Ask HN: Self-taught roadmap to multiple big tech offers in a few years?
You list the trifecta of red flags for employers:<p>* No academic or employment history that communicates significant expertise in software development.<p>* Scattershot and stale work experience that looks bad. At best it looks like you’re not serious about your career. At worst it looks like you have a problem keeping a job.<p>* Little or no professional network, probably the most important resource when looking for work.<p>On top of that applying to hundreds of jobs online is the least efficient way to find a job.<p>To fix these problems you need to reset.<p>1. Study modern web development (or whatever you want to do) so you can get through interviews and actually do the work when an opportunity comes your way. You can find plenty of free resources online, you just have to put the effort in. For web development that means, at minimum, knowing HTML, CSS, Javascript, a back-end language like PHP or C#, relational databases such as MySQL or PostgreSQL. You should understand HTTP, SSL, DNS, and cloud services reasonably well. I have done WordPress work for $150&#x2F;hr, and there’s plenty of that work available.<p>2. Find a small or medium size company that doesn’t have its own IT&#x2F;development staff. That includes many companies, you will have to ask around. If I were in your situation I would look for companies in my area that are advertising for developers and contact the hiring manager directly, even going to the office in person. Show some initiative. When someone does take a chance on you bust your ass to solve business problems and deliver value. The best way to learn programming is on the job, but you need to add value, not just treat the job as a training opportunity or stepping stone.<p>3. Socialize with colleagues and people you know and meet who have jobs and run businesses. Not just other programmers — you can get job leads from people who work in management, marketing, sales, finance, etc. Marketing departments often have good budgets and outsource web work because the IT staff doesn’t have the skill or bandwidth, so cast a wider net for professional contacts.<p>I have some articles on my site typicalprogrammer.com you might find useful (free, no ads).<p>Good luck.