Looking for a learning opportunity

5 points by jkaykin ↗ HN
I have been doing front end web development(mostly HTML/CSS) for about 8 months and I want to improve my JavaScript and more importantly, my design skills.

I am looking for an opportunity to join a startup in the Silicon Valley(part-time) as a front-end developer where I can learn a lot from others. I have found working with others is a great way to learn.

I am open to all kinds of suggestions and I appreciate the help.

Thanks.

5 comments

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You might have better luck if you posted some of your work.
GitHub exists, go contribute to something you feel passionate about. There's plenty of front end projects.
Such a strange post on a lot of levels. First off, if you go to a company of any size and say, "I want to use my time with you to learn x", then that company will say, "Thank you. We'll call you if there's such an opportunity." You will, of course, never hear from them again.

Second, you clearly do not know how "the game" is played as a front end developer. You've done with the least with the least here by posting these few paragraphs. If you want to get someone to pay attention to your front end skills, then you need to show them your work. Period. And preferably over a long period you will show a history of excellence. People will see that and viola - you will get a call/email.

Third, your post comes across as either 'This guy is very humble' or 'This guy is a complete newbie'. The problem is that I can't tell which. That's a big problem for you. No one is going to take the time to ask you, "Hey, which is it - are you a guru or a noob?" thus you'll receive no contacts from such ambigiousness.

Send me a link to something you've built and we'll talk. My site is in my profile.
I agree with others that have replied. If you change your stance to, "I have X skills, and I can use them to provide your business with X, which is good for you because X," then you are much more likely to attract interest. It seems that the best way to attract attention is to show off your best work. Don't be too worried with the HN community. Worst case scenario, you'll get a bunch of useful constructive criticism.