Python for Beginners

Hey everyone. Is there anyone here who managed to land a job as a self-taught Python developer?

I'm curious about your starting points—what resources did you actually use to learn, and how did you finally nail that first role?

Jeffrey Hughes2 said:Hey everyone. I was wondering if there are any self-taught Python developers here who actually managed to land a job?

I'm really curious about your starting points—what kind of resources did you lean on to learn, and how did you eventually navigate your way into that first role?

Just master Python. There's plenty of work available in the States right now.

You can find it over on Udemy.

granitecrane2 said:Just learn Python; there’s plenty of work available here in the States right now.

Honestly, where exactly is one supposed to find a job with just a bit of Python under their belt? These days, every single person on the street claims to be an expert.

bluecyclist64 said:Honestly, where are you even going to find a job with just a little bit of Python? These days, every random person claims they "know" how to code.

You've got it wrong.
It’s just a lot of people who *think* they know what they're doing.
It isn't any easier or harder than learning any other language.
The jobs are there, just not locally here in the States.
If you look for remote work, there's as much opportunity as you can handle for any language.

As for programming—if you have the right mindset, you'll learn it; if you don't, you won't.
And be prepared to pivot: one day you're working in Python, the next it's Node.js, then Go, and so on.

Keith Reed62 said:I think you're mistaken here.
The reality is that there are plenty of people who merely believe they possess expertise.
Learning a language isn't inherently easier or more difficult than any other.
There is work available, just not within the local domestic market.
If you look into remote roles, there is an endless supply of opportunities for any language you choose.

When it comes to programming, it all comes down to mindset; if you have it, you'll learn, and if you don't, you won't.
And you should be prepared for the fact that you might be working with Python today, only to find yourself pivoting to Node.js or Go tomorrow.

That is precisely why I put "knows" in quotation marks in my previous post.

On a separate note—if your entire skill set is limited strictly to Python, you are essentially useless in the broader market. That is the point I am making.

Look, I get it—you need CSS and HTML in your toolkit just to land an entry-level role. But then you hear about a buddy who landed his first gig purely on Python skills alone. My plan is to dive into Python first since everyone says it’s the "easiest" way to get your feet wet and grasp the fundamentals quickly. Once I've got a handle on that, I'll layer in some frameworks and a bit of JavaScript, and hopefully, that's enough to actually get hired.

Jeffrey Hughes2 said:I realize that to land an entry-level role, I really ought to know CSS and HTML alongside Python. However, a friend of mine managed to land his first gig with nothing but Python knowledge. I’m leaning toward starting there because I’ve heard it’s the "easiest" to pick up—that you can grasp the fundamentals quickly. Then, once I add some frameworks and a bit of JavaScript into the mix, I figure I'll be ready to find work...

You've got it wrong.
Companies are going to want database knowledge, at least a basic understanding of windows administration and package installation, setting up databases, servers, and Docker.
Git is non-negotiable.

Beyond that, you need to understand MVC concepts, REST API basics, and so on.

People write a lot of nonsense about what being a programmer is actually like.
I'm telling you this from direct experience.
If you do manage to find a job, it'll pay a bit more than minimum wage if you have the skills I just listed.

So, please stop posting about things you don't actually understand.

And if you think you're going to find a job easily with just Python, you aren't.

It's primarily used for AI and Data Science.

Whatever you are programming, you need a solid background in that field.

It isn't any easier or harder than PHP or Go.

In fact, at a professional level, it's quite difficult.

Good luck!