I narrowed in on React and JavaScript pretty quickly and it helped me get my first job. I branch out into other areas here and there but it’s not quite as comfortable or as productive as my original niche. But it definitely helps to focus on one thing and so it well!
I have already done this. I am a C++ Library designer and understand all the esoteric low-level details needed to write good libraries. I told my last employer that was my primary skill area. It turned out that they had already granted ownership of this space to someone else who viewed me as a career threat. The job did not work and I no longer work there. If they had paid attention to my resume and to my interviews, they would have realized that I was a poor candidate for the job and saved a lot of trouble for us all.
Wow. That's not great. I will say that hiring is often a broken process that feels almost entirely random. Only thing I've found that sort of works is being willing to change jobs when it isn't a good fit or at least frequently enough to find a good fit.
I've had a few bad experiences myself and I'm pretty sure I have zero predictive ability of how a job will go until I've been there a few months at least. Best of luck to you John, hope the next or current gig works out better for you!
I narrowed in on React and JavaScript pretty quickly and it helped me get my first job. I branch out into other areas here and there but it’s not quite as comfortable or as productive as my original niche. But it definitely helps to focus on one thing and so it well!
I'm proud of what you've accomplished Jesse and your Substack is pretty great too. Keep going! :-)
I have already done this. I am a C++ Library designer and understand all the esoteric low-level details needed to write good libraries. I told my last employer that was my primary skill area. It turned out that they had already granted ownership of this space to someone else who viewed me as a career threat. The job did not work and I no longer work there. If they had paid attention to my resume and to my interviews, they would have realized that I was a poor candidate for the job and saved a lot of trouble for us all.
Wow. That's not great. I will say that hiring is often a broken process that feels almost entirely random. Only thing I've found that sort of works is being willing to change jobs when it isn't a good fit or at least frequently enough to find a good fit.
I've had a few bad experiences myself and I'm pretty sure I have zero predictive ability of how a job will go until I've been there a few months at least. Best of luck to you John, hope the next or current gig works out better for you!