don't panic - starting out in web development
TRANSCRIPT
DON’T PANIC
I am a front end developer at Ticketmaster You can find me at @thisisjofrank◇ 5 Years experience in Front End development◇ Cake addict and swing dancer
I AM JO FRANCHETTI
WHAT IS FRONT END DEVELOPMENT?
Creating great user experiences
Front end Developers
Back end Developers
User researchers
UX and UI designersQAs
Designers
SysadminsCopywriters
Content managers Product managers
Marketing
Customer Services
OK , SO THERE MUST BE DOWSIDES?◇ Debugging can be a nightmare◇ Internet explorer will become your worst enemy◇ You’ll be hyper aware of bad UX/UI
WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUTWEB DEVOPMENT THEN?◇ The variety of work available◇ The ability to direct your own specialisation◇ Incredible colleagues◇ Tonnes of online support and meetups◇ Work around the world◇ Offices with slides!◇ Incredibly in demand
SO HOW DO YOUGET THERE?
YOUR CV WILL GET YOU YOUR INTERVIEWClear points to describe what you’ve done.
Make it easy to read, you’ve got about two minutes to impress
PROVING YOURSELF ON PAPER
DON’TList Microsoft office products or email.
Claim ‘good communication skills’, prove it instead
BE INTERESTINGWhat makes you excited? What can you talk about with passion?
BE INTERESTING AND INTERESTED
◇ What makes you excited? ◇ What can you talk about with passion?◇ Have you made something?◇ Do you attend any clubs or lectures?◇ Do you run clubs or teach?◇ What have you read?◇ Talk to as many people as possible
PROVE YOURINTELLIGENCE
◇ What makes you better than other candidates?
◇ Can you communicate clearly?◇ Take your time to think through questions◇ Ask questions◇ Answer the question asked◇ Work out technical questions out loud◇ Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
and get stuck inDON’T PANIC
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
◇ Free reign vs tight regime◇ Are you deadline driven?◇ Do you want training?◇ Good reputation important?◇ ‘Culture’◇ Big or small?◇ Campus or not?◇ Working abroad? ?
YOUR INTEGRITYMATTERSAs far as possible, always do what you say you’re going to.
Don’t cut corners.
You’ll be trusted more for it.
BE HELPFUL
As mercenary as it sounds, you’ll get equal amounts back to that which you put in.
Even if your help is just passing someone on to someone else who can be helpful.
Volunteering is a great way to get free training!
SHOW INITIATIVE
Seek out new opportunities
Make things
Ask questions
Attend or run events
EVERYONE SUFFERS FROM IMPOSTOR SYNDROMEMany successful people have claimed that they got where they are by luck, or aren’t half as good as everyone thinks.
Just because you feel it, doesn’t mean it is the truth.
Have faith in yourself, but avoid arrogance.
ANY QUESTIONS?
You can find me at@thisisjofrank