This is my experience. I hope it will be useful to you. I am interpreting "starting out" as "finding a new job". It can also mean "starting day 1 on your new job", but I have less to say on that matter.
It's not necessarily easy to get a job. Don't set expectations too high, and then it's a bit easier. Don't even expect to get invited to the high expectation places (e.g. FAANG), even if you think you followed the right path. My path was: bachelor information science + master computer science (security/multimedia) + internships + TA jobs in programming + 1 year iOS programming + 1 year web development. I am still looking after 2 years. Now companies value me less due to the lack of experience (about 1.4 years unaccountable).
The best job opportunities I've gotten by far is through my friends or people that liked me. I got most of them when I was studying. 2 strategies here: be more likeable, or relentlessly meet as many people as you can (ensure high throughput) and let the people that like you stick to you and discuss business with them. In my experience, both are hard to do since meeting people takes time (out of your job search and keeping skills up to date).
I used to be a coding bootcamp instructor, and the irony is that the students who I used to train have far better positions in me. Some of them still look up to me (while my confidence has taken a big hit) and have invited me to become a senior developer at their company. It's quite funny, because most companies nowadays have trouble to take me on as a medior or even a junior. I don't claim to be a senior or junior. What I will claim, titles are nonsensical because they aren't standardized.
If you happen to go down my path, it will take a toll on your mental health and your sanity. Here is how to stay (somewhat) sane:
* Keep challenging yourself in coding projects, no matter how many companies reject you, keep pushing yourself. The more fun part is to do this with friends.
* Keep teaching people how to code when you know they can learn something from you.
* Keep all other stuff that you have going on in your life rolling (e.g. relationships, hobbies, etc.).
* Keep your costs to an absolute minimum, don't be afraid to stay with your family if you can. You can't use the extra added financial stress.
* If you can't stay with your family or keep your costs down, then lower your expectations and take any job, preferably in IT. Keep looking for a better job. Stay at your new job for 6 months at a minimum. Do your utmost best to kick ass at your new job.
* When you happen to have friends in desirable software positions (I have that since quite recently), apply to their places and ask them to relay what everyone is thinking to you. So far, this is the only way I have been able to get good feedback on my resume letter and motivation letters. The world will be grateful for it (without knowing it) because my resume and motivation letters are now 4 times shorter. This comment is longer than both of them combined.
* Try to stay positive and be careful with showing this form of vulnerability to friends or people on the internet, do so selectively. In my experience, people find stuff like this tough to read and can't handle it too well.
I might have a very cynical look here, and if so, I apologize. I do not agree with this cynical look (in terms of taking action on it), but I do think that this is how a part of the blockchain world operates.
While blockchain is a revolutionairy technology, to some degree, it's a much more revolutionary political tool in order to raise funds.
The revolutionary technology part is that we have a new P2P technique that allows for decentralized consensus, which is amazing! However, as the author implicitly points out, there are quite a few limited uses for this.
Blockchain as a political tool however means that the project founder is suddenly able to raise money. I personally know a few people that simply said "yep, we're doing blockchain" only because it allowed them to raise million(s) of dollars. And otherwise they couldn't.
I know from one founder that he is serious with that project had that idea for years, and blockchain was the political tool in order for him to raise money. The other founder simply wanted to use 50% for development, 25% for community engagement and he wants to take the other 25% as profit.
I'm not here to judge. I'm simply writing this comment, because I feel that some people look too technically at blockchain and disregard the rest, while I feel that people need to be aware of this political side of blockchain. The strong idealism and believe in a high ROI is what fuels the IPOs (still to this day). Because of that, people will invest in it and create new projects with it.
Can't you just buy some electronics, throw away all receipts and such and simply claim to customs that you had it already for a while?
For example, when I bought my Audio Technica ATH-M50X in the US for about $100 (while in my country they were about twice as expensive) I just had it around my neck as I was listening music through it. No one asked a thing.
In all fairness, I went to the US for fun and got a chance to use them at a demo and was immediately sold.
> you'll still only get your $40k internship salary. And the company will pocket the remaining $460k, to be paid out to the owners as profits.
It's because of this that I try to work as little as possible, preferably remotely. I claim to the company that I work 8 hours, in reality I work between 4 to 6 hours, and if I'm really quick, simply 2 hours (happens rarely).
That's how I keep my "profit", and if I meet expectations it's good enough for me. I don't think they'd be happy once they find out.
It's not necessarily easy to get a job. Don't set expectations too high, and then it's a bit easier. Don't even expect to get invited to the high expectation places (e.g. FAANG), even if you think you followed the right path. My path was: bachelor information science + master computer science (security/multimedia) + internships + TA jobs in programming + 1 year iOS programming + 1 year web development. I am still looking after 2 years. Now companies value me less due to the lack of experience (about 1.4 years unaccountable).
The best job opportunities I've gotten by far is through my friends or people that liked me. I got most of them when I was studying. 2 strategies here: be more likeable, or relentlessly meet as many people as you can (ensure high throughput) and let the people that like you stick to you and discuss business with them. In my experience, both are hard to do since meeting people takes time (out of your job search and keeping skills up to date).
I used to be a coding bootcamp instructor, and the irony is that the students who I used to train have far better positions in me. Some of them still look up to me (while my confidence has taken a big hit) and have invited me to become a senior developer at their company. It's quite funny, because most companies nowadays have trouble to take me on as a medior or even a junior. I don't claim to be a senior or junior. What I will claim, titles are nonsensical because they aren't standardized.
If you happen to go down my path, it will take a toll on your mental health and your sanity. Here is how to stay (somewhat) sane:
* Keep challenging yourself in coding projects, no matter how many companies reject you, keep pushing yourself. The more fun part is to do this with friends.
* Keep teaching people how to code when you know they can learn something from you.
* Keep all other stuff that you have going on in your life rolling (e.g. relationships, hobbies, etc.).
* Keep your costs to an absolute minimum, don't be afraid to stay with your family if you can. You can't use the extra added financial stress.
* If you can't stay with your family or keep your costs down, then lower your expectations and take any job, preferably in IT. Keep looking for a better job. Stay at your new job for 6 months at a minimum. Do your utmost best to kick ass at your new job.
* When you happen to have friends in desirable software positions (I have that since quite recently), apply to their places and ask them to relay what everyone is thinking to you. So far, this is the only way I have been able to get good feedback on my resume letter and motivation letters. The world will be grateful for it (without knowing it) because my resume and motivation letters are now 4 times shorter. This comment is longer than both of them combined.
* Try to stay positive and be careful with showing this form of vulnerability to friends or people on the internet, do so selectively. In my experience, people find stuff like this tough to read and can't handle it too well.
I hope it helps.