Work

[efc17]

Hi all,

I am currently in the process of trying to make a career change.  I have been a tradesman for the last 14 years but my passion lies in IT.

I have been learning HTML, CSS and a little JavaScript online.  I'm going to stick at it and hope to improve.  I am looking to learn.

I created a simple website to gain experience please take a look, and if you get a moment offer any feedback.

simplycoin.co.uk

I was wondering if anyone could offer me any jobs?  I am currently unemployed and seeking full-time employment.
I am in the U.K. and English is my first language, and I guess my writing skills are fair to good.  I can also speak, read and write Thai at a moderate level.

If anyone could offer me any advice I would really appreciate it, My primary objective is to learn as much as possible.

Thanks

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[San1ty]

Do you really like front-end stuff? If you are more of a back-end guy, go and learn node.js :-).

[moni3z]

Might be interested in this http://www.mysliderule.com/web-dev#! its a suggestion of courses to take online (free) for python web dev. I believe they have a node.js backend list of courses too, most remote positions I've seen are for node.js developers

[efc17]

Hi

Thanks for the reply.  I'm still trying to figure out what's what with; front end / back end / client side / server side etc. So I'll have to be honest not 100% sure at this stage I just know I love learning about programming.

Although if I had to hazard a guess I'd say my interest would lie at back end and server side.  From what little I know of it, it seems very appealing to me and I want something that will really challenge me!  

I have only been learning HTML and CSS for 2 months and started JavaScript because I didn't know any difference.  When I finish this course I want to look int PHP, Rails and all sorts of other things, I'm just not sure where to start!  So much to learn!  I could do with some guidance.

In between job hunting and doing jobs I will stick at the basic tutorials of JavaScript, although I'm struggling with it, (I'm very noob) I refuse to give up!  I love solving problems!

Now you have mentioned node.js I will definitely take a look at that.  (I hadn't really heard of it before just recognized the name.)

Cheers for your help.  I really appreciate it.  

*Edit
Just saw your post moni3z.  Thanks for the link.  I'll def. check it out, (love free tutorials  ).
Loving the info guys keep it coming!  

[San1ty]

PHP Is kinda dated imho, it's still getting updated but meh, I feel like its time has come and gone.
RoR is a bit hipster, very fun to write, but doesn't scale very well for huge applications.

Node.js is as fun as RoR but much more scalable and has the best package manager I have ever seen (NPM)

As you stated, you already learned some JS, Node.JS shouldn't be that hard as it's basically javascript serverside.

[RCHumphrey]

Just checked out the site and looks very good! Best of luck finding employment but if you're going down this path I'd say you're more likely to get freelance work and odd jobs.

Do you do GFX?

[Initscri]

PHP Is kinda dated imho, it's still getting updated but meh, I feel like its time has come and gone.
RoR is a bit hipster, very fun to write, but doesn't scale very well for huge applications.

Node.js is as fun as RoR but much more scalable and has the best package manager I have ever seen (NPM)

As you stated, you already learned some JS, Node.JS shouldn't be that hard as it's basically javascript serverside.

Honestly. Learn and get good at what you know best. My best tip is not try to expand your horizons over multiple languages too much. It is good to learn, but don't spread yourself too thin.

It is better to be a great and skilled programmer within one language than decent at many. Take it within a stepping stone process. Learn one language, and then learn the next, until you have a toolbox of multiple languages to pick from for different projects.

In my opinion, PHP is a great way to start within Web Development. My opinion may differ from many ruby and python enthusiasts and developers, but in general I believe PHP to be a great language to get jobs with. It may be dated within development and the conventions and tools applicable for use, but it is largely used within the IT world and small-business world due to its easy, simple and extremely available setup, and still used largely within large-business because of the large employee pool.

Just keep learning and you will get jobs. Your way to fulltime employment within development and IT is...
1. Employment through education, University/College, etc...
2. Discovery through Open Source Project Creation and Odd-Freelance jobs (as mentioned above).

Good luck and all the best!

[efc17]

Guys,

Thanks so much for your kind words,  sorry I haven't been on for a while been so busy, busy.

I love the way you tech pros are so helpful to beginners, it's very encouraging, I hope I can do the same someday.

Initscri; I hear you about spreading myself too thin, Great advice thanks, it makes sense.
San1ty; Thanks for the info. it's good to know.
RCHumphrey; Thanks for saying that about my site, sorry haven't done GFX.

I have had an interview and have been asked back for a second time. Have three more interviews coming up and I feel I'm really making progress, so I'm really pleased, hopefully something will come of it.

I'm fortunate enough to live in an area where there is a high demand and there is a current drive backed by the government to help more people into the industry so it's a good time for me to get in.  I'm lucky.

If  things don't work I'll regroup and try a different approach.  I'll get there somehow  

I wish I could thank you all personally for your advice, I will take it all on-board and get onto it when I have a bit more time.

Thanks guys.

Legends

[mailmansDOG]

It's extremely easy to find a job as a freelance writer. With a little search you could find a job in days. But it'll more likely be a part time job. Still decent payments for the work it requires.

[efc17]

mailmansDOG Hey,

That's an idea I'll do some research into that thanks.  I guess being English has it's benefits in that area.

Cheers.

[W-M]

Hey there! It's always nice to learn about people that do their best to learn the web languages (as well as programming in general).
As someone who has been developing web sites for nearly eight years, I fully agree with what Initscri said: Don't try to do too much things all at once. There are many great and interesting technologies out there that scream to be learned, but it's better to learn a few things well than a lot of them poorly.

I also agree with Initscri that learning PHP is still your best bet: PHP is a very robust and time-tested language, there are a plethora of resources that can keep you learning and fix errors you stumble across, and there are tons of great places that offer cheap or free web hosting. Python or Ruby might be more flexible in some ways, but this also makes them much more confusing for beginners, at least if you try to learn it to design web pages.

As for the website you've shared: It looks very interesting. It is a great start. If you want, I can give you more detailed feedback, but these are the first two things that stood out to me:

• Try to ensure that the user can see which page he is on.

Right now this works fine for the 'Bitcoin' and 'Litecoin' pages, but not for Mining/Buying/Trading etc. It might be smarter, as you've separated the Bitcoin mining/buying/trading/ from the Litecoin mining/buying/trading/, to have two separate dropdown buttons, right next to each of the coins.

• When resizing the screen a bit, the text in the big buttons floats right next to the icons.

You're using FontAwesome, which is a great help. However, in this case, consider putting the icons in a div (or other block element), so you can position the text in the proper way (Right now the icon and the text are sitting on the same text baseline). Consider to either keep the text at the bottom at all times, or trying to vertically align it to the middle.


Oh, that became much more detailed than I wanted it to be. Ah well, I hope this might help you a little. If you've any more questions: Please do ask.

As for how to get work: Just look around you, there are always people looking for quick fixes or small implementations or designs of things, even at the level you work at right now. Just look for those opportunities on the internet and in real life, and be nice and confident towards them.

Have a nice day,

~W-M

[efc17]

Hey W-M

Thanks for your advice, It's great to hear.  I will take note and look at improving those points when I can spend a bit more time on it.  I see what you mean about the icons and menu, I just wasn't too sure.  It's been a good learning curve and I hope the next site I do will be better.

As an employer said to me the other day(because I am a carpenter by trade);  you wouldn't expect and apprentice carpenter to build a spiral staircase when he was just starting out!  I couldn't agree more.

I really appreciate you taking the time to review my work and give some feedback, I appreciate your honesty.

I would like to PM you a for a bit more detailed feedback if I could.

It's real late here and I need sleep right now. 

BTW I've been offered a placement for work experience with the possibility of a job so I'm happy about that.

Thanks

Chat to you later 

[Initscri]

Hey W-M

Thanks for your advice, It's great to hear.  I will take note and look at improving those points when I can spend a bit more time on it.  I see what you mean about the icons and menu, I just wasn't too sure.  It's been a good learning curve and I hope the next site I do will be better.

As an employer said to me the other day(because I am a carpenter by trade);  you wouldn't expect and apprentice carpenter to build a spiral staircase when he was just starting out!  I couldn't agree more.

I really appreciate you taking the time to review my work and give some feedback, I appreciate your honesty.

I would like to PM you a for a bit more detailed feedback if I could.

It's real late here and I need sleep right now. 

BTW I've been offered a placement for work experience with the possibility of a job so I'm happy about that.

Thanks

Chat to you later 

Congrats on the job offer. It'll be a great place to get the ball rolling.

BTW. Keep posting your sites here that you create, but also create a personal website for yourself and add images of all sites you have created as a portfolio. This was one of my biggest mistakes was not doing this sooner.

[jonald_fyookball]

PHP is old, but not outdated.

Many good MVC frameworks are built on PHP.
Try to learn codeigniter.  Learning MVC will
make you in demand developer!

[Initscri]

PHP is old, but not outdated.

Many good MVC frameworks are built on PHP.
Try to learn codeigniter.  Learning MVC will
make you in demand developer!

Isn't EllisLab trying to get rid of CodeIgniter ( http://ellislab.com/blog/entry/ellislab-seeking-new-owner-for-codeigniter )

People sort of moved away quickly when that blog post came out.

I'd recommend the most popular now (and for good reason): Laravel ( http://laravel.com )

[jonald_fyookball]

PHP is old, but not outdated.

Many good MVC frameworks are built on PHP.
Try to learn codeigniter.  Learning MVC will
make you in demand developer!

Isn't EllisLab trying to get rid of CodeIgniter ( http://ellislab.com/blog/entry/ellislab-seeking-new-owner-for-codeigniter )

People sort of moved away quickly when that blog post came out.

I'd recommend the most popular now (and for good reason): Laravel ( http://laravel.com )

wasnt aware of that thx.
But CI has been popular many years...Cake is a good one too.

[efc17]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all your kind replies.  All your support gave me a real confidence booster, Thanks.

I'm now working freelance for the Agency that offered me placement and I'm loving life!

Learning loads, I'm also on a 6 month course based mainly around Rails (don't know anything about it at this stage)

I'll certainly spend more time (when I get it!) and look into all the advice you gave me.  Right now I'm juggling work and study all hours.  I'm flat out (pant!) It's all good!

You gotta love the community on this forum.  You're just the best!

Thanks friends I'll catch up soon!

[b!z]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all your kind replies.  All your support gave me a real confidence booster, Thanks.

I'm now working freelance for the Agency that offered me placement and I'm loving life!

Learning loads, I'm also on a 6 month course based mainly around Rails (don't know anything about it at this stage)

I'll certainly spend more time (when I get it!) and look into all the advice you gave me.  Right now I'm juggling work and study all hours.  I'm flat out (pant!) It's all good!

You gotta love the community on this forum.  You're just the best!

Thanks friends I'll catch up soon!

Wow, congratulations on the job! If you don't mind me asking, you mentioned you live in an area with high demand for programmers - what sort of city would this be? SF?