Tech career advisor

As a new developer, or if you're learning JavaScript for the first time, the number of libraries and frameworks you can use can be daunting. How do you know which to learn first? Which will be most useful in your coding career? In this guest post, Erik Hanchett gives us an overview of his top ten JavaScript libraries and frameworks. Here are the libraries and frameworks you'll learn about in Erik's post: jQuery: An Old Classic (But Is It Obsolete?) Underscore and Lodash: Utility Libraries D3.js: For Graphing and Visualizations React: Facebook's Favorite Library Glimmer.js: UI Components for the Web Bootstrap: For Those of Us Who Dislike Design Angular and AngularJS: Google's Framework Ember.js: The Batteries-Included Framework Aurelia: The Forward-Looking Framework Vue.js: The Progressive Framework

Recently I've been hearing from a lot of LTCWM readers who want to know how to speed up their progress. Some of you have been job hunting and want to know how to get your foot in the door sooner rather than later. Others have just started coding and want to know the most efficient way to reach their goals. Of course, there's no substitute for putting in the work, but there are a few ways to fast-track your progress. Here are some of the approaches that we've been talking about on the podcast recently... 1. Learn to negotiate. If you're applying for jobs, one way to get ahead is by negotiating a higher wage. If you already have a job, you can ask for a raise instead. In episode 14, I spoke with Alexandra Dickinson. Alexandra is the founder of Ask For It – a consulting company that gives people the skills and confidence to negotiate. In our interview, she shares her top tips for negotiating a higher salary. Learn how to negotiate a higher wage. 2. Gro...

Everyone who's worked as a freelancer knows one thing for certain: the first few clients are always the hardest to find. Without referrals, testimonials or a portfolio of client work behind you, getting your first freelance coding client can be a real challenge. In this week's guest post, Alec McGuffey from RookieUp is back to chat with successful coding mentors Jordan Deutsch and Trudy MacNabb about how to find your perfect first freelancing gig. Here's a taster of what Alec, Jordan and Trudy had to say: Focus on what you're interested in - When building your portfolio, there's no point in focusing on things you're not passionate about. Put together projects that show off your skills, and if you don't have enough, create some! You're already good enough for your first gig - At first, focus on the things you're most proficient at. Then, when you've proven you can handle the basics and hit deadlines, you can open up to new areas. ...

By now you may have noticed that there's not just one single route into tech. Loads of techies are self-taught, some study computer science at college, and others go to intensive bootcamps. Whether you're learning to code, applying for jobs, or starting your own business, there are loads of different strategies you can try. Today I want to highlight four approaches you can take to advance your career.  1. Look for opportunities within your current workplace In episode six, I spoke with Christie Pitts. Christie began working at Verizon twelve years ago as a customer service representative. Today she's a venture development manager at the same company. Listen to our conversation to hear how she progressed within the company. 2. Code every day for 100 days In episode seven, I spoke with Alexander Kallaway. Alexander is a front-end web developer and the creator of the #100DaysOfCode movement. Listen to our conversation to he...

Ever felt like you've hit a bit of a rut in your coding journey? Maybe you've fallen out of love with learning or you feel like you've hit a ceiling in your career. In this week's guest post, Leah Brunetto lets us in on how she pushed herself through a rut and learned to love learning again. Here are some of my favorite takeaways: Remember that slow and steady wins the race - It's so easy to rush yourself and burn out when learning to code, so it's important to remember that it's a marathon, not a sprint! Make it as easy as possible to fit in study time - Even though most of the time learning to code should be hands-on, Leah found it helpful to watch video tutorials while doing other things (like cooking or laundry). It's all about finding ways to fit in learning, even if it's not necessarily optimal. Work on your existing strengths - The idea of learning a new skill can sometimes be intimidating. Instead of putting off studying ...

Learning to code can be a lonely journey, especially if you're teaching yourself. Having an experienced coder on hand to mentor you through the rough patches can make a world of difference. In this week's guest post, Alec McGuffey from RookieUp shares his advice on finding a great coding mentor no matter what stage you're at in your career. Here are Alec's main pieces of advice: For coding newbies - If you're learning through a coding bootcamp, make the most of the one-to-one support on offer . Going solo? Immerse yourself in online communities for inspiration and support, or use a platform like RookieUp to set up on-demand video mentor sessions with professional coders. For intermediate coders - As you begin to feel more confident in your coding skills, start actively contributing to communities and seeking ways to meet other like-minded coders around you. Check out local in-person events and reach out to other coders directly to start developin...