This is great advice. Starting a business is difficult work, though. My advice is always to get an internship at a big tech company that you respect. Learn from the masters in your industry. There is so much to being a developer that is not taught in CS curriculum: tools, teamwork, managing a large codebase, dealing with ambiguous specs and constraints, etc.
More and more I have come to believe that while knowing the fundamental CS theory is important, software engineering is a craft that is best learned through apprenticeship. Sure, you can learn the theory in school, then try a bunch of things and figure it out on your own, but the best developers I've met are those that have studied under great mentors for the first few years of their careers. Once you have that basic training, you are much better equipped to venture off on your own.
While it is true that apprenticeship can be very fulfilling and meaningful, it can only do so if the individual is ready for it. The linked text mentions the blasé type people for whom nothing seems important enough -- these would learn or develop much under a mentor.
I'm intrigued by your suggestion, as somebody who learned the trade on my own, got a job with very poor terms (which nobody would tell me, because hey wow it's a programming job, amazing) -- and then I woke up, realized where I was, and started pursuing a degree in computer science instead. Best decision I ever made.
I think my story isn't very uncommon, but my question is: how would you approach getting a mentor?
Yeah, I hear you. My first jobs out of college were also not as inspired as they could have been, partially because I didn't have a great mentor to guide me through the process.
My advice for finding a mentor is to look for a job at a company with people you respect and look up to. You want to work with engineers who are better than you and can teach you things. It sounds like you're in school right now, but if this is an option for you: start interviewing at tech companies and see what you find. There are many mediocre companies but also many great ones. If you're in SF (or willing to move here) send me an email and I can help out.
If you're not able to get a new job, you can still learn a lot from people around you. I have mentored a few people off and on over the past few years. Some people I've met through friends or through formal mentorship programs like HackBright. I think you'll find that there are a lot of engineers out there willing to meet up and help you learn.
And if you're currently in school: well, that's what school is for ;-)
> This is great advice. Starting a business is difficult work, though.
Thank you. And it absolutely is but given his field and current situation I figured it would be a a little easier to start.
1) Taking off his shirt is a pretty easy sell. He looks like an Olympic gymnast. It obviously doesn't mean he knows everything but he's achieved visible and noticeable results over time and that is likely to earn trust.
2) He was previously in the military and was always at the top in physical fitness tests. Again, it's a bit of a marketing edge over other people.
3) If necessary, he could undercut other personal trainers in the area. They're likely to have more expenses and a higher rate if it's their full-time gig whereas my brother would be doing it for some extra cash and as a resume builder while he's still in school.
However, I know what you mean when it comes to tech. You gave a fair piece of advice. I just went a slightly different route for him since I don't think his field has the same type of internship model built into it that can give techies more options.
I have asked the question in tech interviews "what do you do to stay on top of things?" and you'd be disappointed to know how many people say "well, nothing really". What you do to stay informed is the #1 thing that separates top engineers from the rest.
>>> Look attentive in class even if you aren’t paying attention
I'd go just a tiny step further. We're at a juncture where we don't exactly know the relative merits of classroom versus online education, but if you happen to be in a classroom, then make the best possible use of it.
In addition to networking, the other use of classroom time is observing and emulating the teaching styles of your teachers, on the way to developing your own style. The value is that -- teaching careers aside -- almost anything you might like to do in life beyond your cubicle will involve something analogous to teaching.
Wow, such great advice. I'll take it another tiny step further - learn how to teach from great teachers and learn how to learn from less great teachers. It turns out that regardless of what you do in life, teaching and learning are often more important than doing.
To the article: Starting a side-gig is dependent on major and minor. If you take psych, I imagine at most schools you have time to minor and make some extra dough. If you Chemical engineering, I don't imagine you have that mind of time. Personally, I worked as a janitor, took a physics BS, and did a thesis in a lab writing papers.
I like the author's suggestions of non-conventional routes, as mine were pretty conventional. Thank you for the tips.
As to college:
Stay in 1 Friday a month to study. It will put you ahead of most of the class.
In the dorms pull your bed a little away from the wall, enough to hide a beer there when you need to.
OFFICE HOURS. Go to them regularly, even if you think you know it all.
Buy a flashlight, fire-extinguisher, and plunger.
If you don't know what to do, go to the place you will learn the most. Stretch yourself.
Don't let school get in the way of 'college.' Study hard, and make sure to have fun too. The alternative is true. Do not leave school with a taste for bad beer and jazz. Do something. Write a rock-opera, plan the framing for a house, etc.
If you look like you’re paying attention, teachers will like you even if you never talk to them. This is exactly how I got my job as a teaching assistant for programming classes and I only remember talking to the teacher once or twice all semester. This job ended up being the reason why I got a job interview with every company I submitted my resume to. It doesn’t take much to get a significant advantage over everyone else in college.
This is a great point. And also everything that's wrong with both university education and "the interview process" condensed into a single paragraph: non-functional behaviour, selective disclosure, cognitive bias, and path-dependency....etc.
With the amount of debt that seems to be involved in college in the US these days I'm not surprised it's all very business-like. What happened to 'socialise, grow, have fun (but also learn) ?'
What's with the 'minor' thing? Here in the UK university is basically the time you concentrate on your one specialisation. You've had your schooling, your degree is the time for a deep dive into a single thing.
To me, a "deep dive into a single thing" is a more apt description of a PhD.
A minor indicates a small concentration of coursework in a field separate (but possibly related) from your major.
Many students also double major, which effectively results in graduating with two degrees. Frequently, these majors are related (like, CS & Math), but sometimes they are unrelated (I know someone that did CS & PolySci).
It's hard to quantify the benefits of a minor or a double major. Presumably, it looks better to perspective employers and may give you a wider range of employment opportunities depending on which fields you selected.
To me a PhD is original research rather than deep study. I'm not a PhD type of guy - I'll absorb and apply absolutely everything you can throw at me on a topic, but I'm damned if I can come up with something new I want to investigate.
I started and sold a business in college. It was quite stressful and I missed out on a lot of great social and networking opportunities. I wouldn't do it unless it is a simple side business.
Agree. College is too expensive and unique to get distracted by taking on a lot of other commitments. I don't know what kind of college the OP attended, but if it's not hard enough to be genuinely challenging and demand your full attention, honestly I think you're doing it wrong.
18 comments
[ 3.8 ms ] story [ 47.1 ms ] threadMore and more I have come to believe that while knowing the fundamental CS theory is important, software engineering is a craft that is best learned through apprenticeship. Sure, you can learn the theory in school, then try a bunch of things and figure it out on your own, but the best developers I've met are those that have studied under great mentors for the first few years of their careers. Once you have that basic training, you are much better equipped to venture off on your own.
I'm intrigued by your suggestion, as somebody who learned the trade on my own, got a job with very poor terms (which nobody would tell me, because hey wow it's a programming job, amazing) -- and then I woke up, realized where I was, and started pursuing a degree in computer science instead. Best decision I ever made.
I think my story isn't very uncommon, but my question is: how would you approach getting a mentor?
My advice for finding a mentor is to look for a job at a company with people you respect and look up to. You want to work with engineers who are better than you and can teach you things. It sounds like you're in school right now, but if this is an option for you: start interviewing at tech companies and see what you find. There are many mediocre companies but also many great ones. If you're in SF (or willing to move here) send me an email and I can help out.
If you're not able to get a new job, you can still learn a lot from people around you. I have mentored a few people off and on over the past few years. Some people I've met through friends or through formal mentorship programs like HackBright. I think you'll find that there are a lot of engineers out there willing to meet up and help you learn.
And if you're currently in school: well, that's what school is for ;-)
Thank you. And it absolutely is but given his field and current situation I figured it would be a a little easier to start.
1) Taking off his shirt is a pretty easy sell. He looks like an Olympic gymnast. It obviously doesn't mean he knows everything but he's achieved visible and noticeable results over time and that is likely to earn trust.
2) He was previously in the military and was always at the top in physical fitness tests. Again, it's a bit of a marketing edge over other people.
3) If necessary, he could undercut other personal trainers in the area. They're likely to have more expenses and a higher rate if it's their full-time gig whereas my brother would be doing it for some extra cash and as a resume builder while he's still in school.
However, I know what you mean when it comes to tech. You gave a fair piece of advice. I just went a slightly different route for him since I don't think his field has the same type of internship model built into it that can give techies more options.
I'd go just a tiny step further. We're at a juncture where we don't exactly know the relative merits of classroom versus online education, but if you happen to be in a classroom, then make the best possible use of it.
In addition to networking, the other use of classroom time is observing and emulating the teaching styles of your teachers, on the way to developing your own style. The value is that -- teaching careers aside -- almost anything you might like to do in life beyond your cubicle will involve something analogous to teaching.
I like the author's suggestions of non-conventional routes, as mine were pretty conventional. Thank you for the tips.
As to college:
Stay in 1 Friday a month to study. It will put you ahead of most of the class.
In the dorms pull your bed a little away from the wall, enough to hide a beer there when you need to.
OFFICE HOURS. Go to them regularly, even if you think you know it all.
Buy a flashlight, fire-extinguisher, and plunger.
If you don't know what to do, go to the place you will learn the most. Stretch yourself.
Don't let school get in the way of 'college.' Study hard, and make sure to have fun too. The alternative is true. Do not leave school with a taste for bad beer and jazz. Do something. Write a rock-opera, plan the framing for a house, etc.
This is a great point. And also everything that's wrong with both university education and "the interview process" condensed into a single paragraph: non-functional behaviour, selective disclosure, cognitive bias, and path-dependency....etc.
What's with the 'minor' thing? Here in the UK university is basically the time you concentrate on your one specialisation. You've had your schooling, your degree is the time for a deep dive into a single thing.
A minor indicates a small concentration of coursework in a field separate (but possibly related) from your major.
Many students also double major, which effectively results in graduating with two degrees. Frequently, these majors are related (like, CS & Math), but sometimes they are unrelated (I know someone that did CS & PolySci).
It's hard to quantify the benefits of a minor or a double major. Presumably, it looks better to perspective employers and may give you a wider range of employment opportunities depending on which fields you selected.
But thanks for the reply, it's more context :)
The only thing i regret is not studying abroad.