How to Build the Best Github Profile for Your Job Search

Mar 04, 2022 by Lane Wagner

I’ve reviewed a lot of resumes, both as an engineering manager and in the monthly resume workshops we do in the Boot.dev Discord group. I’m convinced that these days a developer’s Github profile is just as important as their resume itself. If you haven’t started your first job yet, this advice is doubly important. Anyone looking to hire an entry-level developer is going to be diving into your public Github presence looking to get an idea for where your skill level is at.

Coding Interviews - Why you shouldn’t give homework

Nov 18, 2021 by Lane Wagner

A while back I went through the interview process at a company I won’t name here. The first interview was basically just a phone screen, where I was able to chat with my would-be manager about things like compensation range, tech stack, work duties, etc. It went well! The guy was delightful. I moved on to a second interview, which was a live coding session that lasted 1 hour where I completed two technical problems.

20 Entry-Level JavaScript Interview Questions To Land Your First Coding Job

Jul 29, 2021 by Jamie Dunmore

Versatile, powerful and ever-present, JavaScript is the world’s most used programming language (for eight years and counting!) and shows no signs of slowing down. 94.5% of web pages use JavaScript, it’s one of the 10 most-loved programming languages, and with median salaries of $112,000 in the US, JavaScript offers a way to fast-track your way to higher earnings if you’re thinking of switching careers. You’ve mastered the basics – perhaps by taking our Intro to JavaScript course – and tried your hand at some simpler JavaScript projects or challenges.

The 10x Meeting - Solving for Too Many Meetings

May 10, 2021 by Lane Wagner

Perhaps you’ve heard of the fabled 10x developer (or 10x engineer) - the one on the team that’s 10x as productive as their average colleague. While many, including myself, doubt the existence of such people, I do think there are meetings that are 10x as productive as the average meeting. My goal in this article is to break down their properties so we can have 10x fewer meetings. What’s the purpose of a meeting?

Is a Coding Bootcamp Worth It Compared to a Computer Science Degree?

Mar 29, 2021 by Zulie Rane

When you’re in a position of wondering, “Is a coding bootcamp worth it?” you should look at several factors. Coding bootcamp costs, on average, around $13,000. This holds true no matter if you choose to attend coding bootcamp in person or online, though there’s a lot of variance in how much coding bootcamp costs, ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 depending on the language, the length, and who’s running it. You should also look at alternatives.

Is Computer Science Really that Hard?

Mar 24, 2021 by Lane Wagner

With the influx of interest in the edTech site I’ve been building, I’ve been getting a question that I don’t think I had previously taken the time to really think through, “Is computer science hard?”. Like most things, the answer depends on your perspective and current situation. That said, my guess is that a standard computer science education is easier than most of my readers think. Take as an analogy two friends, one weighs 300 lbs and is trying desperately to lose weight, the other friend weighs 100 lbs and wants to pack some on.

Can You Get a Programming Job with Just an Associate’s Degree?

Mar 22, 2021 by Lane Wagner

Changing majors is a tale as old as time. A degree that would normally require four years to complete can quickly turn into a more expensive endeavor that takes five or six years for a student that can’t decide what they want to study. The interesting thing about programming jobs is that they don’t require a degree at all, but if you at least complete an associate’s degree, you’ll have a better chance of landing that first job.

Where Can You Get a Programming Certificate Online?

Mar 14, 2021 by Zulie Rane

There are two main options to get a programming certificate online - online courses and universities. There are two ways to get a programming certificate online - universities and online courses. In the simplest possible terms, a programming certificate is something that lets you walk up to an employer and say, “Hello, yes, I know how to SQL. Here’s a piece of paper that proves it. You should hire me.”

The Two Classes of Software Engineer

Mar 05, 2021 by Lane Wagner

“Software engineer” has become a ubiquitous term for people who write, deploy, architect, or sometimes even simply test code. In reality, I think there are two classes of “software engineers”; those who understand computer science well enough to do challenging, innovative work, and those who just get by because they’re familiar with a few high-level tools. The laziness with which the tech industry has adopted the term “software engineer” has made it harder for us to distinguish between the two.

7 Ways for Beginner Coders to Monetize Programming Blogs

Feb 26, 2021 by Lane Wagner

Why shouldn’t your hobby earn you money? Programming is a very lucrative skill to have, whether as a professional career, a freelance gig, or even just a hobby. For programmers who know how, there’s a real opportunity to turn their knowledge and expertise into cold hard cash. When you combine the ability to program or code with the ability to write in a way that resonates with an audience, that’s a jackpot.