When you were teaching what did you learn? Did you enjoy it? Maybe you can do something based on that, I don’t want to speak for you but education site or app. Or maybe you found some admin things really horrible that could be automated.
Thank you for your advice and I agree experience is superior to just knowing everything in a textbook. But out of interest, if the person with the diploma had a great portfolio and had amazing skillset, would you have possibly considered a little more then?
I'll be happy to get a junior level entry job to build that experience first. Right now I will focus on expanding my 'freelance' work.
That would completely change the situation, so yes.
The thing is that diplomas matter only in very few sectors. Like medicine, law, physics and such. But in tech, realistically, the value of a diploma is 0.
Again, focus on a popular language, do some projects with it(so you have something to showcase) and after you get hired you can start specialising on specific things. Like web services, 3D engines, database and whatever else you'd want or need.
In short, you have to be smart about transitioning from academia into the "real world". As you have a diploma and you have been teaching, it means you are likely in your 30s, which is great, because id you would be Gen-Z or Gen-A, you'd have much harder time getting hired. So you are not position all too bad.
I turn 29 tomorrow, the worlds my oyster ;) although it's nice hearing that 30s is a suitable age for jobs. Teaching students, I am often reminded that anything above 20 is very old.
I think focusing on python + flask will be my first aim and start a few projects, go from there.
This might sound stupid, when building the project, focus it on something interesting to me or should I aim to make it more accessible to show off skills if that makes sense?
For a first attempt it may help to keep the focus on what you find interesting. I just built a very simple web app that connects to strava api and emails me if "i'm slacking" based on my weekly time / mileage. The UI kinda sucks right now, but it works completely off a raspberry pi and I can access it from the web. If I'm looking to hire and you have a hosted, working example to point to then I would think you're fairly capable as a developer. You can add on to it and make it nicer to show off other skills.
Yeah that's a solid point you've broken it down well. I think it just seems overwhelming on where to even start with those different roles. Suppose research is my best friend and should see what I should be focusing on first.
I'm definitely one that enjoys the creative/technical mix of coding and design. I assume that I should be learning new tools too as in 5 years, a lot can change in the programming world.
I know I'll have to enter at entry/junior level too which is fine as long as there was growth potential.
I've thought about the research side of things but definitely want to be more hands on.
After my degree I didn't want to pursue it as I fell out of love with it, possibly due to stress and letting Uni life get the better of me. It became stressful environment but through recent experiences and talking with close friends who are in the field of CS, overtime I've realised and processed that I still have a massive interest and constant want to learn more within it or somewhat be involved in it. The years of teaching it has definitely played a part in showing students my passion for the subject, reminding myself how much I love it too.
I've started picking up on python again and taking online courses to refresh myself but I want to make myself employable after these years. I have previous experience in java, php and C+ also. I've never worked in a professional coding environment either, hence why I am coming on here to seek advice on what would be best.
