qtguru:


Search for Python and Nigerians in Google search or from Upworks. You can see what gigs Naija python devs are doing.

Thanks

@qtguru how do I search for trending skills related to Python that Nigerians are getting/doing on Upwork?

So, I did build a project with JavaScript but I don't really like JS. I am trying to let go of Python, but I just can't make it happen.

Now, I want to go into the freelance market preferably Upwork since there are devs on Nairaland with a lot of experience, so that they can serve as guides when I have difficulties.

So far I've been taking DS and Algo classes to improve on that area. My issue now is choosing where to delve into with my Python skill.

I feel Web Development is a bit saturated on Upwork. I have been looking into QA using Selenium, or making bots on Upwork. I'm currently avoiding full time jobs because I need to get my AWS certificate first, so that I can resume as a Solution Architect, DevOps or Cloud Engineer instead of a Backend Engineer.

Please gurus in the house what's your suggestion? How do I know what's trending on Upwork for Python, so that I can learn it. Also, if there places where I could get Python related gigs, I would appreciate if they are mentioned.

Qtguru, Tensazangetsu20, Karleb, spartan117, stanliwise

qtguru:


React but he is doing Chrome Extension for Gigs

Thanks

@Qtguru, please what is your interns stack?

Internship and Connect

I am glad because I hooked up a Figma guy with a new small quick gig, and also the intern guy, I guided him to create an Upwork profile and I refered a job that came to me, He has finally gotten his first client to work with. I am glad this guy took all my advice, cuz I get depressed assisting people, because sometimes It feels like I am forcing people to do certain things.

BlackSan:


Good morning sir
I made this decision after reading "The Chronicles of a Data analyst/science" here on Nairaland.
I feel learnt data science will take a longer time when compared to Web dev (maybe I'm wrong). I have other reasons but I don't think they are convincible.

As Airsaylongcome would advise most of the times stick to your plan and play the long term game. If you are in love with Data Science, play the long term game and reap your reward in the future doing what you love. But if you need to get on your feet ASAP, then you can stick to Web Development but it won't also be as easy as you might presume.

BlackSan:


I understand your point, although I am currently focused on web dev but I have my reasons. Besides, some of the skills in web dev will be required in Data science but thank you so much for the advice.

I feel you should make more research though before you delve into anything. The good thing about tech is you can fail and pivot at anytime when you feel something isn't right for you again. Today you may be learning Data Science and Web Development, tomorrow you will end up a Product Designer.

Although, it's best to stick to one thing earlier on inorder to build a brand for yourself. Anyways, I wish you success in your endeavors.

BlackSan:


Well also on my frontend journey after which I intend to learn backend. After I become a full stack developer, I intend to go into Data science. That was my major aim in the first place.
I hope we get along... Uhm... Prosper?

Little piece of advice. Try sticking to a particular stack, you can't be all at once. Maybe you can be a Full stack or better still a Data Scientist instead of both. You can also niche down and become a Backend or Frontend dev.

tensazangetsu20:


I don talk tire but people no dey hear word. Once you have learnt the basics find a niche. General software development doesnt pay except you are willing to go deep into two and start practicing all the data structures and super algorithms.

I am a jamstack Developer presently and have a full time job but I got a 1000 USD contract from upwork this past month for that jamstack. My own senior developer at work also gives me gigs outside work which he pays me daily for.

My own now na even to learn Salesforce because if I can get certified I can be earning as much as 2 million naira a month if I stay in Nigeria and target remote but I don't want to stay here.

What are your thoughts regarding this niche of a thing particularly for someone that wants to break into DevOps? And how favorable do you think the freelance will be to such a person?

Qtguru, Codedboy95, Stanliwise your opinions are also needed

Rgade:

It’s actually 15 projects you’ll be building so you know why it’s that long.

Let me see how it goes, I may end up watching it.

stanliwise:

If you need more knowledge of JS.
Checkout the “You Don’t know JS” series

Perhaps are you backend or frontend?

I will check it out, thanks. I am a backend dev.

qtguru:


Learn ES5 basic, but use this book as a reference guide meaning learn the basic and move to ES6 and be consulting this book from time to time.

Any link to download it?

ProfAmaben:


Yeah, if you read my comment you'll see where I stated Backend there cos that's where OOP is heavily used. Udemy is great, probably you didn't research properly before buying then or the tutor wasn't good enough.

I agree Udemy is really good, I hope to go back there to get my AWS course after learning JavaScript.
I bought the course because it was what they used in teaching in an online boot camp I attended, and I thought it would be good but I have learnt from my mistakes.

tensazangetsu20:

If you are building for learning sake then start here https://jsbeginners.com/javascript-projects-for-beginners/#below-list

Thanks I will try it out.

ProfAmaben:
Go to Udemy and buy a solid course, I'll recommended JavaScript courses from Maximilian Schwarzmueller. OOP JavaScript won't take you far as a Frontend Engineer except you wanna be a backend person. Most Frontend codebases don't have OOP, embrace functional programming and the concept of immutability.

I once bought a course from Udemy when I started learning Python, but I abandoned it because I didn't like the explanation by Tutor. I ended up learning from Harvard's CS50 and The Net Ninja.

I don't have intentions to be a Frontend Dev, I already write Django and I intend to continue on that path. I only want to add Node.Js to my skill set that's why I am learning JavaScript.

tensazangetsu20:
Just look for Any website you fancy. Rebuild all the pages using html CSS and JavaScript. I won't advise you to use youtube projects as a lot of people are already doing that and will have the same projects. Also you aren't really learning or challenging yourself as you are just coding alongside the instructor.

Hmm, I tried this while doing HTML and CSS but I failed when I tried it once at JavaScript, so I think I need some kind of guidance to pick up first then this can come.
I am not adding what I will build from the tutorial to my portfolio due to the fact you stated (it's already random). Your contributions are always valuable, thanks.

Rgade:
I downloaded freecodecamps’ build 15 javascript projects course on YouTube.
It’s an 8 hr video, but then i couldn’t stand the instructors voice
So frustrating. You can check it out cause the part I managed to watch was making sense.

I don't really think I will have the patience to sit down for 8 hours to watch it, and I may have issues remembering where I stopped nevertheless I will check it out. Thanks for your suggestion

spartan117:

Then try Dev Ed his explanations are good

I will check this out, thank you.

spartan117:

Go to Youtube and search for Brad Traversytar he has very great project videos.

Also search for Dev Ed he has great content and a very good way of explaining difficult things (personally learnt a lot from this guy) he also won't keep you bored with his dry jokes lol.

You can start with this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttf3CEsEwMQ

I don't really know if it's me but I don't really grab Brad Travesty. I have tried his JS tutorial once though I understood the basics due to my past experience with other languages. Also, I had issues understanding his Django tutorials.

qtguru:


I will advise to learn ES5 first before learning ES6 Classes as that's just syntactic sugar

Any recommendations for tutorials?

Hello Gurus, I want to begin learning JavaScript mostly the OOP aspect since I already have experience with the basics. I am looking for a project based tutorial, so I can follow hands on. Any suggestions please?

Qtguru, Tensazangetsu20, Karleb, spartan117, stanliwise

Good morning all, it's my first time posting on this section. Please I need your suggestions and opinions.

I have an issue that is seriously bothering me, I am a third year Computer Engineering student of a Federal University. The problem is my result has dropped from the 2.1, I was managing to a 2.2 my current CGPA is 3.07, and I even fear it may drop to a third class if I am not careful.

Now the issue is I was advised to substitute my reading time and time for classes to focus more on my programming by my senior colleagues but it's adversely affecting my CGPA.

I have already resolved that I may not graduate with a 2.1 again, because I have been busy with several gigs which are giving me a practical work experience and the pay is great for a student. But on the bright side my work resume has improved, and I am getting really juicy offers which will allow me to save up and eventually leave the country.

The issue now is I want to go for my Masters Degree but, I don't know if I will be given admission in a Computer Science or Software Development related course due to my CGPA.

Please if you have towed this part and you were successful, please share your experiences because this has been draining and stressing me for some time.

I would like to apply to universities in Ireland, UK, Sweden, Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and South Africa but I am open to other suggestions as long as a permanent residency is guaranteed.

Also, will the prospective universities overlook the CGPA if I have a good resume and work experience.

Please I really need answers from the experts and those who have had similar experiences on the forum.

PS: I am sorry for the long post but please bear with me.

Thank you in advance for your contributions.

spartan117:
You advertise by building a project with your chosen backend stack and then in your portfolio website you explain in detail what the project is about, the tech stack used, key features etc. But you have to talk about the backend features more. Then you add a link to the project.

In my first backend interview I was asked some general questions related to my programming language of choice and then backend specific questions, after which I was asked about the last backend project I did.

I and the interviewer spent the rest of the interview reviewing that project: discussing why I implemented xyz in a certain way, the drawbacks and advantages of that approach, and how I could have implemented it better. The interviewer completely ignored the frontend part of that project.

This is the dream of almost every Backend Dev

Karleb:
Omo, it's hard o!

Apply only to jobs targeted at backend engineers. I once attended an interview were the test was divided into two, the front-end and the backend. Some companies are still sane enough to know the difference and when you go for interviews, tell them that you don't do front-end.

There was a time Cowyrise were looking for Django developers.


Showcasing your backend skills is actually very hard in s world where everything is about React. If you are not being interviewed by a technical person they might think you don't know anything because all they care about is animations and carousel.

I made a post about this here around last year.

They don't care whether the SQL queries are optimized, whether your tables are normalized or your form safe of SQL injections or CSRF protected or whether you're caching or not saving files in your database. As long as your pages are not dancing and singing then you are not good to them.

I have about the bolded a lot, in fact it was an argument on Twitter that only technical Devs should interview for technical roles and not HRs. I am also side learning React and some other Frontend skils(just the basics though to understand those I will be working with in future). Thanks for your contribution.

tensazangetsu20:

Your research wasn't deep enough. Please do more before going really deep into it so you don't regret it especially as a beginner.

I think there's a job for every developer regardless of their stack. I have seen folks get gigs with Go, so Django should have some opportunities out there. All the same thanks for the advise.

stanliwise:

To advertise your skill it is majorly by using your GitHub page. As a backend dev you must have portfolio that showcase brilliance implementation of business logic and unique application logic implementation in areas like
Mailing
CRUD operation
Payment gateway
Api oriented application
File management and processing

Using recent skill set and style like:
OOP
MVC architecture
Design patterns
etc

Or you could build a uncommon app like engines(game or graphics), payment gateway, library to abstract process complications etc.

Backend is beautiful but only to those who know what it is.

Avoid touting yourself for roles with
Web developer tag
Web designer
Programmer
If you do be ready to explain yourself that you’re a backend niche

Ensure you many times apply for roles with backend developer as their name and read the specifications to ensure it fit your stack.

Thank you for the advise

tensazangetsu20:

Even abroad it's bad market. How do you market what doesn't have any demand. For beginners, you also do the same thing as frontend Devs. Projects.

I made some research though before I dabbled into it

tensazangetsu20:
Django is bad market o.

Bro let's forget about how Django is bad market besides I am not targeting the Nigerian market. My question is how do you market your skills to potential employers as a Backend Dev?

I am a Django developer new to Backend development. I know Frontend and UI/UX Devs advertise their portfolio site but for backend it isn't the same or let me say I haven't seen it. So, Backend Devs in the house how do you advertise yourself potential employers or for potential gigs?

Stanliwise Qtguru Karleb