Self-Taught Programmers...Listen Up!

Hi friends! Today I am having a candid conversation with you and sharing my advice from experiences I have had as a self-taught developer. Feelings of imposter syndrome and not belonging and how to over come those feelings. If you have any other questions please leave them down in the comments!

0:00 Intro
0:22 What is considered a self-taught developer?
1:06 Coffee Break
1:12 Feelings of imposter syndrome and not belonging
3:47 What path to choose? Front end vs. Back end development?
6:00 The importance of mentoring and networking
6:54 How to find a mentor?
7:51 Challenges you will face
8:59 Wrap-up

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// My Story

I am currently a software developer who once modeled and thought I wanted to pursue a career in the fashion industry. While I was modeling in Hong Kong, I eventually felt the desire to further my education. I decided to depart the modeling world and move back to Canada, knowing that could be the end of my modeling opportunities. I attended Ryerson University for GCM (Graphic Communications Management), as I thought I might still work in the fashion industry in another capacity. It was in my last year of university, I was introduced to a very basic coding course. I instantly fell in love. From there I knew I wanted to pursue software development but didn't have a clue where to start. I didn't want to go back to university as I just completed a four-year degree. I decided to enroll in a 10-week intensive coding Bootcamp. From there I started working at a small startup learning and growing my technical and soft skills. I then transitioned to a larger company where I am a software developer and technical consultant today.

Self-Taught Programmers...Listen Up!

#SelfTaughtProgrammers #TiffInTech

[camilohernandez]

I'm a 33 year old clinical psychologist, but I started to need a more stable carrer. las year I stumbled uppon the idea of studying in this field and started CS50 and different courses, wich im still doing to this day. I managed to get a Trainee position in a big company and they have been very welcoming and helpful, willing to reach out and teach a lot... but it really is lonely. I have some friends who got out of Uni or Bootcamps and even tho they are amazing, I really doubt my knowledge. Im the oldest of the group and the only self taught of the bunch, but I really think the lack of a a institutional opinion or the lack of credentials one can get in a very structured formal education kills me. I'm doing well in my assignments, but its very difficult to really feel comfortable.

Sorry about the long text, but Iencourage everyone to follow your gut and try this. It's very rewarding and stimulating and it is worth the effort.

[juangr]

I started this year to pursue this dream of becoming a software engineer, and i always had this lack of confidence because i come from a socials degree background (philosophy), but your videos and constant uploads in instagram keep me motivated to keep pushing forward.

Thank you for your videos and keep up with the good work 👏

[fabrod]

Self taught programmer here.Coding has change my life for the better. Before I was struggling with 15hr jobs until programming.
Started with my first job at 30, 35, 50, 58 and now 90hr as a react front end dev.

[avidian]

A programmer who looks like a model and dresses really well is just not fair! You're too good to be true Tiff!

[BrendaMichellleTech]

Thanks Tiffany for being so honest about how you feel. I feel imposter syndrome on a daily basis especially as a self-taught developer. I feel like looking at where I started and comparing my current self to my previous self helps me appreciate and see all the growth I have experienced. 😊

[Aleksandra]

Thanks for sharing.I needed to hear that. Even i have 2.5 years of professional experience I have those thoughts quite often nowadays, the imposer syndrom, not knowing what to do with my career. It's nice to hear that I am not the only one having those moments of seeing myself not skilled enough or not capable to do something. Great content!

[I_Lemaire]

Thank you for the video, Tiff. The way I see it, coding is like warfare and having the mentality of a warrior really helps me when it doesn't seem glamorous.

[anthonydinino]

I've been watching you for a year and since the start I've wanted to land a software engineering job. I remember you saying "Don't give up, it will come" and that resonated with me. I didn't give up and slowly slowly I kept doing a little bit of coding everyday. Just last month I landed an amazing back-end engineering job, earn literally 4x more money now and the people are awesome. I have soooo much to learn but my excitement in learning new things will never fade. Thanks for supporting people like me Tiff.

[Unknown-hugf]

Just get a 2 or 4 year computer science or computer information systems degree and you'll never doubt yourself again and you'll have a excellent foundation. You can easily do that while working. You appear to be a very intelligent young lady so just do it...

[delturge]

Hi, Tiff. I really like your grass roots and grounded commentary. I think self-taught programmers in the modern era face the difficulty of abstraction in tech. Abstraction makes tech practical, but it also hides things from the user. Modern age web programmer tend to learn tech, but they realize there are layers below their layer that are more detailed and arcane. This is fine, as long as the bills get paid and all. 🙂 However, it's that ever present realization that one is mostly just a user of technology (including programming / mark-up / query languages), and not a developer of technology that creates self-doubt when you are self taught. Literally, to make reasonable progress, sometimes you just have to do what you are told, follow examples, build little things, and do the things you "think" you're supposed to do---but it does not usually lead to deeper understanding (and that's the problem).

I speak from experience. I started off in desktop support in 1996. I didn't really know how to program. I did not know computer security. I did not understand databases, but I could understand operating systems and networking. I got jobs as a tech, but I always felt that without the education I could not really be empowered. Since web development was not as advanced back then, knowing C/C++/Java was the thing to do. So, for many years, I stayed at a lower level of programming, but did pop my head up to later.

You learn so many things, but then sometimes its a waste because if you don't know a framework ....hey, I wanted to be the kind of person that built great things, not be on the "functional / reactionary" side of tech where you have to go where ever someone pulls your chain. People that build React or Angular do not have to worry about learning those things. They are below that and do not carry the follower's burden of learning what's hot in the market.

Over the decades, as you pass through several technology iterations, you will come to see that the many layers of learning that you will have accumulated gives you perspective about why imposter syndrome for those who "jump right in" in web development is inevitable. Computer science degrees do not give you all of the foundation you need to be a professional developer, but they do at least demonstrate that you could be a developer of technology, and not just a user of it.

[karlroth]

Self taught here. Finding those in this career was a solo effort. U love creating. My software skills over the years are key. Always learning the fundamentals and no matter what the job at hand, it’s exciting to keep challenging myself. The work is always like that if the mindset is there.

[cttmobile]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Just yesterday I thought I was not good enough for this, but now I realize that is part of the whole process. Thank you for being honest and humble.

[DataStorm]

every programmer is self-taught. It's the nature of it. having CS degree or whatever only tells they had to do assignments to make certain programs and got graded over it. They still had to learn to program in whatever was the required language of choice for the teacher, which probably was only proficient enough in that language, and often not even that. I know someone who did, he told me its the same process, just with a deadline and have to turn it in and demonstrate it (tip for CS ppl: even if not finished, not working, w/e, turn it in, showing that you did something is always more than a fail).

[Low_Code_DIY]

Can't agreed more!!! Just started learning C coding, cause I am going to develop some embed systems that have hardware and software working together. Feel so hard and just so slow to get what I want. Keep Going!!

[TheWeirdoinchains]

This is great, thanks for the advice. I am still looking for that first job 6 months after graduating and I can't even imagine being 4 years in right now. Imposter syndrome gets to me most days, I fell like I know nothing. I look at Leetcode and want to run and my projects are pretty static, but I have them and refactor them, there is something in me that won't give up although I say I will do.

[urosjovanovic]

Exactly what i needed... just going trough period of self doubt. Thank youu

[ronalddelrosario]

Thanks for the advice! I'd like to point out how very helpful it is to your career to have a mentor. I've had mentors early in my career (not formal of course), mainly more experienced coworkers, and they were extremely helpful in my growth as a software engineer, both in knowledge and confidence. I'd also like to give another piece of advice. It may not be for everyone, but I'd encourage any programmer/software developer to pick up and read a sort of software guidebook (probably not the right term) like Code Complete (it's a little old, but it's the one I read first) or The Clean Coder or Pragmatic Programmer. They give some very helpful tips on what sort of knowledge you should seek to gain, some good habits to try to acquire, and what tools you should try to familiarize yourself with.

[musajojo]

I feel this way all the time. I am a bootcamp grad and am always feeling like everyone is better than me they may or may not be I don't really know, but thats how I usually feel. I am getting the job done, so I guess I am doing well enough.

Thanks for the video.

[ayushikumari]

I am a computer science student and as a girl i was told ( except my parents) people around me to do medical or etc. but i choose engineering coz, of my interest. And you really give a confidence to pursue career in this field or built something out of this field. thanks tiff.💕🥰😊

[victorialim]

loved the intro/the style of the video! thank you so much for your valuable advice!