What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming A Software Developer

Jeremiah Peoples
15 Oct 202115:06
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this insightful video, Jeremiah Peoples, a self-taught software engineer, shares five invaluable lessons he wishes he had known before embarking on his coding journey. He highlights the diverse pathways to becoming a developer, including self-teaching, coding bootcamps, and traditional degrees. Jeremiah emphasizes the lucrative pay in the industry, the ever-evolving nature of technology, and the importance of networking. He also encourages viewers to explore alternative tech careers like UI/UX design and product management if coding isn't their forte. With honesty and humor, Jeremiah provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the software development world.

Takeaways
  • 👨‍💻 There are multiple paths to becoming a software developer, including self-teaching, coding bootcamps, and traditional four-year computer science degrees.
  • 💰 Software development careers often offer lucrative salaries, with entry-level positions at top companies paying well over $150,000.
  • 🏆 The coding industry is constantly evolving, requiring lifelong learning to stay relevant and work with new technologies.
  • 🧩 Software development can be mentally engaging and rewarding, as it involves solving complex problems and creating innovative solutions.
  • 🌐 Networking and building connections within the tech community can significantly improve job opportunities and career prospects.
  • 💻 Careers in tech extend beyond just coding, with roles like UI/UX design and product management being equally important.
  • 🚀 A career in software development can be challenging but also exciting and rewarding, both financially and intellectually.
  • 🤝 Collaboration and teamwork are essential, as different roles (developers, designers, managers) work together to create successful tech products.
  • 🔑 Having the right mindset and being prepared for continuous learning is crucial for thriving in the ever-changing tech industry.
  • 🌟 The speaker emphasizes the importance of networking, building connections, and exploring various avenues within the tech industry.
Q & A

  • What alternatives did the speaker explore besides a traditional 4-year computer science degree?

    -The speaker mentions self-teaching by learning online resources and attending coding bootcamps as alternatives to a 4-year degree in computer science.

  • How did the speaker discover the self-taught path to becoming a software developer?

    -The speaker stumbled upon a video by Chris Sean, who became a self-taught software developer in 3 months without a college degree, which opened up his eyes to this alternative path.

  • What was the speaker's reaction to finding out about the high salaries in the software development field?

    -The speaker was pleasantly surprised and motivated to learn coding when he discovered the lucrative salaries in the software development field through the website levels.fyi.

  • How does the speaker describe the challenges of being a software developer?

    -The speaker acknowledges that software development is not easy and requires a lot of work and effort to wrap one's mind around. He also mentions that the industry is constantly evolving, requiring developers to continuously learn new languages, libraries, and technologies.

  • What are some pros and cons of working in a rapidly evolving field like software development, according to the speaker?

    -The pros include the opportunity to constantly learn new things and never get bored with the work. The con is that languages, libraries, and technologies can quickly become obsolete, requiring developers to continuously adapt and learn new skills.

  • What does the speaker identify as the 'super secret cheat code' to becoming a software developer?

    -The speaker identifies networking as the 'super secret cheat code' to becoming a software developer. He emphasizes the importance of connecting with others in the tech community and highlights how networking opportunities, such as starting a YouTube channel, helped him get noticed by his dream company.

  • What other tech-related careers does the speaker mention besides software development?

    -The speaker mentions UI/UX design and product management as other tech-related careers that are important in creating technical products, even though they don't involve coding directly.

  • How does the speaker describe the role of a UI/UX designer in creating technical products?

    -The speaker explains that UI/UX designers are responsible for creating beautiful and user-friendly applications that people actually want to use, even if the underlying code is well-written.

  • What is the primary responsibility of a product manager in the tech industry, according to the speaker?

    -According to the speaker, a product manager's primary responsibility is to manage the various spinning wheels of a technical project, such as overseeing the work of software developers and designers, ensuring deadlines are met, and ensuring the application meets the needs of stakeholders and funders.

  • What advice or takeaway does the speaker offer to those interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry?

    -The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering alternative paths beyond a traditional 4-year computer science degree, such as self-teaching or attending coding bootcamps. He also highlights the value of networking and exploring different tech-related careers beyond just software development.

Outlines
00:00
🛤️ Discovering Paths in Software Engineering

Jeremiah Peoples shares his journey from a traditional college dropout to becoming a self-taught software developer, inspired by Chris Sean's experience. He emphasizes the varied pathways to enter the field of software engineering beyond the conventional four-year degree, including self-teaching and coding bootcamps. Jeremiah highlights the importance of recognizing the multiple avenues available for learning coding and becoming a software developer, dispelling the notion that a formal degree is the only route to success in the tech industry. He also reflects on his own misconceptions and the enlightening realization that educational background doesn't determine one's worth or ability in the field.

05:01
💼 Embracing the Journey with Challenges and Rewards

In this segment, Jeremiah addresses common misconceptions and challenges faced by aspiring software developers, such as the criticism of pursuing the career for its financial rewards. He argues against the notion that passion for coding is the sole legitimate motivator, highlighting the transformative potential of the career's compensation on personal and family life. Furthermore, Jeremiah discusses the constant evolution within the tech industry, requiring developers to continuously learn and adapt to new languages and frameworks. He stresses that this aspect of software development, while daunting, is also what makes the work engaging and rewarding, offering continuous opportunities for growth and satisfaction from problem-solving.

10:03
🌐 Networking: The Secret Cheat Code

Jeremiah underscores the critical role of networking in advancing a career in software development. He shares personal anecdotes to illustrate how networking opportunities, like starting a YouTube channel and engaging with the tech community on social media, opened doors for him that would have remained closed otherwise. Jeremiah advises against networking for the sake of it, encouraging meaningful engagement with areas of genuine interest. He also mentions his developer discord channel as a space for like-minded individuals to connect and discuss tech. Lastly, he broadens the perspective on careers in tech by highlighting roles such as UI/UX design and product management, demonstrating that there are multiple pathways to being part of the tech industry beyond coding.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Self-taught
Self-taught refers to learning a skill or gaining knowledge on one's own, without formal education or training from an institution. In the context of the video, the narrator emphasizes the self-taught path as an alternative to traditional computer science degrees for becoming a software developer. He shares his own experience of stumbling upon the concept of self-teaching programming after dropping out of college, and eventually becoming a self-taught software developer like his friend Chris Sean.
💡Coding Bootcamp
A coding bootcamp is an intensive, accelerated training program that teaches programming skills and prepares individuals for careers in software development or related fields. The narrator mentions coding bootcamps, such as 'Coding Dojo,' as another pathway to becoming a software developer, distinct from traditional college degrees or self-teaching. These programs typically last several months and aim to provide practical, job-ready skills.
💡Software Development Career Paths
The video highlights the various pathways or routes one can take to enter the software development career field. These include earning a four-year bachelor's degree in computer science, self-teaching through online resources, attending coding bootcamps, or a combination of these approaches. The narrator emphasizes that the end goal – becoming a competent software developer – can be achieved through different means, contrary to the traditional perception of requiring a formal computer science degree.
💡Pay/Salary
The narrator expresses surprise at the high salaries and compensation levels in the software development industry, which he wishes he had known earlier. He cites examples of entry-level software developer salaries at companies like Slack, DoorDash, and Facebook, describing the pay as 'stupid' or 'ridiculous.' The potential for a lucrative career in software development is presented as a motivating factor for enduring the challenges of learning to code.
💡Rapidly Evolving Industry
The video emphasizes that the software development industry is constantly evolving, with technologies, languages, and frameworks rapidly changing or becoming obsolete. The narrator highlights this as a key aspect he wishes he had known beforehand, as developers must continuously adapt and learn new skills to stay relevant. He describes the pros and cons of this rapid evolution, including the opportunity for lifelong learning but also the potential for knowledge to become outdated quickly.
💡Networking
Networking is presented as a 'super secret cheat code' for becoming a successful software developer. The narrator emphasizes the importance of building connections within the tech community, whether through platforms like YouTube, Twitter spaces, or attending meetups and events. He attributes his own career opportunities, such as being approached by a major tech company, to the networking efforts he undertook through his YouTube channel and online presence.
💡Problem-solving
The video portrays software development as a career that involves solving interesting and engaging problems on a daily basis. The narrator contrasts his current work as a developer with his previous job, which he found monotonous and boring. He highlights the satisfaction and 'serotonin boost' that comes from solving coding puzzles and creating new things, which he sees as a key factor in keeping him motivated and engaged in the industry.
💡Tech Industry Careers
The narrator acknowledges that software development is not the only pathway to entering the tech industry. He mentions alternative career paths such as UI/UX design and product management, which play crucial roles in creating successful technology products. These roles complement the work of software developers by focusing on user experience, design, and project management aspects of tech products.
💡Lifelong Learning
Due to the rapidly evolving nature of the software development industry, the narrator emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adaptation throughout one's career. He refers to software developers as 'lifelong learners,' constantly acquiring new skills and knowledge to stay up-to-date with emerging technologies, languages, and frameworks. This concept of lifelong learning is presented as both a challenge and an opportunity for personal growth within the field.
💡Perseverance
The video subtly conveys the message of perseverance in the face of challenges when learning to code or entering the software development field. The narrator acknowledges the difficulties and 'headaches' involved in grasping new coding concepts, but he counters these challenges by referencing the potential for high salaries and the satisfaction of solving coding problems. This resilience and determination to overcome obstacles are implied as essential qualities for success in the software development career.
Highlights

There are different pathways to become a software developer, such as a four-year computer science degree, self-teaching, or coding bootcamps.

Regardless of the pathway, developers are treated and paid equally in the industry.

The pay in the software development industry is very high, even for entry-level positions.

It's acceptable and understandable to pursue software development for the lucrative salaries, contrary to some opinions.

Software development is a challenging and constantly evolving field, requiring continuous learning.

The rapidly changing nature of the industry can be seen as both a pro and a con, providing opportunities for learning new technologies but also requiring adaptation.

Networking and building connections in the industry, such as through social media or meetups, can lead to job opportunities.

There are other tech careers besides software development, such as UI/UX design and product management, which are essential for creating successful applications.

UI/UX designers focus on creating visually appealing and user-friendly applications.

Product managers oversee the development process, manage deadlines, and ensure the application meets stakeholder needs.

Having no prior knowledge about the different pathways into software development and the diversity of tech careers.

Being unaware of the high salaries in the software development industry.

Not realizing the constant learning and adaptation required in the rapidly evolving software development field.

Underestimating the importance of networking and building connections for job opportunities.

Lacking knowledge about alternative tech careers like UI/UX design and product management.

Transcripts

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