My adventures in the world of IT

Hi!
if you are here, you are probably wondering how to change the course of your career,
or you're just curious and want to know how it looks
this is my story,
it might be similar to other stories...
or not...
It's not always rainbows and stars.
I've made many mistakes on my own
and some stories are hidden from common human
deep down below
in this magical IT world ...
if you want to know - just keep scrolling

Step one: time for change

this is how it all begins...

Overworked & underpaid
at my current job
printhouse graphic designer

Looking around for some inspiration to change it
what else could the computers offer?

Talking to friends:
many heads are better than one;
the proposition:
GET INTO IT DEVELOPMENT

Step two: who do I want to be?

there are many possibilities & every year it get's more colorful with the job name positions, sometimes they melt the edges between descriptions, that you end up doing five of them...

UX/UI?

UI Artist Experience Designer Interaction Designer UX Analyst Content Strategist/ UX Copywriter Information Architect UX Strategist UX Architect UX Product Manager UI Designer Digital Designer UX/UI Engineer UX/UI Developer UX Researcher

Web designer?

Front-End Web Designer UI/UX Designer App Designer Brand Identity Developer Production Designer Layout Artist Multimedia Developer Visual Image Developer RWD Designer Mobile Designer Product Designer Visual Designer

Front-end Developer?

CSS/HTML Developer Frontend Engineer Web developer Ninja! Front-End Testing/QA Front-End Accessibility Expert Javascript developer Webmaster Front-End SEO Expert Web Programmer Front-End Dev. Ops Web Application Dev

Step three: getting the knowledge

Overwhelmed after the research I needed direction & some opinions

First:
meeting with
graphic/front-end dev girl
(currently working at IT company)
who explained and described how it all works.
Aaaand... I'm hooked!

Books & computer - the perfect learning setup

first html&css
second javascript

Checking other programming languages:

Learning on my own,
after work
& at night
& any free moment I have
& the internet is just overflowing with materials

Online courses:

Tools for developers:

CV & interviews

After six months spent with my nose in books and online courses I've decided it's time to confront the reality, time for some action!
bellow you will find some curious cases...
(ough-btw. I was still working at the print house ICYDK)

Portfolio tools

Type of companies:

  • Start up
  • Interactive agency
  • Small IT business
  • Software house
  • Tech corporation

Interview Questions

Curious cases of interviews

Case no.1

Position: web/ux designer
Company: advertising agency
Time of response: one week
Represantation: company's owner and manager
Interview: questions about portfolio and programing skills
Requirements: photography, graphic design, web design, UX analysis, coding, copywriting...
Outcome: didn't take the job - law salary / high expectations;

more

Case no.2

Position: front-end developer
Company: IT corporation
Time of response: one month
Represantation: hr & ux-designer & project manager
Interview: questions about portfolio and programing skills
Requirements: web design, UX analysis, coding
Outcome: proposed UX design position instead UX

more

Case no.3

Position: jr front-end developer
Company: small interactive agency
Time of response: one day
Represantation: head of marketing and head of tech
Interview: questions about programing skills
Requirements: front-end knowledge
Outcome: no response after coding test

more
to be continued....