17 answers
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Questions
Updated
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How far am I to get a software developer/DevOpt internship or job?
I am currently a master student studying IT in Australia, I switched my career from Retail to IT just because I can see myself with curiosity to know and learn coding. During the study, I set a goal to be a software engineer or a DevOpt engineer.
I am now at my second last semester before graduate, I studied Front-end development myself before starting the master, and I kept working on self project to practice the knowledge I've leant in school, like building web application (here is one of them: https://www.freelancer-daily-scheduler.site/) using AWS cloud services.
However, I always feel like I still have a lot to learn until I can get an intern/job. Sometime I even saw people spending a long time on Leetcode, and I have a feeling like no matter how much hard work I inputed, I am still far from only passing the job interview, and I am not even sure if I can perform better then other students who studied programming since their bachelor.
Really need someone to share advice on this.
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15 answers
Updated
Bhagesh’s Answer
Nick, I'm glad you took the first step of pivoting into a new field, chasing curiosity, and building real projects from scratch. That’s not just ambition, that’s courage. Every line of code you write, every bug you fix, every concept you wrestle with, it’s shaping you into the engineer you’re meant to be. Don’t measure your worth by someone else’s timeline. You’re not behind—you’re building your own runway.
I'll advise you to follow my roadmap. Should you have more questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out. I'll be glad to help you.
- Frontend Mastery
→ Keep refining UI/UX skills. Try React, Vue, or Svelte. Build capstone projects like a portfolio site, a task manager, or a weather app. Push to GitHub with clean commits. Refer to the websites I've listed at the end.
- Backend Development
→ Learn Node.js, Express, or Python with Flask/Django. Build APIs, handle authentication, and manage server logic.
- Database Skills
→ Start with SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB). Practice CRUD operations and schema design.
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
→ Understand classes, inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation. Try building a simple app or simulation to apply these concepts
- Data Structures & Algorithms
→ Basics are enough for now: arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and hash maps.
- Full Stack Project
→ Build something like a blog platform, e-commerce site, or scheduling app. Use middleware for logging, error handling, or authentication.
- Version Control (Git/GitHub)
→ Learn branching, pull requests, and collaboration. Try contributing to open-source or joining a hackathon - HackerEarth, Hackerrank, CodeChef
- DevOps and Cloud knowledge
→ Explore CI/CD with GitHub Actions or Jenkins. Learn Docker basics, write unit tests, and deploy to AWS, Netlify, or Vercel.
- Project-Based Learning
→ Every skill you learn should feed into a project. It’s the best way to retain knowledge and build a portfolio. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/blogs/best-full-stack-project-ideas/
- SOLID Principles & System Design
→ These are key for scalable, maintainable code. Watch system design videos on YouTube (like Gaurav Sen or Tech Dummies) and try designing systems like URL shorteners or chat apps.
Great things take time. If you prepare with persistence and perseverance, it should take about 6-8 Months (Max 1 year) to get into a great organization.
Arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached. Keep shining!!
Best,
Bhagesh
https://www.w3schools.com/
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/blogs/best-full-stack-project-ideas/
I'll advise you to follow my roadmap. Should you have more questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out. I'll be glad to help you.
- Frontend Mastery
→ Keep refining UI/UX skills. Try React, Vue, or Svelte. Build capstone projects like a portfolio site, a task manager, or a weather app. Push to GitHub with clean commits. Refer to the websites I've listed at the end.
- Backend Development
→ Learn Node.js, Express, or Python with Flask/Django. Build APIs, handle authentication, and manage server logic.
- Database Skills
→ Start with SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB). Practice CRUD operations and schema design.
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
→ Understand classes, inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation. Try building a simple app or simulation to apply these concepts
- Data Structures & Algorithms
→ Basics are enough for now: arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and hash maps.
- Full Stack Project
→ Build something like a blog platform, e-commerce site, or scheduling app. Use middleware for logging, error handling, or authentication.
- Version Control (Git/GitHub)
→ Learn branching, pull requests, and collaboration. Try contributing to open-source or joining a hackathon - HackerEarth, Hackerrank, CodeChef
- DevOps and Cloud knowledge
→ Explore CI/CD with GitHub Actions or Jenkins. Learn Docker basics, write unit tests, and deploy to AWS, Netlify, or Vercel.
- Project-Based Learning
→ Every skill you learn should feed into a project. It’s the best way to retain knowledge and build a portfolio. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/blogs/best-full-stack-project-ideas/
- SOLID Principles & System Design
→ These are key for scalable, maintainable code. Watch system design videos on YouTube (like Gaurav Sen or Tech Dummies) and try designing systems like URL shorteners or chat apps.
Great things take time. If you prepare with persistence and perseverance, it should take about 6-8 Months (Max 1 year) to get into a great organization.
Arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached. Keep shining!!
Best,
Bhagesh
Bhagesh recommends the following next steps:
Thanks for the upvote, Nick. I will be glad to help out if you'd need help. Keep flying high, the sky is all yours! keep shining
Bhagesh Pant
Thanks, Bhagesh, that’s really helpful! I’ll keep updating this map regularly to reflect my skills. I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning new things or building projects, since I’ve truly found that I love diving into the IT field. I really appreciate your support!
Nick
Updated
Cliff’s Answer
Nick,
I think you made a great choice to switch from Retail to IT! You have much more flexibility and growth potential in my opinion in IT - and you can work from home for many roles!
Have you explored/found any internships? These are critical to getting your foot in the door at many companies. You could talk with your guidance counselors or placement center for help there. Right now is when most companies are on campus for career fairs - that is a great way to connect as well.
It's great that you have some sample work/projects to show prospective employers. Make sure you have a resume that summarizes your skills and I suggest you keep it to one page - multi-page resumes are usually discarded quickly.
DevOps and IT are great skills to have and I believe they will be in demand for years to come - not likely outsourced. I have a team of people that does that work and they make a huge difference to our overall firmware development cycle time. I would encourage you to learn about automation and the associated tools - those similar to Jenkins, Artifactory, and github. I also encourage you to learn about the hardware required to back the DevOps, whether it's bare metal hardware or cloud-based infrastructure. Having that knowledge and being curious about it is a extremely helpful as well.
I think your future is bright. You will likely have to work hard to get your start, though, but you can do it.
Good luck!
I think you made a great choice to switch from Retail to IT! You have much more flexibility and growth potential in my opinion in IT - and you can work from home for many roles!
Have you explored/found any internships? These are critical to getting your foot in the door at many companies. You could talk with your guidance counselors or placement center for help there. Right now is when most companies are on campus for career fairs - that is a great way to connect as well.
It's great that you have some sample work/projects to show prospective employers. Make sure you have a resume that summarizes your skills and I suggest you keep it to one page - multi-page resumes are usually discarded quickly.
DevOps and IT are great skills to have and I believe they will be in demand for years to come - not likely outsourced. I have a team of people that does that work and they make a huge difference to our overall firmware development cycle time. I would encourage you to learn about automation and the associated tools - those similar to Jenkins, Artifactory, and github. I also encourage you to learn about the hardware required to back the DevOps, whether it's bare metal hardware or cloud-based infrastructure. Having that knowledge and being curious about it is a extremely helpful as well.
I think your future is bright. You will likely have to work hard to get your start, though, but you can do it.
Good luck!
Thank you for the guidance, Cliff! "Automation", "Jenkins", "Artifactory", "hardware required to back the DevOps", I will put them into my to-do list while my pursue. Thank you so much, really appreciate!
And yes, I will pay whatever it costs me to make it happen, this is what I told myself when I left my last job.
Nick
Updated
Myles’s Answer
You've chosen a fantastic path in a thriving industry, setting yourself up for a rewarding career. Focus on what you can control and avoid comparing your progress to others. Learn from others, but remember that your skills and abilities are unique to you. While skills are important, communication, self-promotion, and confidence are just as crucial. Networking can be challenging when you're starting out, so use platforms like LinkedIn and social media to connect with others.
Promoting yourself might feel awkward at first, but it gets easier with practice. Write down your skills, traits, and experiences, and ask someone you trust to help refine them. AI can also help you present them professionally.
Balancing humility with confidence is key. If you don't know an answer, it's okay to admit it, but show your eagerness to learn. Take notes and demonstrate your ability to retain information.
Finally, always meet deadlines and don't hesitate to ask for help if you're struggling. Reaching out for assistance will connect you with experienced people who are happy to support you.
Promoting yourself might feel awkward at first, but it gets easier with practice. Write down your skills, traits, and experiences, and ask someone you trust to help refine them. AI can also help you present them professionally.
Balancing humility with confidence is key. If you don't know an answer, it's okay to admit it, but show your eagerness to learn. Take notes and demonstrate your ability to retain information.
Finally, always meet deadlines and don't hesitate to ask for help if you're struggling. Reaching out for assistance will connect you with experienced people who are happy to support you.
Thanks Myles, maybe I just need someone to remind me not to compare myself with others. I will try to focus more on myself.
Nick
Updated
Steve’s Answer
You’re actually in a much stronger position than you think. Switching from retail to IT and already building real projects (like your AWS-based scheduler) shows initiative and practical skills — something employers really value. Many students only have theory from class, but you’re already applying what you learn. 🚀
That said, it’s normal to feel “behind” when you see others grinding LeetCode or having years of coding background. The truth is, interviews test both problem-solving ability and communication skills, not just raw memorization. That’s where tools like an AI Interview Bot can really help.
With an AI Interview Bot, you can:
Practice real interview questions (technical + behavioral) in a safe environment.
Get instant feedback on how you explain solutions, not just whether the code compiles.
Build confidence by simulating real interview pressure before facing recruiters.
Instead of comparing yourself to people who’ve been coding for years, focus on your edge: adaptability, project-building, and consistent practice. Companies look for problem solvers who can learn fast — and you’ve already proven that by changing careers and teaching yourself.
My advice: keep building projects, do some structured LeetCode practice (quality over quantity), and start mock sessions with an AI Interview Bot or similar tool. By graduation, you’ll be much closer to internship or job-ready than you feel right now. 💪
That said, it’s normal to feel “behind” when you see others grinding LeetCode or having years of coding background. The truth is, interviews test both problem-solving ability and communication skills, not just raw memorization. That’s where tools like an AI Interview Bot can really help.
With an AI Interview Bot, you can:
Practice real interview questions (technical + behavioral) in a safe environment.
Get instant feedback on how you explain solutions, not just whether the code compiles.
Build confidence by simulating real interview pressure before facing recruiters.
Instead of comparing yourself to people who’ve been coding for years, focus on your edge: adaptability, project-building, and consistent practice. Companies look for problem solvers who can learn fast — and you’ve already proven that by changing careers and teaching yourself.
My advice: keep building projects, do some structured LeetCode practice (quality over quantity), and start mock sessions with an AI Interview Bot or similar tool. By graduation, you’ll be much closer to internship or job-ready than you feel right now. 💪
Thank you Steve! I will definitely have a go for the AI Interview Bot, and I will keep your words in mind - focus on what I can improve then compare myself with others.
Nick
Updated
Nate’s Answer
I don’t want to be too discouraging, but the demand for software engineers is gradually decreasing due to the rise of Agentic AI. I recommend shifting your focus to IT and Cybersecurity. My team can now complete in a few days what used to take months. This was unimaginable before. Software engineers are still needed, but not as many as before. You need to seriously consider whether you want to continue with DevOps.
Half a year ago, our internal project Agent could already automatically detect code vulnerabilities, open tickets, fix bugs, and verify the fixes—all without human involvement and running 24/7/365. I won’t say more. By the time you see these advancements in the market, they will have progressed even further, so it’s important to keep a long-term perspective.
Half a year ago, our internal project Agent could already automatically detect code vulnerabilities, open tickets, fix bugs, and verify the fixes—all without human involvement and running 24/7/365. I won’t say more. By the time you see these advancements in the market, they will have progressed even further, so it’s important to keep a long-term perspective.
Thats a valuable insight Nate, if you don't mind I am asking a little more, which specific aspect of IT you recommend/suggest me looking at from your opinion?
Nick
Updated
Madeline’s Answer
The need for traditional software engineering jobs, including DevOps, is changing because of new AI technology.
- Explore New Areas: Shift your focus and learning to growing fields like IT infrastructure and cybersecurity, where human skills are still very important.
- Consider Your Future: Think about your career in DevOps. While there are still jobs, the number of positions is decreasing.
- Think Ahead: Know that some advanced internal tools are developing faster than what is publicly known.
- Prepare for the Future: Develop skills that will be valuable even when AI becomes more common. Take action now to ensure a strong career in the future.
- Explore New Areas: Shift your focus and learning to growing fields like IT infrastructure and cybersecurity, where human skills are still very important.
- Consider Your Future: Think about your career in DevOps. While there are still jobs, the number of positions is decreasing.
- Think Ahead: Know that some advanced internal tools are developing faster than what is publicly known.
- Prepare for the Future: Develop skills that will be valuable even when AI becomes more common. Take action now to ensure a strong career in the future.
Updated
Prema’s Answer
Hi Nick,
What I see from your question is not knowing what the next steps should be. So rather than focus on your peers having coded for years more than you have, focus on what you need to do. Less noise and more focus. As the others have said, many of us including me (I am a senior engineering manager and have 20+ years of experience in software development), we did not come from a software background but have been very successful in our field. Your moving from retail to software development is not going to be an issue. What you should do is make yourself more marketable
- Try to get as many certifications as possible. Every AWS certification for example makes you more valuable.
- Try to get some work experience outside of school - work for free. Experience in the real world is invaluable. You can go on linkedin and other websites to find short term projects or long term availability. For example, many startups want free programmers. You can use that for experience.
- Network. The more people you know and who know you, the more likely you will find your next job/internship. I do not live in Australia but I'm sure there are networking events you can participate at uni or in your city. Your professors are good sources of networking. If they know you well, they can let their alumni know about your skills.
- Do not discount your other skills that you have had. I have known very successful programmers on my team and others who came from art, music, marketing. They all brought unique experience that made them great at their job.
I think some of the others have good advice on where you can keep up with your skills so keep doing that.
Good Luck! Feel free to ask more questions. You've got this.
What I see from your question is not knowing what the next steps should be. So rather than focus on your peers having coded for years more than you have, focus on what you need to do. Less noise and more focus. As the others have said, many of us including me (I am a senior engineering manager and have 20+ years of experience in software development), we did not come from a software background but have been very successful in our field. Your moving from retail to software development is not going to be an issue. What you should do is make yourself more marketable
- Try to get as many certifications as possible. Every AWS certification for example makes you more valuable.
- Try to get some work experience outside of school - work for free. Experience in the real world is invaluable. You can go on linkedin and other websites to find short term projects or long term availability. For example, many startups want free programmers. You can use that for experience.
- Network. The more people you know and who know you, the more likely you will find your next job/internship. I do not live in Australia but I'm sure there are networking events you can participate at uni or in your city. Your professors are good sources of networking. If they know you well, they can let their alumni know about your skills.
- Do not discount your other skills that you have had. I have known very successful programmers on my team and others who came from art, music, marketing. They all brought unique experience that made them great at their job.
I think some of the others have good advice on where you can keep up with your skills so keep doing that.
Good Luck! Feel free to ask more questions. You've got this.
Thank you for the advice, Prema! Yes I am also preparing for the certificate of AWS, and I will also search on linkin about the projects.
I think I will need to pay bigger effort on networking, and I think what you said is right, networking is obviously important here in Australia. I will also keep this in mind.
Nick
Updated
Mallela’s Answer
You're closer to landing an internship or job than you might think. Your Master's degree, combined with your self-taught front-end skills and your web app on AWS, gives you a big edge over others who only have school projects.
Try to stop worrying about resources like LeetCode and comparing yourself to others. Instead, focus on these steps:
- Improve Your Portfolio: Highlight your AWS project on GitHub, showing the architecture and deployment process. This will catch the eye of DevOps/SWE roles.
- Prepare for Interviews: Concentrate on the top 75 common algorithms and get good at System Design and Behavioral questions using your project as an example.
- Network: Reach out to engineers in Australia and go to local IT meetups.
You have the hands-on experience. Now, work on showing it off and interviewing with confidence.
Try to stop worrying about resources like LeetCode and comparing yourself to others. Instead, focus on these steps:
- Improve Your Portfolio: Highlight your AWS project on GitHub, showing the architecture and deployment process. This will catch the eye of DevOps/SWE roles.
- Prepare for Interviews: Concentrate on the top 75 common algorithms and get good at System Design and Behavioral questions using your project as an example.
- Network: Reach out to engineers in Australia and go to local IT meetups.
You have the hands-on experience. Now, work on showing it off and interviewing with confidence.
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Electrical Engineer, Software Developer, and Career Mentor
520
Answers
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
Getting ready for software development or DevOps roles can be an exciting journey. Start by mastering the basics, like understanding how object-oriented design, APIs, version control, and debugging work. Dive deep into data structures and algorithms, learning how to use arrays, trees, graphs, recursion, and dynamic programming effectively. Regular practice on platforms like LeetCode, NeetCode, and AlgoExpert, especially with guides like the Blind 75, will boost your skills. Programs like CodePath and mock interview sites like Pramp or Interviewing.io are great for sharpening your problem-solving and communication abilities.
Don't forget to connect with the coding community. Join university clubs, participate in hackathons, and compete in events like Google Kick Start or ICPC to gain practical experience and teamwork skills. Contributing to open-source projects on GitHub can showcase your real-world abilities, while writing blog posts or explaining your solutions can strengthen your understanding and communication. With dedication, community involvement, and consistent practice, you'll be ready to become a confident and skilled tech professional.
Don't forget to connect with the coding community. Join university clubs, participate in hackathons, and compete in events like Google Kick Start or ICPC to gain practical experience and teamwork skills. Contributing to open-source projects on GitHub can showcase your real-world abilities, while writing blog posts or explaining your solutions can strengthen your understanding and communication. With dedication, community involvement, and consistent practice, you'll be ready to become a confident and skilled tech professional.
Updated
Anitha’s Answer
Hi Nick,
It's awesome to see how motivated and driven you are! Having the right attitude is key, and learning technology will follow naturally. Here are a few tips for you: Use the extra work you've done to build a strong portfolio, which will be a big help in interviews. If you get the chance to create web apps for small businesses, it will really boost your experience.
You're already working with AWS, which is great! Getting AWS certifications would be very helpful. Also, try to get familiar with Linux, Docker, Python, Terraform, and Git, as these are important in the DevOps world. I also suggest looking into AI certifications and using AI to come up with practice interview questions.
Good luck with your next steps!
It's awesome to see how motivated and driven you are! Having the right attitude is key, and learning technology will follow naturally. Here are a few tips for you: Use the extra work you've done to build a strong portfolio, which will be a big help in interviews. If you get the chance to create web apps for small businesses, it will really boost your experience.
You're already working with AWS, which is great! Getting AWS certifications would be very helpful. Also, try to get familiar with Linux, Docker, Python, Terraform, and Git, as these are important in the DevOps world. I also suggest looking into AI certifications and using AI to come up with practice interview questions.
Good luck with your next steps!
Updated
Atul’s Answer
In the US, new college graduates often take a test before getting an interview. This test, given by prospective employers, can last up to 3 hours and includes solving problems in short time frames. To prepare, focus on mastering programming languages that employers value, such as Python or Go. Check LinkedIn to see what skills are in demand and practice by building projects in those languages.
Taking challenging courses can demonstrate to employers that you enjoy tackling tough subjects. Good communication skills are also crucial. Being able to clearly share your knowledge and abilities is highly valued.
Improving your writing skills in English will also help you stand out. These skills can give you an edge over other candidates.
Taking challenging courses can demonstrate to employers that you enjoy tackling tough subjects. Good communication skills are also crucial. Being able to clearly share your knowledge and abilities is highly valued.
Improving your writing skills in English will also help you stand out. These skills can give you an edge over other candidates.
James Constantine Frangos
SOFTWARE ENGINEER SINCE 1972; NUTRITIONIST SINCE 1976.
7094
Answers
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Good Day Nick!
How far are you going to get with this? A long way indeed Nick! Can I influence, persuade and teach by example? If you spend much time coding, then you shall excel in this pursuit. I have been programming computers since 1972. I never studied a course like a Bachelor in Information Technology. I was self-taught. I come from the days that you would go to a computer shop and buy a book on software programming.
In 1988 I became a dietitian-nutritionist and commenced using Microsoft Office Word 1.0 to write patient diet sheets telling them what to eat for their medically-diagnosed health problem. In 1994 patients were fed-up, literally, with the genre of dietary direction imposed by health staff! Many clients were sick of being unsure of what to eat!
In 1996 the Internet came to Australia. It was then that I started going to free sites for coders.
15 Websites to Learn to Code For Free in 2025
1. Codecademy
2. freeCodeCamp
3. Coursera
4. Udemy
5. Codewars
6. The Odin Project
7. Khan Academy
8. MIT OpenCourseWare
9. edX
10. W3Schools
11. Skillcrush
12. Code.org
13. Microsoft Learn
14. Sololearn
15.BitDegree
I discovered BASIC, QBasic, Visual Basic, Visual Studio 1.0
→17.0, .NET 1.0 → .NET10.0
I made NutriMed, MenuWise, Engnosis, Diet Manager Suite, Diet Wizard, Nutrition Wizard, ... The UNSW failed me on my MPH Project for a financial 'conflict of interest.' Do not pass 'GO' Jimmy! I had made the mistake of trying to evaluate my own nutrition education software. The Course Coordinator had all pathways of his brain activated to fail me on the precept of me "making a million dollars from my software". It would be academic sacrilege to let a tall poppy get a Master of Public Health degree.
In the Queensland outback Aboriginal People were starting to ask for 2-week personalized food menus. I had already worked in the New South Wales and Western Australian Outback territories. I started on a steep learning curve with Microsoft's Visual Studio 1.0 in 2002 with the inculcation of .NET 1.0 - now we are at .NET 10! I use Visual Studio 17.3 now!
Then a doctor in Chinchilla burst my bubble by saying "clients never stick to diets anyway." [So, I am wasting my time.] I did not listen to him. Some patients did adhere to their diet plans and reversed diabetes! I spent Winter 1998 learning SQL to query the NUTTAB 95 Food DataBase for rich sources of the nutrients to fight diseases. Some substances like cholesterol, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar needed to be restricted. For example, I had to screen the database for low potassium foods acceptable for a renal patient.
I met a friend in 2000 who was a Dean at the SAFE naturopathic college here on the Gold Coast. I was just travelling around showing my nutrition education software to all and sundry on my laptop. Howard gave me a job on the spot! He employed me as a course lecturer and tutor, then he wanted me to program for him.
He owned a private company, BioMedicals. I wrote medical report generating software for him in Visual Basic 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0. I got heavily involved with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Application Programming Interfaces to produce reports.
Howard was a difficult customer because he wanted colored bar graphs scaled upon the normal ranges for all the minerals, and tailor-built three-dimensional exploded, pie graphs, with color variation from center [white] to edge [full color intensity of rendition], written from first principles! Of course, Microsoft had nothing like that in Graph 8 in 2003.
The software would even download the tissue mineral analysis laboratory test results from the Internet and delineate the format of the reports and spreadsheets. Five hundred pages of reports could be completed in 60 minutes!
After 30 or so years and 100,000 hours programming I produced the Nutrition Wizard group of platforms. I mucked around with the US Department of Agriculture's nutritional databases SR-11 [1996] to SR-28 [2015].
Every opportunity you get, do some more coding!
WORK ON THE NETWORKING:- Network methods include: - ‣ Swap business cards ‣ Give out your business pamphlets at expositions ‣ Go to industry meetings ‣ Swap phone numbers ‣ Indeed, LinkedIn ‣ Join a network group ‣ Utilize social media ‣ Let people pick your brain at seminars answer questions ‣ Grow a database of new friends, and professional business contacts ‣ Join industry groups ‣ Attend conventions and conferences ‣ Send cold emails ‣ Set up informational interviews ‣ Offer assistance ‣ Attend group network events to introduce yourself ‣ Attend industry-related conferences ‣ Join online communities ‣ Participate in online forums ‣ Meet new contacts for coffee
‣ Reach out to potential contacts via email or social network sites ‣ Ask friends to introduce you to their contacts as a reliable person ‣ Stay in touch with former coworkers ‣ Go to shows with people ‣ Get invited to people's houses to have meals with them and watch movies and shows ‣ Hold public discussion groups ‣ Meet with Parents' and Teachers' Association Groups ‣ Have telescopes at an amateur astronomer's star party ‣ Get to know and talk to your local medical doctors ‣ Meet with neighborhood clubs ‣ Meet with local health action groups ‣ Join public speak groups like Toastmasters and Zonta ‣ Meet people at a fancy restaurant, sit down, talk, have meals together ‣ Pay your waiter a tab and converse ‣ Give local schoolchildren a talk about your work so that they can follow in your footsteps and get a career happening ‣ Get to know therapists. GIVE PEOPLE VALUABLE GIFTS. VOLUNTEER.
Why am I advocating good nutrition? Well, you may become a doctorate in computer science!
________________________________________________________________________________________
GOD BLESS!
How far are you going to get with this? A long way indeed Nick! Can I influence, persuade and teach by example? If you spend much time coding, then you shall excel in this pursuit. I have been programming computers since 1972. I never studied a course like a Bachelor in Information Technology. I was self-taught. I come from the days that you would go to a computer shop and buy a book on software programming.
In 1988 I became a dietitian-nutritionist and commenced using Microsoft Office Word 1.0 to write patient diet sheets telling them what to eat for their medically-diagnosed health problem. In 1994 patients were fed-up, literally, with the genre of dietary direction imposed by health staff! Many clients were sick of being unsure of what to eat!
In 1996 the Internet came to Australia. It was then that I started going to free sites for coders.
15 Websites to Learn to Code For Free in 2025
1. Codecademy
2. freeCodeCamp
3. Coursera
4. Udemy
5. Codewars
6. The Odin Project
7. Khan Academy
8. MIT OpenCourseWare
9. edX
10. W3Schools
11. Skillcrush
12. Code.org
13. Microsoft Learn
14. Sololearn
15.BitDegree
I discovered BASIC, QBasic, Visual Basic, Visual Studio 1.0
→17.0, .NET 1.0 → .NET10.0
I made NutriMed, MenuWise, Engnosis, Diet Manager Suite, Diet Wizard, Nutrition Wizard, ... The UNSW failed me on my MPH Project for a financial 'conflict of interest.' Do not pass 'GO' Jimmy! I had made the mistake of trying to evaluate my own nutrition education software. The Course Coordinator had all pathways of his brain activated to fail me on the precept of me "making a million dollars from my software". It would be academic sacrilege to let a tall poppy get a Master of Public Health degree.
In the Queensland outback Aboriginal People were starting to ask for 2-week personalized food menus. I had already worked in the New South Wales and Western Australian Outback territories. I started on a steep learning curve with Microsoft's Visual Studio 1.0 in 2002 with the inculcation of .NET 1.0 - now we are at .NET 10! I use Visual Studio 17.3 now!
Then a doctor in Chinchilla burst my bubble by saying "clients never stick to diets anyway." [So, I am wasting my time.] I did not listen to him. Some patients did adhere to their diet plans and reversed diabetes! I spent Winter 1998 learning SQL to query the NUTTAB 95 Food DataBase for rich sources of the nutrients to fight diseases. Some substances like cholesterol, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar needed to be restricted. For example, I had to screen the database for low potassium foods acceptable for a renal patient.
I met a friend in 2000 who was a Dean at the SAFE naturopathic college here on the Gold Coast. I was just travelling around showing my nutrition education software to all and sundry on my laptop. Howard gave me a job on the spot! He employed me as a course lecturer and tutor, then he wanted me to program for him.
He owned a private company, BioMedicals. I wrote medical report generating software for him in Visual Basic 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0. I got heavily involved with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Application Programming Interfaces to produce reports.
Howard was a difficult customer because he wanted colored bar graphs scaled upon the normal ranges for all the minerals, and tailor-built three-dimensional exploded, pie graphs, with color variation from center [white] to edge [full color intensity of rendition], written from first principles! Of course, Microsoft had nothing like that in Graph 8 in 2003.
The software would even download the tissue mineral analysis laboratory test results from the Internet and delineate the format of the reports and spreadsheets. Five hundred pages of reports could be completed in 60 minutes!
After 30 or so years and 100,000 hours programming I produced the Nutrition Wizard group of platforms. I mucked around with the US Department of Agriculture's nutritional databases SR-11 [1996] to SR-28 [2015].
Every opportunity you get, do some more coding!
WORK ON THE NETWORKING:- Network methods include: - ‣ Swap business cards ‣ Give out your business pamphlets at expositions ‣ Go to industry meetings ‣ Swap phone numbers ‣ Indeed, LinkedIn ‣ Join a network group ‣ Utilize social media ‣ Let people pick your brain at seminars answer questions ‣ Grow a database of new friends, and professional business contacts ‣ Join industry groups ‣ Attend conventions and conferences ‣ Send cold emails ‣ Set up informational interviews ‣ Offer assistance ‣ Attend group network events to introduce yourself ‣ Attend industry-related conferences ‣ Join online communities ‣ Participate in online forums ‣ Meet new contacts for coffee
‣ Reach out to potential contacts via email or social network sites ‣ Ask friends to introduce you to their contacts as a reliable person ‣ Stay in touch with former coworkers ‣ Go to shows with people ‣ Get invited to people's houses to have meals with them and watch movies and shows ‣ Hold public discussion groups ‣ Meet with Parents' and Teachers' Association Groups ‣ Have telescopes at an amateur astronomer's star party ‣ Get to know and talk to your local medical doctors ‣ Meet with neighborhood clubs ‣ Meet with local health action groups ‣ Join public speak groups like Toastmasters and Zonta ‣ Meet people at a fancy restaurant, sit down, talk, have meals together ‣ Pay your waiter a tab and converse ‣ Give local schoolchildren a talk about your work so that they can follow in your footsteps and get a career happening ‣ Get to know therapists. GIVE PEOPLE VALUABLE GIFTS. VOLUNTEER.
Why am I advocating good nutrition? Well, you may become a doctorate in computer science!
________________________________________________________________________________________
GOD BLESS!
Thats encouraging, thank you James.
Nick
Updated
Daphne’s Answer
Hi Nick, you already have a strong base for a technical career thanks to your academic background. To land a job as an engineer, focus on two main areas:
1. Succeeding in the Technical Interview
2. Developing On-the-Job Skills
While preparing for interviews and actual job tasks may differ, both are important. For interviews, practicing coding logic and problem-solving on platforms like LeetCode is useful. Additionally, being able to build small tools or components during an interview is crucial. Try mock interviews on sites like Interviewing.io or Pramp to get comfortable with the process and questions.
To learn job skills, apply what you know by working on projects. Many websites offer example projects to help you practice. Get used to receiving tasks and using available tools to complete them. Websites like Codecademy and freeCodeCamp are great resources, and using AI tools is encouraged.
To choose your tech path, visit roadmap.sh and explore the roadmaps for Front End Engineer, Back End Engineer, and DevOps Engineer. See which path aligns best with your interests and the technologies you are excited about.
1. Succeeding in the Technical Interview
2. Developing On-the-Job Skills
While preparing for interviews and actual job tasks may differ, both are important. For interviews, practicing coding logic and problem-solving on platforms like LeetCode is useful. Additionally, being able to build small tools or components during an interview is crucial. Try mock interviews on sites like Interviewing.io or Pramp to get comfortable with the process and questions.
To learn job skills, apply what you know by working on projects. Many websites offer example projects to help you practice. Get used to receiving tasks and using available tools to complete them. Websites like Codecademy and freeCodeCamp are great resources, and using AI tools is encouraged.
To choose your tech path, visit roadmap.sh and explore the roadmaps for Front End Engineer, Back End Engineer, and DevOps Engineer. See which path aligns best with your interests and the technologies you are excited about.
Updated
satyanarayana’s Answer
Your journey is truly inspiring. Changing careers, starting a master’s program, building projects, and learning cloud technologies like AWS show great initiative, resilience, and passion. These qualities are highly valued in the tech industry.
Here are some thoughts to help guide you:
Growth Takes Time
Everyone starts somewhere. It can be discouraging to compare yourself to others with different backgrounds. Focus on how far you’ve come. You’ve built a live web app and are applying your knowledge in real projects, which is a big achievement.
Depth Over Speed
Leetcode and coding challenges help improve problem-solving skills, but they’re not the only measure of success. Real-world projects, understanding systems, and effective communication are just as important.
Internships & Jobs Are About Potential
Employers seek people who can learn, adapt, and contribute, not just those who know everything. Your curiosity and self-driven learning show that you’ll do well in a professional setting.
Cybersecurity & DevOps Are Dynamic Fields
If you’re interested in DevOps or cybersecurity, know that these fields value practical experience, system thinking, and continuous learning. Keep building, exploring, and don’t hesitate to ask for mentorship or guidance.
Final Thought:
You’re not behind—you’re on your own path. Keep showing up, keep building, and keep believing in your ability to grow. The tech world needs diverse thinkers like you.
Here are some thoughts to help guide you:
Growth Takes Time
Everyone starts somewhere. It can be discouraging to compare yourself to others with different backgrounds. Focus on how far you’ve come. You’ve built a live web app and are applying your knowledge in real projects, which is a big achievement.
Depth Over Speed
Leetcode and coding challenges help improve problem-solving skills, but they’re not the only measure of success. Real-world projects, understanding systems, and effective communication are just as important.
Internships & Jobs Are About Potential
Employers seek people who can learn, adapt, and contribute, not just those who know everything. Your curiosity and self-driven learning show that you’ll do well in a professional setting.
Cybersecurity & DevOps Are Dynamic Fields
If you’re interested in DevOps or cybersecurity, know that these fields value practical experience, system thinking, and continuous learning. Keep building, exploring, and don’t hesitate to ask for mentorship or guidance.
Final Thought:
You’re not behind—you’re on your own path. Keep showing up, keep building, and keep believing in your ability to grow. The tech world needs diverse thinkers like you.
Updated
Steve’s Answer
It sounds like you’re putting in solid effort already—building projects, using AWS, and applying what you’ve learned in school is exactly what employers want to see. The truth is, most students feel the same anxiety you’re describing: “Am I good enough? Do I know enough?” That’s normal.
One thing that can really help bridge the gap between studying and feeling interview-ready is practicing with a live coding interview tool. Unlike just grinding LeetCode, these tools simulate the real interview environment—you get a coding editor, a timer, sometimes even AI hints or mock interviewers asking follow-up questions. That way you practice under pressure but in a safe, repeatable setting.
Some benefits you might find useful:
Interview simulation: You’ll get used to solving problems while thinking out loud, which is exactly what recruiters look for.
Confidence boost: The more you practice in a live environment, the less intimidating the real thing feels.
Feedback & analytics: Many platforms (including ones like LockedIn AI) give feedback on where you’re strong and where you need more work—so your prep is targeted, not random.
Balance with projects: You don’t need to become a LeetCode master overnight. Combining your project work (which shows practical skills) with live coding practice (which shows interview readiness) creates a strong profile.
So my advice would be: keep building projects to showcase your skills, but add in consistent practice with a live coding interview tool. That way, when you land interviews, you’ll already be comfortable coding under pressure instead of panicking.
One thing that can really help bridge the gap between studying and feeling interview-ready is practicing with a live coding interview tool. Unlike just grinding LeetCode, these tools simulate the real interview environment—you get a coding editor, a timer, sometimes even AI hints or mock interviewers asking follow-up questions. That way you practice under pressure but in a safe, repeatable setting.
Some benefits you might find useful:
Interview simulation: You’ll get used to solving problems while thinking out loud, which is exactly what recruiters look for.
Confidence boost: The more you practice in a live environment, the less intimidating the real thing feels.
Feedback & analytics: Many platforms (including ones like LockedIn AI) give feedback on where you’re strong and where you need more work—so your prep is targeted, not random.
Balance with projects: You don’t need to become a LeetCode master overnight. Combining your project work (which shows practical skills) with live coding practice (which shows interview readiness) creates a strong profile.
So my advice would be: keep building projects to showcase your skills, but add in consistent practice with a live coding interview tool. That way, when you land interviews, you’ll already be comfortable coding under pressure instead of panicking.