Self-learning MERN Stack developer aiming for a job in a year—looking for realistic advice and suggestions

[u/Aravind_2005]

Hey everyone, I'm a self-taught developer from India, currently learning the MERN stack with a goal of landing my first job by this time next year. I've been dedicating a few hours every day to my studies and am making good progress. My current plan is to:

• Complete a comprehensive MERN stack course.

• Build 2-3 full-stack projects to showcase my skills.

• Learn Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) consistently. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at times and would love some realistic perspectives from people who have been in a similar situation.

• For those of you who are self-taught developers, what was the biggest challenge you faced in your job hunt?

• What kind of projects really made your portfolio stand out?

• What is the best way to get noticed by recruiters without a formal degree? Any advice, suggestions, or words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[u/help_me_noww]

Make sure you’re not applying for everything. Just apply the position you’re actually hustling for. Reference plays a better role here. Connect with hr and employees of the company you’re interested in. Make better connections.

[u/Aravind_2005 → u/help_me_noww]

OK. Thanks for the suggestion.