Gaining hands-on experience as a self-taught developer: internships and side projects

As a self-taught developer, gaining hands-on experience is an essential part of growing as a professional and building a strong portfolio of skills. One way to do this is through internships or side projects. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of these two types of experiences and provide some tips for finding and making the most of them.

Internships are a great way for self-taught developers to gain experience working in a professional environment. Many companies offer internships specifically for students, but many are open to self-taught developers as well. Through an internship, you will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced developers, learn new technologies and methodologies, and gain valuable skills that will help you in your future career. It's also a good way to get a sense of what it's like to work in a certain type of company, such as a startup or a big corporation.

When looking for internships, it's important to be proactive and keep an eye out for opportunities that align with your interests and goals. You can find internships by checking out job boards like LinkedIn and Glassdoor, as well as through the websites of companies you're interested in. Networking with other developers and industry professionals can also be a great way to find internships.

Another way to gain hands-on experience as a self-taught developer is through side projects. A side project is a personal project that you work on outside of your regular work or study schedule. Side projects can be a great way to explore new technologies and gain skills that you may not have the opportunity to learn in your current role. They can also help you build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills to potential employers.

When starting a side project, it's important to choose a project that aligns with your interests and goals, and that will help you learn the skills you want to gain. One way to find inspiration for side projects is to look at the current industry trends and think about how you could apply them to your own work.

For example, if you're interested in web development, you could build a website or a web app, If you're interested in machine learning, you can build a project to train a simple model. If you're interested in IoT, you can build a small project with a microcontroller and connect it to the internet.

It's also important to set realistic goals for your side project and to be disciplined about working on it regularly. You can set a schedule for working on your side project or set deadlines for yourself.

In conclusion, internships and side projects are both excellent ways for self-taught developers to gain hands-on experience and build a strong portfolio of skills. By being proactive and disciplined, you can make the most of these opportunities and take your development career to the next level. Remember to always align with your interests and what you want to achieve with it.

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