How do you get a job as a web developer when every job requires a minimum of 2 years of experience in a commercial environment?
You need 2 years of experience to get the job you want.
But in order to gain that experience…you need a job — which also requires experience.
You’re trapped in this “experience void.” ‘
So, what should you do?
Create your own “commercial” experience.
When I was applying for my first web designer job, I had worked for two companies:
- McDonald’s
- Tsavo Neal Consulting
Notice anything interesting about these 2 companies?
The first one isn’t relevant at all. The second one I made up myself.
I had not worked for any established company. And you don’t need to either.
Within 3 weeks, I had landed a web designer position at a tech company.
To create your own job experience, you need to do two things:
- Learn the skills you need to succeed in a particular career
- Apply these skills in the real world for yourself and/or for clients
Job postings are more malleable than you think.
Keep learning web development. More importantly, practice your web development skills and make stuff for people.
That’s commercial experience.
What kind of thing can you monetize as a self-employed if you love finance and economics (and coding)?
If you love finance and coding, you have a unique skill set that will be easier to monetize than most.
Here’s how I would think about it.
First, if you want to monetize, you’ll have to use your skills to help people.
Think of it this way.
Your love for finance and coding are only as valuable insofar as you can use them to create value for other people.
If you can create value for other people, you can monetize.
Value = Monetization.
We know people in finance monetize their skills — they help other people make or save money.
We know how people who code monetize their skills — they build software that help people solve various problems.
So, how could you combine the two?
Here are some ideas off the top of my head:
- Code software that helps people automate their finances
- Teach people how to code software to help with their finances
- Do freelance coding projects for financial companies
- Write a blog about coding & finance and build an audience for those who share the same passions
- Help coders improve their finances or help people in finance learn to code
- Consult with financial companies or financial software improve their code
- Consult with software companies to improve their finances
You could combine many of these ideas under one personal brand.
Become known as the “Financial Coding Guy/Gal.”
Monetizing your skills is about combining them in unique ways to create value for other people.
And the more you love said skills, the longer you’ll stick around for monetization to actually work.
What are some tips on expanding a business network?
Trying to expand your business network is a waste of time.
Instead, focus more on showing your craft.
Naval puts it best:
I think business networking is a complete waste of time.
And I know there are people and companies popularizing this concept because it serves them and their business model well, but the reality is if you’re building something interesting, you will always have more people who will want to know you.
Trying to build business relationships well in advance of doing business is a complete waste of time.
I have a much more comfortable philosophy:
“Be a maker who makes something interesting people want. Show your craft, practice your craft, and the right people will eventually find you.”
—Naval Ravikant
Old world: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
— Tsavo (@TsavoNeal) August 24, 2020
New world: “What you share determines who you know.” https://t.co/bEcuQ9T7AF
Stop networking, start making and sharing.
Are liberal arts and humanities degrees useless? Why do some people consider them useless?
Is learning why humans behave the way they do useless?
That’s Anthropology.
Is learning the foundations of Western culture and ideas useless?
That’s the Classics.
Is learning about the past and where you come from useless?
That’s History.
Is learning about language and the meaning of communication and useless?
That’s Linguistics.
Is learning the rules enforced by society to regulate human behavior useless?
That’s Law and politics.
Is learning how to read, how to write, and how to communicate useless?
That’s English and literature.
Is learning how and why to live — and the fundamental nature of knowledge useless?
That’s Philosophy.
Is learning the core beliefs that drive human beings useless?
That’s Religion.
Is learning how to use your body to act, tell jokes, dance, make music, and sing useless?
That’s Performing Arts.
Is learning how to create beauty useless?
That’s Visual Arts.
I’d like to see anyone argue how any of those are “useless.”
People think they’re useless because they think of degrees as “job training,” which they are not.
If you can learn and market these skills, you’ll never have a difficult time finding a job.
And more important than a job, you’ll be a wiser, stronger, more capable person.
The right way to be in a situation like that is to be strong and reliable, and I don’t think you can do that without being wise.
And you can’t be wise without putting yourself together — without knowing something about where you came from and what you’re like: that’s history and the humanities.
This isn’t optional.
-Jordan B. Peterson