4 answers
Andrii
Student
Lutsk, Volyns'ka oblast, Ukraine
1
Question
Updated
1114 views
How can I find a mentor to better understand what I need to do to transition to a career as a Python developer.?
Is there anyone who can help?
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3 answers
Stefan Elser
Data Scientist
8
Answers
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Updated
Stefan’s Answer
Hi Andrii,
It may help to provide more background, as I find it is easier to get into Python if you already have programming experience. If you don't, the steps you need to take may be different. If you do, then learning Python should be much easier, especially with the availability of Generative AI coding assistants.
The most important thing for programming is to find a project or task to work on and get coding. My first exposure to Python was by solving problems in Project Euler. Or, if you are interested in working with data you can go to Kaggle and find a problem and some sample data to work on and then get started with Pandas.
Personally, while I currently work with Python I did not have much experience before my current job. I did have experience with SAS and R and so I leveraged that background to write some code and then take time to convert it into Python. By doing this I learned the basics and now consider Python my primary language. Once I made more progress and wrote code that others were interested in, I found people who would take time to review my code and provide guidance for how to improve it.
I hope sharing my experience helps!
Best,
Stefan
It may help to provide more background, as I find it is easier to get into Python if you already have programming experience. If you don't, the steps you need to take may be different. If you do, then learning Python should be much easier, especially with the availability of Generative AI coding assistants.
The most important thing for programming is to find a project or task to work on and get coding. My first exposure to Python was by solving problems in Project Euler. Or, if you are interested in working with data you can go to Kaggle and find a problem and some sample data to work on and then get started with Pandas.
Personally, while I currently work with Python I did not have much experience before my current job. I did have experience with SAS and R and so I leveraged that background to write some code and then take time to convert it into Python. By doing this I learned the basics and now consider Python my primary language. Once I made more progress and wrote code that others were interested in, I found people who would take time to review my code and provide guidance for how to improve it.
I hope sharing my experience helps!
Best,
Stefan
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1464
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Andrii! 🐍💻 You’re looking to level up your Python game? Well, buckle up because transitioning to a Python developer career is like hopping onto a rollercoaster—thrilling, a little nerve-wracking, but totally worth it! 🎢
Here’s how you can start your Python-powered journey:
Master the Basics:
If you haven't already, get cozy with Python basics: variables, loops, data types, and functions. It's like learning how to walk before you run... or code before you super-code! 🏃♂️ Once you’ve got this, everything else will just click.
Explore Libraries and Frameworks:
Next, get your hands on some cool libraries! Start with essentials like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib. Think of libraries like treasure chests. The more you explore, the more shiny goodies you find! 🏆 And when you’re feeling fancy, dive into web frameworks like Flask or Django. Web apps? Here you come! 🌐
Projects, Projects, Projects:
Don't just watch tutorials. Build things. A project without a project is like a pizza without toppings—it's just dough. 🍕 Start small: a calculator app, a to-do list, or a chatbot. Then level up to more complex things like games, web apps, or data analysis tools. Your projects will showcase your skills and make you look super legit. 🌟
Join Python Communities:
Feeling stuck? Don’t worry, the Python community is like a giant support group but with way more memes. Join forums, attend meetups (virtual ones, of course!), and don't be shy about asking questions. Everyone has been where you are, and they’re all super supportive. 👐
Get a Mentor:
Here’s where you can use a little secret trick: Mentorship! A good mentor is like having a GPS for your Python journey. You might ask, "How do I find one?" Easy! Join GitHub communities, LinkedIn groups, or even look into online coding boot camps. They'll be there to guide you with tips and tricks you won't find in textbooks. 📚✨
Stay Consistent:
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a Python dev career! Keep coding every day, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. Consistency is like the secret sauce in a perfect Python career burger. 🍔 (You didn’t think I’d forget about food, did you?)
But here's a fun fact:
Python developers are in high demand. Your future boss might just be one click away, asking for your skills to work on the next big thing. So, let's make Python your superpower! 💪
Humor Bonus:
When someone asks, “What’s Python?”, you can confidently reply, “It’s the only snake I’m not afraid of.” 😎
Here’s how you can start your Python-powered journey:
Master the Basics:
If you haven't already, get cozy with Python basics: variables, loops, data types, and functions. It's like learning how to walk before you run... or code before you super-code! 🏃♂️ Once you’ve got this, everything else will just click.
Explore Libraries and Frameworks:
Next, get your hands on some cool libraries! Start with essentials like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib. Think of libraries like treasure chests. The more you explore, the more shiny goodies you find! 🏆 And when you’re feeling fancy, dive into web frameworks like Flask or Django. Web apps? Here you come! 🌐
Projects, Projects, Projects:
Don't just watch tutorials. Build things. A project without a project is like a pizza without toppings—it's just dough. 🍕 Start small: a calculator app, a to-do list, or a chatbot. Then level up to more complex things like games, web apps, or data analysis tools. Your projects will showcase your skills and make you look super legit. 🌟
Join Python Communities:
Feeling stuck? Don’t worry, the Python community is like a giant support group but with way more memes. Join forums, attend meetups (virtual ones, of course!), and don't be shy about asking questions. Everyone has been where you are, and they’re all super supportive. 👐
Get a Mentor:
Here’s where you can use a little secret trick: Mentorship! A good mentor is like having a GPS for your Python journey. You might ask, "How do I find one?" Easy! Join GitHub communities, LinkedIn groups, or even look into online coding boot camps. They'll be there to guide you with tips and tricks you won't find in textbooks. 📚✨
Stay Consistent:
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a Python dev career! Keep coding every day, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. Consistency is like the secret sauce in a perfect Python career burger. 🍔 (You didn’t think I’d forget about food, did you?)
But here's a fun fact:
Python developers are in high demand. Your future boss might just be one click away, asking for your skills to work on the next big thing. So, let's make Python your superpower! 💪
Humor Bonus:
When someone asks, “What’s Python?”, you can confidently reply, “It’s the only snake I’m not afraid of.” 😎
Thanks for the help.
Robert Novak
Manager - Business Intelligence
10
Answers
Baltimore, Maryland
Updated
Robert’s Answer
I understand your frustration and the challenges that you face. Mentorship is difficult in the age of AI-assisted programming, web-based collaboration, and self-structured learning.
But let me challenge your assumption - that you need a mentor at this stage of your development. A mentor is not a guidance counsellor, an advice columnist or a personal advisor. A good mentor is someone that can help facilitate networking, provide an example of a successful professional, and is available to discuss growth and opportunities as well as addressing challenges you face in those areas. They're typically someone who, though experience, you have come to respect as a leader and/or expert in their field.
You're looking to establish a career in software development, focusing on Python. From experience, one isn't a "Python developer". Typically, you would focus on a given discipline such as operations automation, application development, or data science & analytics. Python then becomes one tool (among many) that you will use to do work in those areas. So, my immediate recommendation would be for you to decide what field you want to work in, and research what development roles exist in those fields. Then, seek out opportunities to engage with programming projects in those fields on platforms like CodeTriage, Freelancer, and Upwork to start building a portfolio of work. Start making contacts with other developers. Participate in forums and platforms like StackOverflow, GitHub and Reddit Python subs.
From there, build your professional network through your engagement in projects and discussions. As you do so, you will discover people that others hold in high regard, or have been particularly helpful to you as you work through problems. Those are the people that you may be able to engage as a mentor in future as you progress in your career.
But let me challenge your assumption - that you need a mentor at this stage of your development. A mentor is not a guidance counsellor, an advice columnist or a personal advisor. A good mentor is someone that can help facilitate networking, provide an example of a successful professional, and is available to discuss growth and opportunities as well as addressing challenges you face in those areas. They're typically someone who, though experience, you have come to respect as a leader and/or expert in their field.
You're looking to establish a career in software development, focusing on Python. From experience, one isn't a "Python developer". Typically, you would focus on a given discipline such as operations automation, application development, or data science & analytics. Python then becomes one tool (among many) that you will use to do work in those areas. So, my immediate recommendation would be for you to decide what field you want to work in, and research what development roles exist in those fields. Then, seek out opportunities to engage with programming projects in those fields on platforms like CodeTriage, Freelancer, and Upwork to start building a portfolio of work. Start making contacts with other developers. Participate in forums and platforms like StackOverflow, GitHub and Reddit Python subs.
From there, build your professional network through your engagement in projects and discussions. As you do so, you will discover people that others hold in high regard, or have been particularly helpful to you as you work through problems. Those are the people that you may be able to engage as a mentor in future as you progress in your career.