a skill (11:17)What's the benefit of focusing only on opportunities you find exciting (12:07)How stoicism helped Spencer during his job search (12:46)What Spencer found surprising during his job search (14:23)Why the job Spencer ended up getting had the most effortless interview process compared to the previous ones (15:06)Where does Spencer work now? (16:30)Did Spencer's previous experience in design help him in his new role? (16:56)Another advantage: Spencer interviewed his boss! (17:49)On transferable skills (18:18)Quick-fire questions: favorite frontend YouTube channels, future coding plans, and English breakfast tea (18:52)Why Spencer chose a career in coding (21:03)Webflow jobs vs. coding jobs (22:37)How Spencer got the job within five days of his first interview (24:29)Spencer's interview process and interviewing his interviewers (22:54)Focus on making a human connection! (26:47)Did Spencer have a tech interview? (29:35)Your coding skills are not the only thing (30:31)Why it's important to practice interviewing (32:45)Spencer's tip: Apply at the same company through multiple channels! (33:30)Closing advice: You will get better! Just focus on the smallest steps. (34:58)  

? Resources Mentioned

Front-end Developer Career PathScrimba's Discord CommunityfreeCodeCamp Everyday habit trackerWeb Dev Simplified on YouTubeDesignCourse on YouTubeTraversy Media on YouTube

?? Leave a Review

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? About the episode

Meet Rizel Scarlett ??! Rizel is a Developer Advocate at GitHub. She's also a career changer, software engineer, and community builder!

Rizel dropped out of psychology studies after running out of money. Then she went into IT support, then into coding, and then realized that, after working in an organization that teaches women and non-binary people of color to code, developer advocacy could be a great career for her!

In this episode, you will hear how Rizel learned to code, paved her own path, and knew when she needed to pivot. You'll learn why internships are cool and what to be on the lookout for if you're looking for your first opportunity. Rizel will also teach you why you need personal branding and how to do it even if you're an introvert - complete with step-by-step instructions on how to write a blog post, practice public speaking, or network.

? Connect with Rizel

??? Linkedin? Website? Twitter??? GitHub

? Timestamps

Why Rizel switched from psychology to IT and, later, to coding (01:59)Was the transition to coding easy? (03:08)Rizel tried many different jobs. Here?s why that?s not a bad thing! (03:41)How Rizel approached learning to code (05:55)Community and camaraderie are important parts of learning to code (06:29)How Rizel decided to enroll in a bootcamp (07:50)On learning to code with your significant other (08:49)Thinking like a programmer comes with practice (09:34)Why Rizel pursued internships (10:44)Why connections are important (12:13)What was Rizel?s internship experience like (13:02)What should you look for in an internship or your first job? (13:47)Community break! Here?s what you?ve been tweeting (15:47)What juniors bring to the table (17:30)How Rizel discovered developer advocacy and got hired as a developer advocate at GitHub (18:45)What does a supportive manager do (20:46)How Rizel approaches personal branding (22:08)You can?t expect people to find you. The best person to advocate for you is you (23:31)How to work on your public speaking (24:36)How to work on your writing and how Rizel approaches writing blog posts (26:58)How to get involved with the community (31:18)Closing advice: it?s okay to switch your focus, take your time, and maintain a list of your wins! (35:11)

? Resources Mentioned

How to support early career developersfreeCodeCamp

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If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.

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? About the episode

Meet Emre Albayrak ??!  Emre is a classical pianist from Turkey who decided to change careers, so he trained as a pilot! But then, the pandemic hit. Looking for something else to do (yet again), Emre discovered coding, tried it, and realized he enjoyed it! Only a year after starting to learn to code, Emre landed a job at an international IT company.

In this episode, Emre talks about his long and winding but also efficient path to becoming a developer. You'll hear how he learned to code, what resources he used, and how he approached his portfolio projects and job applications! You will probably learn something about keeping up your motivation and managing stage fright before your interviews.

? Connect with Emre

??? LinkedIn

? Timestamps

How Emre went from music to piloting to coding (02:06)Emre had a developer friend who encouraged him to focus on frontend, after writing his first code in Python (05:10)What resources did Emre use to learn to code? And how did he discover Scrimba? (07:06)Emre landed a job only a year after he started learning to code... and he completed the Career Path in the meantime! (08:10)Emre's job hunting strategy: it's all about your portfolio (09:19)The secret to getting a job quickly (10:45)Quickfire questions: Why doesn't Emre, a musician, listen to music while coding? Who are his favorite coding teachers? Who does he follow on YouTube?How Emre knew he was ready for job interviews? (15:24)Where does Emre work now? (16:01)Emre found the job posting on LinkedIn. Here's what happened next (18:12)Emre had to learn Redux for the test project (18:44)The interview was so successful that HR told Emre they would continue with him immediately! (19:32)The final stage of the interview was an English test! (20:05)How Emre felt when he found out he was hired (20:24)Community break! Here's what you tweeted since our previous episode. (20:55)Did Emre regret leaving musicology? (22:37)How Emre made sure to stay motivated during tougherr times)? (22:57)How Emre deals with the stage fright that hits right before job interviews and with the pain of being rejected for a job (24:28)Why does stage anxiety hit? (27:28)

? Resources Mentioned

Front-end Developer Career PathScrimba's Discord CommunityfreeCodeCamp 

?? Leave a Review

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.

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? About the episode

Meet Saron Yitbarek ??! Saron is a developer, entrepreneur, community builder, and the founder of CodeNewbie. Saron has been helping new developers break into tech for a decade, and in this episode, she distills her best and most sought-after advice!

Saron, who recently launched a new project called NewDevCareer.com, is a career changer herself - she first studied to become a doctor! In this interview, you will hear how she decided to make that change, why her first attempts at learning to code didn't work, and what she wishes she knew then. You will learn the ins and outs of different paths you can take to break into tech. You will get practical tips for creating deeper connections within your online community - and learn why they're important. Saron and Alex also discuss the right motivation to learn to code, why tech is fascinating, and how to decide what to learn first.

? Connect with Saron

??? CodeNewbie??? Linkedin? Website? Twitter

? Timestamps

Saron?s road to becoming a developer: Originally, she studied to become a doctor and then worked as a journalist (01:31)How Saron got interested in tech after reading a book on Steve Jobs (03:32)How Saron approached learning to code and why that approach was wrong (05:43)Saron first joined startups working in sales and marketing and decided to try coding again out of frustration (08:03)Bootcamp, university, or a self-directed path? Here?s how Saron made that decision (09:38)The benefits of bootcamps? and coding communities (11:35)Community break! Jan the producer reads your tweets, reviews, and LinkedIn posts (13:21)How can an aspiring developer involve more in the community? (15:21)How to foster deeper connections online? (17:24)How important is consistency when learning to code? (19:21)Can anybody teach themselves coding? (20:23)What is the right motivation to become a developer? How much should you be passionate about coding? (22:00)What are a first-time developer?s biggest assets and why? (24:22)Is ?passion? too strong of a word? Should you be passionate about coding? (27:15)The importance of mentoring juniors (28:53)Junior developers are an investment (30:45)What is newdevcareer.com? (32:22)Information is all around us, but we?re lacking action (36:42)What is the main problem new developers face? (38:38)

? Resources Mentioned

CodeNewbieNewDevCareer.comScrimba Podcast: Tech Layoffs Are Still Happening, and ChatGPT Can Code: How To Stay Ahead of the Curve as a New Developer, With Lane WagnerHow to Be Great? Just Be Good, Repeatably

?? Leave a Review

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