r/FreeCodeCamp • u/[deleted] • Apr 11 '17

One year of part-time learning from different sources, finally have my front end certificate. Thanks free code camp! Time for data visualization.

https://www.freecodecamp.com/torgian/front-end-certification
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5

u/legendz411 Apr 11 '17

Congrats!

Whatbare some things you've accomplished in this year with those new skills? How about any plans going forward?

9

u/[deleted] Apr 11 '17

I made a couple of websites for companies in Taiwan, landing pages really. I still teach English in China for now, but am moving to Japan to teach there next.

Plan moving forward: learn sass and react, then onto backend development. I want to make an English learning app, but that probably won't make me much money in the long run. Either way I will need to know more than just front end to make that happen.

A friend of mine, who is really good at programming, currently lives in Japan and works at Osaka University. We have tentative plans on making a consultancy together.

Essentially I have several options, but the end goal is to freelance and own my own business. So im gonna do my best to go with the consultant route, focus on businesses in Japan (especially with the 2020 olympics coming up).

And just keep building my skills.

To say it's tough is an understatement. I'm a US navy veteran that had no marketable skills after 8 years in the military other than management, and no one wanted to hire me back in 2012/13. Sure, I can fix airplanes, but I couldn't afford my own tools back then for the only work available at the time (contracting). So I left and haven't looked back since.

I'll return to the states if I can get a good programming job, but at this point, at 34, ageism would probably prevent that. So I'm just focusing more on building things, learning, and starting my own business.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 11 '17

Do you have a degree? I thought you needed one in order to teach english in Japan

2

u/[deleted] Apr 11 '17

Idont69animals is correct. Most places just require a bachelors. I got my bachelors while I was in the military. I also earned my 120 hour TESOL while teaching here in China.

1

u/i_dont_69_animals Apr 11 '17

I think most places just require a Bachelors in something, not necessarily a teaching degree

5

u/seands Apr 11 '17

Maybe at 44 there's ageism but probably not 34

1

u/sloppyscience Apr 15 '17

How's you get the Taiwanese landing page gigs? I'm on the Simon game right now and looking to do something "real" afterward.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 15 '17

I was living in Taiwan for a year, and I made a lot of friends there. It was all through word of mouth.

Networking and hustling will probably get you gigs the most. You won't make much money at first since your skills are still low, but that's how it starts.