What are your thoughts after watching this video? Encouraged? Discouraged. Let me know!

Short Answer is: Yes you can! I started coding for the first time in July 2020; 113 job applications and 11 months later, I finally landed my first full time position as an iOS developer. I don't have a CS degree, or even a bachelors, and I also did not attend any sort of bootcamp. I use Udemy for most of my learning and I read up on things that require a more in-depth look. All you gotta do is be consistent!

1 year of studying on my own got me my first job in the industry. 4 years later, today I had to decline an interview with Amazon and currently working to get into Under Armour. I get paid to learn, instead of paying to learn. God is good!

I'm 57 and teaching myself Front-end Development. It's hard and will take me awhile, but I am making progress and my skill is improving every day.

I was a grill cook for over 5 years. I spent the last year dedicating myself to programming & landed my first job back in May! Don't be discouraged! The truth is anyone can attempt it, but only few can commit & achieve.

I went to a community college, got a degree, got hired, and hated my software job. I left that and went into property management. I worked there for about a year when I found myself missing programming. I loved building things and making things work. I realized it was the culture at the place where I was working, not software. So I went back and started doing some JavaScript courses, some SQL courses, and rediscovered my love for coding. I’ve been a full time developer for an amazing company, the same company I was a property manager for, for 4 years now.

My first time through HTML,CSS,JS, I hit a wall and took a break for a few months but once I got back into it I was surprised at how much I for I had retained. Now that I’ve started up again I feel more prepared in regards to studying and being consistent.

I taught myself BASIC coding as a sophomore in high school, then Assembler with machine code, then Pascal. My first job I was programming an automated test device with 16 switches and "store/increment/run" buttons. I later taught myself C, APL, DDCMP, HTML/CSS/JS... never took a class. Lived all over the world. I quit working at 50. Anyone who says "you can't" is an idiot. Just enjoy what you do, and do it..

Thanks Andy. Was considering giving up for a while...This short "truth" gave me some hope again. I have a long way to go but will not give up. wildebtw said it too..don't give up, find your feet. there is just so much to learn that it can become overwhelming. Love the content.

This was encouraging. I’ve been practicing since last October, started with HTML then CSS then JS. I didn’t go about it very well though, I was all over the place. I’d learn something in HTML then switch to CSS. Then I got a Udemy course and tried that. Stopped and tried to just read documentation. I was super disorganized. Now I’m just focusing purely on JS until I’m able to build a big (not super big) application (think e-commerce website) have it look nice, function correctly, etc. that’s my goal right now. Wish I know some programmers in real life though.

I achieved success in 1 year study. My friend achieved same in 5 year. Started to getting paid after 6-7 months of my study. Now I work in 2 Freelancing paid projects as a JavaScript Developer both front, back. I started from your videos, 100% Self Taught. Competetion is there, but if you really have the capability of a programmer, nothing can stop you. People who are starting to this has to have a grit and stubborness to not quit and be tough

As of writing, Colt Steele's beginner web dev course has had ~688k students over its lifetime. His advanced one, though? Just ~72k. That is a _huge_ dropoff. Obviously, not everyone who completes the first course is going to buy the second. That's a given. But it should still be an indication that a lot of the competition isn't willing to see the entire journey through.

Sometimes I feel like you read my mind and want to tell me something.

I taught myself a variety of things in my life. I taught myself handyman skills, Art, I taught myself finance without a degree, I taught myself Computer science without a degree. Ultimately my goals is continue being what I am now, an entrepreneur. What got me interested in CS was its applications in robotics I don't really care all that much about Web development personally.

Great video. I got my first software engineering job at 39. It was a long and difficult journey but is definitely possible. And yes, there are no shortcuts.

Thank you Andy for answering my shower thoughts! :D

This is quite encouraging, I was planning on restarting my journey. Thanks

thank you for your input man, I've been a civil engineer for 3 years but I just don't think I can do this job for the rest of my life.

Due to the audio issues, (and also I just read "apologies in advance..." in the description preview) I thought you are showing an old video with your past opinion and then switching to the new recording and explaining why you no longer have this opinion. GOT ME!

It's incredible how much information is freely and openly accessible these days... man, researching in the library, those days weren't that long ago but wow - very, very rapid change.

I’m just starting this process, and super excited!!! I’m a single mom who will turn 50 this year. I am committed and ready to do this!!! I work in the legal field, and I know I can learn anything. Thank you for sharing your insights!!

I’m on this path right now. Fully committed to the career change and began studying in November. I’d previously done some very minimal reading about programming years ago, but never pursued it fully. I’m documenting my learning journey and experience, going from now through to employment on my channel for anyone interested in following my journey. Thanks for another great video!

Hey Andy thanks for your videos, may I ask you how old you were, when you started to get into programming? greetings from Berlin

I appreciate your advice so much, I recently got interviewed for a full stack engineering position and I just completed their technical assessment, the challenge was great knowing I got this opportunity as a self taught developer, with no degree and very little job experience. Thanks alot for the value added content.

Hello, could you make a video about when to start a project? How do I know It’s good time or a fit time for me to begin to do my own project as a self-taught programmer ? Because for example now I feel it’s still too difficult for me to start a project.

I’ve been saying this for a while, programming is not for everyone. It’s a life long journey and you have to take it one step at a time. I also believe that is not just about learning the latest technologies, which is something that I see a lot of people who want to program do. It always comes down to the fundamentals and your ability to solve problems. You have to be able to figure things out and learn new concepts on your own. It is also important to point out that it also depends on what you are trying to do, most people are going for web development which is mostly technologies like HTML, CSS, JS, PHP, REACT, etc, all of these are very easy to learn. Other things are not so easy, if you are trying to get into robotics, machine learning, embedded systems, and other more complex fields, you will need to have knowledge on more complex technologies like C++, Assembly, GPIO knowledge, hardware knowledge, etc. For this same reason is why I personally decided to pursue a CS degree. My goal by the end of this year, or beginning of next year, is to land a job in web development as a front end, back end, or full stack developer and eventually move on to more difficult fields in technology, like the ones I mentioned.

I wouldn't really worry about this too much because there is always one important thing. If you try to do anything really - you need to actually like it. If you go for money only - you clearly don't know what the heck u're doing with your life. This field is just so vast that there is no chance for any one person to know everything about programming in a few lifetimes actually, not just one. I'm a self-taught programmer. Yeah granted I've been doing this for god knows how many years. And after years and years every few days I end up having to learn something new. A new framework, library, whatever. But I like this field, so I don't even have any problem just doing some programming as just a hobby too without getting paid at times. I like solving programming and software architecture problems. Some people think this is a get rich quick thing. Actually there is no such thing as get rich quick thing in anything. Even get rich quick schemes are more of a get poor quick schemes lol. I think because this field is so vast - there will always be ways for programmers and developers to make a good living. However becoming a good developer / programmer takes work, time and experience.

Thank you !

I've been working on trying to become a self-taught programmer for about seven months now. I haven't started trying to apply yet, but I feel like I can offer someone advice who is in my shoes. Reach out to every volunteer project that you are interested in until you find one that bites. I got SUPER lucky, and the first one that I reached out to got back to me. I was honest and told them that I know very little but I'm willing to work hard. Now, I have a mentor to help me. He is also able to accurately rate my skills. Not only that, but the things I am doing in this project will really help to bolster my programming portfolio. tldr: Reach out to people in the field, network, and be willing to put in a lot of work. Stick with it and you can succeed.

Topic I would love to see, Do you have to live in a tech hub city to get a web dev job? I live in Arkansas - am I doomed? LOVE your content. Thanks! :)

My friend is a huge gamer who worked at a manufacturing company and hated it. He wanted to become a programmer but he was past 30 and people told him it would be a mistake to change fields (myself included). He was an artist too and learned animation while studying programming. He eventually got hired by an app-game startup as an artist/programmer (not having many resources he could pick up slack on the art or programming side saving the company waste) but working for peanuts. The company went under not long after but with that little bit of professional experience he got a job at a small but established company as a full-time programmer and recently moved onto a job where he is getting 70k a year (compared to his 30k manufacturing job). Young people with a degree will get hired but if your a little older and have no paper crediting you it is imperative to get any kind of professional experience you can, even if it means whoring yourself out. Work up from there. If you have mouths to feed and don't have the luxury cut your sleep time a couple hours and ask friends and coworkers if they know anyone who could use some coding work. Do it for free if you have to. Anything to get a start. It doesn't matter if you're Allen Turing, if you are 30 years old with no pro-experience and no degree companies will be offended you even bothered to apply.

One question I always have is "Where do I continue" Every time I jump back in I have to go through all the same basic concepts for the billionth time, as if I started over. I know up to a point of python and judging where I could jump to in any learning environment is the true problem for me.

Appreciate the realness

I've learnt to code in Python and started looking for job last November. Still no job. I have lots of interviews and stuff, especially these days, including for internships and stuff, which is very exciting. Hopefully I'll get something soon. I've got also tests to do for some of my applications. It's helpful to solve coding challenges daily.

I'm 27 years old and honestly I have no idea about technology etc. It's embarrassing i know. There are younger ppl that are already ahead of me in everything that has to do with computers, internet, codding and other stuff. I secretly wanted to start learning cause the future will offer a lot of opportunities if you know about these stuff and also life is becoming quite competitive so i don't want to stay behind.

This is encouraging. I learnt a bit of Python and myself from udemy. Is it enough to apply for jobs or do I need to learn some more languages

Hey Andy, loved the video. Just wanted to let you know I think there is a little typo in the title :)

The simple answer is yes. You do not need that affirmation from anyone. Knowledge didn't fall from the sky and people learned on their own, made mistakes and took the really lengthy learning curve by themselves and that's how they are able to pass knowledge to others. You can do the same.

Guys can you land a Web Developer job knowing only HTML and CSS? I've been building some cool and modern websites but just couldn't force myself to learn JavaScript (I don't like it, for some unknown reason). What are your thoughts?

hi andy why you don’t upload videos for a month? i miss you

Yes!

Thanks for this inspiring video. I just sent a request to join your FB group. I want to switch career from Environmental Science to IT. Can you advise me on how and where to start? Also could you recommend some books and online classes to get me started? Thanks.

I have close to 3000 hours of coding, over 200 resumes sent and 12 interviews completed and still don't know if I'm 10 meters or 10 lightyears away from finally landing a junior position in Switzerland.

Andy brother please make a video on "Advanced JS projects".

You say in your video that from all the people who watches Udemy courses, very few will actually get a job. That makes me wonder: From all the people who can build a complete front-end, back-end or full-stack app, how many can get a job?

I know all this is possible but I a have a 2 year degree and still haven't got a job in my craft yet. I am currently back in school trying to get a four year degree. At this point, I want to start my own buisness that's how demoralizing I got lol. I love programming so I am never going to stop. One way or the other I will become a pro whether I get hired or I have to create my own Job to do so. I am also getting the 4 year degree because I want to be able to leave the USA.

its my 3rd year learning code I chose front end in last 2 years I smoke weed daily and still managed to sell few websites but what I want to emphasize I notice my progress is so slow because of my bad habit I been smoking for 11 years and 7 years daily but because I really really want to do coding for living I managed quit smoking and getting ready for my first job search . learning how to code made me read books which I never done I was such loser wasted my youth but coding really opened my eyes to life No matter it took me to this day 2 and half years +-

I dont monivated by coding and money anymore but I have to support family 😔

Does not seem to me that now more than ever employeers are willing to consider people with no credentials. All the junior software jobs I see require CS degree and 1-2 year experience.

It's a time of oportunity be unweary or be nothing

To some extent, everyone is self taught or they havent really been taught at all.

I am a new subscriber.

tryed contact true the website about the mentoring but no answear :/

Just my .02 cents. If you're a fan of the Star Trek at all, you'll know they often mention that in the future(their time) they have eliminated the need to acquire wealth and that they work to better themselves and expand their knowledge. So after dropping out of not 1 but 2 boot camps only to try it once more on the Odin Project but get burned out again. The Star Trek philosophy is where I'm at. A new found hobby of collecting and racing diecast cars has once again driven a desire to learn this stuff to now solve real world problems I have related to that. My goal now is not to land that 100k dev job. I'm learning to enrich myself. To be honest I'd rather learn some Linux Server admin stuff and be a Linux admin. That's my 100k dream job and that is on my list to learn still, but right now I have around 30 to 40 days left of 100 days of coding challenge. I've been adding on to an Express tutorial to store and retrieve data about my hotwheels collection and race results via one of those rest api thingies =)

Hi Andy! What happened to you? No more videos?

I decided to be a web developer, can you give me a plan for that?

Andy, AT WHAT AGE is getting hired just not a possibility?

I got a talk with few companies and asked how you choose person for the job? They said, they dont care about CV (resume). Whats important, is: what you have done. Show us what you have done, give link to Github and thats all. Im in progress of getting into IT job. Im tired of my current job.

Hey Andy please Add English subtitles on this video.

Litterally first ;)

As someone who likes challenges. Challenge accepted.

Do you know why we need to support people to self taught? Because coding is relatively simple, but you need this special personality to be able to do this job in a long run. For extroverts, this job is probably already out of the question. You need to be able to sit down for hours, by yourself for days (even though you probably are working together with other people, you need this ability). Even for a lot of introverts, after 2-3 years they struck out. They got stressed out, bored, can't even look at codes anymore and ended up selling food. I think being able to self taught is the first natural selection. Not to put down those who goes to bootcamps.

Wait...Jocko sleeps in??!!!

courses can be good, but what you need are PEERS who are into what you are into to share your learning with and feedback. PEERS. PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU, WITH THE SAME GOALS AS YOU.

Tbh, watching the title is kinda depressing as I am considering to self taught programming. But the best of the best people always say you dont have to care about what other people say or whatnot...its just about the passion and interest in the certain subject.

In a boot camp right now, seeming more and more like a huge mistake.

Are there any good python books?

Andy, as a Veteran I have to say Jocko's motivational viewpoints are very well applied for other Veterans in this field. He gives a rather structured element that one would receive similar to basic training.

5:52

And Jocko Willink wakes up at 4:30 :D :D

There is no alternative. You won't learn everything you need at school and you won't learn it in your job if you manage to get one.

how many of these videos you gonna make bro lol. i remember back like 2-3 years ago i watched the same type of vid on this channel. i didn't get a dev job, but i got a job that pays the bills at least. working on making a career switch though.

to be honest. what stops people is their imposter syndromes. ;/

The problem with people learning anything these days is that everyone over complicates learning. Doesn't matter if you go to school, learn on your own, or have somebody hand give you knowledge most people fail because they over complicate learning.

I think "self-taught" is a misleading term. If someone is watching videos and taking online courses, they are being taught by someone. I took your SQL course. I did not teach myself. You taught me.

Hello sir! I've sent an email through your website🙂

Hello sir, would you say this info is still accurate at this time in 2022?

first

Thanks for this inspiring video. I just sent a request to join your FB group. I want to switch career from Environmental Science to IT. Can you advise me on how and where to start? Also could you recommend some books and online classes to get me started? Thanks.