When I decided to pursue a career in software development, the most difficult part was trusting that I was making the right decisions.
In 2011, I wrote my first “hello world” in PASCAl. This was a general course for all students at the time. The experience was intriguing given that I grew up in a community where programming was unheard of.
During the early days, I didn’t have access to a computer, so I wrote my first “Hello World” on paper. My parents couldn’t afford tuition and other school expenses, let alone a computer, so I had plenty of time to write a lot of code on paper😂. Programming was a new concept to me, I had to be patient and avoid putting myself under undue stress at this early stage.
As a tech newbie, you should not rush into a career in software development. We live in an era when tech newbies expect to become highly skilled in software development within a few weeks of starting.
To get the most out of your software development career, you must be patient with yourself. It takes a while to become acquainted with various concepts, especially if you have no prior computer science or technology knowledge.
Now, let me come back to my story.
After my mother obtained a cooperative loan from her workplace, I was able to purchase a computer. She had no idea what programming was all about, but she trusted my decision. She took a chance on me.
So in 200L, I was curious to learn how PASCAL is used in the tech industry and what kinds of problems I could solve with it. Many people who had prior programming experience advised me to learn one of the popular modern languages rather than waste my time learning an obsolete language like PASCAL.
Thank goodness I asked people who had already done it; otherwise, I would have wasted years learning a skill that was no longer relevant at the time.
Many self-taught newbies have no idea why they chose a language in the first place. There was no proper research on the language before starting, so they ended up learning a skill that many companies may not hire for.
Now that you’ve learned about programming and computers, you should start asking questions about the various tools, computer science concepts, and technologies you’ll need to know before you begin writing software.
This gives you a comprehensive view of what is required for success.
You can’t afford to waste your valuable time learning redundant skills.
After many discussions with my friends and also consulting online resources, I decided on learning the C# language. I discovered that the programming language was in high demand.
I studied the language for over a year. While I was doing this, I began attending software competitions all across Nigeria. I was eager to apply my new skills to real-world problems.
The ISPON software contest was one of the competitions that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I visited Tinapa, Calabar, twice in two years. Despite not winning any ISPON competitions, I was challenged to think outside the box.
Some competitions aren’t meant to be won; instead, they are meant to push you to confront bigger problems.
These days, many tech newbies enjoy watching videos and reading coding books without actually writing code. Problem-solving is the foundation of computer programming. You may never make significant progress unless you challenge yourself to solve problems.
In my case, I was applying to various competitions in order to improve my problem-solving mindset. I really wanted to use my programming skills to improve the lives of people in my community.
So, rather than cramming computer science or programming concepts, I’d say you spend enough time improving your problem-solving skills. Those programming concepts are irrelevant unless you can use them to better the lives of people in your community.
While in school, I created computer-based test software to help students prepare for exams. The school had not yet implemented CBT for school examinations at the time. I sold some copies and eventually gave away free copies of the software to students.
The truth is that when you are seeking a job, top companies will not hire you because you are attractive or your project portfolio is visually appealing. You must convince them that you have the problem-solving and coding skills required to improve their customers’ lives.
So here is the conclusion to my story.
I began making new friends with similar technological interests. I didn’t want to grow alone; I needed a community of people who shared my passion for the world. So I met a few of them. On numerous occasions, we inspired one another. There were frustrating days, but we gave each other moral support because we all wanted a meaningful career in tech.
Another important factor is to be a part of a community of like-minded people. Resist the temptation to learn and grow on your own. Working with others will almost certainly lead you down the right path.
Don’t walk alone; surround yourself with the right people!
While in 300L, I also met someone. He was a year ahead in school. He was popular in his department. Because he was so skilled at programming, he was dubbed emeritus. His approach to problem-solving was admirable.
So I approached him and asked him to mentor me. I had a strong desire to work as a creative software engineer. He offered to help after hearing about my experience and what I truly desired in my career. This was one of the best decisions I made because he helped me navigate technology seamlessly. I didn’t have to waste years making mistakes. He was extremely helpful in my development.
Please get a mentor!
Technology is rapidly evolving. There is so much obsolete documentation and concepts on the internet that you may end up wasting your time learning about them. You need someone with industry experience who can point you in the right direction.
So, back to the original question: where do you begin?
I believe that after reading this article, you will be able to make one of the best decisions of your life.
Do you need a mentor to help you navigate your tech career?
Please feel free to contact me via LinkedIn. Let’s team up to accomplish your goals.
You can also get a copy of my book by clicking the link below. You will learn everything you need to know to succeed in the technology industry!
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