Where to go next if you didn’t manage to find a job in Front-end after half a year of searching?

Question

Career in IT

I live in a city with a population of 200k. There are approximately 15 IT companies in the city, where each company employs an average of 10-20 people. All companies in the city are engaged in web development (outsourcing). The predominant programming language in the city is PHP.

I'm 28 years old. A technologist by education. I have never worked in my specialty, as work experience or connections are needed everywhere. For several years he worked as an office manager. Then I decided that I didn’t want to spend my life doing something I didn’t like. I decided to study as a programmer (web developer) because in my student years programming was my hobby and I really liked programming. It is often advised to start web development from the Front-end. Because for a beginner it will be easier. That's exactly what I did. At first, working in the office set aside the "financial airbag". Then he quit his job. And I studied Front-end (html, css, javascript, react.js, sass, bootstrap) for a year and made portfolio projects.

Half a year ago, I began to respond to vacancies of companies or simply sent resumes to the mail of companies that I had ever heard of.

Company A
did a React.js test well. So said the programmer who checked the task. Invited for an interview. Answered almost all questions correctly. A week later, hr wrote that they did not take it because I have no commercial experience in programming. Despite the fact that even before they sent me a test task, I told her that I had no commercial experience in programming ...

Company B
There were courses on CMS Drupal with the possibility of employment. I was among the best students, and we were offered to study with them for 9 months with a scholarship of $ 100 per month, but before training, you need to sign a contract that you will work in this company for a year after training. I refused.

Company A then ran React.js courses with employment opportunities. Since there were no options at that time, I decided to try again to get a job in this company. After the course, they gave me a test task on React.js. I did the test well, but someone did the task faster or even better and I was not hired again.

Company V
Dali test task on CMS Drupal. The task was this: to make a copy of any news site with at least one module that displays the weather on the page. In addition, they wrote that "There are no requirements, do what and how you think is right." I made a test. To which they wrote to me: So far this is not enough for an offer. And they wrote a bunch of everything that they would like me to finalize. I said that I do not have time now, maybe later I will do what they ask.

The remaining 12 companies in the city did not respond to my resume in any way. Although not everyone at that time was looking for programmers. I just sent my resume to everyone on the mail that was indicated on the site.

What conclusions did I draw during these six months of searching:
1) PHP developers are needed more in my city. With knowledge of html, css and js in addition
2) Front-end developers are needed with at least a year of experience in an IT company.

Now the money I put aside to become a web developer is over and I need to live for something.

What am I thinking of doing now?
The option is this: Get a job not related to IT. On weekends and before work, learn PHP and MySQL + make websites for a portfolio for several hours.
After half a year - a year, start trying to get a job as a back-end (php) developer. Plus, if there are any vacancies in the Front-end, they will also respond to them.

And what do you think? Perhaps someone can advise some other options?

Answer 1

it's time to change the city
why should someone listen to what is in demand and where it is easier
if you can spend five minutes to go to any job site in your city and see what you need, where you need more there and it's easier

Answer 2

I don't understand what the city has to do with it. It is impossible to find a normal job as a programmer in Roiss in your hometown. This is an axiom. We learn English, enter international markets.

robot

- Your Freudian diagnosis. No need to look for the unloved

robot

look for your dream job.

Answer 3

The web is tight right now. A lot of competitors. People are exploring the web because they don't want to go through hard physical labor and low pay. I earn my own pennies. I've just started learning 3d modeling. I am interested in this, and maybe something will work out in this area.

Answer 4

After defending my diploma in 2012, I went to the garage for a couple of years. A year ago, I was on a motorcycle race, in a racing team and had a wonderful season in the Ua SBK championship, but as cool as it all sounds as a mechanic. This year I have 11 moto season and I ride a scooter. In general, with such a cheerful resume, recruits did not respond very well. But I found a solution. And the simpler the better, I did all the responses and test tasks in Google tools - sites. I made a good creative presentation and ended up in an IT company. I didn’t even dare to go to the front with such a background, the content manager became an alternative.

Answer 5

Try freelancing, for example, on this site: https://yukon.to/

Answer 6

It seems that companies in your city are doing projects on free labor - candidates and test assignments