How long to become a software developer?

If you're trying to teach yourself software development you might be wondering what are some realistic expectations of how long it will take to land your first job. In this video I'll share with you what I've seen now in working with people directly as a mentor and coach.

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[AndySterkowitz]

How long have you been pursuing a career in software development? Did this video help clarify anything for you?

[Karimmohamud]

I love programming and everything about computers. I’m gonna be a software developer in the future and will support my family

[DanEllis]

There's a lot of breathless, self-promoting, motivational hype out there about becoming a software developer. It's good to see someone give sound, measured, sensible advice and information.

[thisisheaven]

If someone is not born with certain talents, they can acquire it through perseverance and discipline.

[subhuman]

If you are determined to become a software developer you have to give it your all, Bet on yourself, Put in the time and the results will come. .Thanks Andy for this !😊👏

[joshadams]

Grit and determination are key for the job search. I received many rejections before I received an offer.

[Sipwipbip]

Ive always been the “slow kid” in my comp sci classes, totally not an “engineer thinker”. I know im not a “logical thinker” or at least a great one, it takes time. Id say im more of a “creative thinker”. in my third year of college atm and im definitely getting a better understanding. Taking 3 years, but am starting to really feel comfortable. Point is, people are gonna learn at their own rates

[wilhelmsarasalo]

It takes a lifetime. I started in the 1970's and here I am watching your video to see if I can learn more. One piece advice I can give is that it is much better to pick up a project where somebody else has failed than to do a brand new one. This has to do with client's expectations. As far as mentoring and coaching I was once hired by a video store to mentor and coach the person writing their software. I would have done it for free but it turned out that my structured approach pretty much bored him, he was more an artist than an engineer. So he wanted me to take over. A lot of customer and video data was already in the system, I needed access to that. So, I soldered together a serial adapter and told him to write to that to get the data out. He couldn't with the rest of the crew at the store after hours, so I locked him in and told him to break the window in case fire breaks out. Then I took the rest of the crew across the street and bought them tequila shots. He got it done and I wrote the software, team stayed together and later went on to produce a movie called Pulp Fiction and win an Oscar. So becoming a software developer may involve soldering, locking somebody up, buying tequila shots and probably many other things.

[zublits]

Love these videos. This one made me realize I should have started pursuing this a long time ago. I learned scripting languages for making mods for games when I was quite young, but never went into the field. I think the biggest thing was that I never really liked school that much and no teachers really believed in me or showed me any interest. I remember being super excited to take my first Information Technology class in HS (this was back when schools were just starting up these programs) and the teacher absolutely hated me for some reason. I was also always afraid that being a programmer would involve a lot of math. All I can think is that I've wasted all of this time not doing something that it was pretty obvious I would be good at. But I guess I never believed in myself.

Thanks to your channel I'm starting to think that this is something I can absolutely do, so thank you. You're making a difference in at least one person's life.

P.S. There seems to be something wonky with the frame-rate of this video. The motion is choppier than I'm used to seeing on YT and it gives me motion sickness.

[joecatt]

I am 2 months into this. I am nearly completed with my first coding book and my first bootcamp on Python. 2 years seems like a long time! I am 27 though, and my goal is to make it by 30.

[MarcusWashington]

I so appreciate you man. You encourage me a lot. Keep doing what you're doing.

[timtudosa]

Thank you Andy my fellow Chicagoan! Very Inspiring. I enjoy coding and I try my best to practice everyday. I don't care how long it takes to reach my goal. I'm determined!

[alexnikitin]

Thank God I found this channel. You are essentially my therapist!

[MrPDTaylor]

How long till I get a job and how long till I'm a decent developer are two different matters.

[ericheredia]

Former Naperville Starbucks barista here. I just left my job recently, I'm going to take a couple months off work to really grind and get some projects done for my portfolio. As long as I keep working hard I know I'll eventually get a software job, just hoping it's sooner rather than later. Thanks for always giving me inspiration man.. any time I start to get frustrated or feeling down, I just watch some of your videos and I'm back at it 100%.

[MahmoudSaadawy]

Hey Andy! I'm really looking up to you. One of the best YouTubers ever. Very simple and straightforward. Keep up the good work man!

[defaultcamo]

I am a Communication Technician. <title> Cable Guy </title>

haha Im working to become an Computer Engineer. Your videos helped me figure out my start.

[nikschmidt]

Andy, thank you so much for your videos! As someone who sells engineering services and now looking forward to become a developer your videos are helping me a lot! If I questioning my decision or myself sometime i just watch one of your videos and feel better :) thanks from germany !

[angrysnek]

I got my first job as a Software Developer recently and it took me 10 months from the first day I started learning to code HTML. I went the bootcamp route and it ultimately led me to my job through the career services at said bootcamp. The bootcamp was 13k and I received a 35k pay increase from this new job. I’d say it was a worth while investment

[nicolaslibre]

you're really my life saver Andy! Thank you a million times.😭