How My Friend Learned Coding for Free and Got Hired

 When my friend lost his restaurant job in the US during the pandemic, he didn’t panic. Instead, he saw an opportunity to upskill. With zero background in tech, no expensive course, and limited resources, he taught himself to code—for free—and landed a remote job in less than six months. Here’s exactly what he did:

Step 1: Chose the Right Language
He started with JavaScript, knowing it powers millions of websites and is beginner-friendly. He read blogs and watched videos to understand which languages have demand in the job market.

Step 2: Used 100% Free Resources
He didn’t pay for a single course. Platforms like Free Code Camp, The Odin Project, W3Schools, and YouTube (like Traversy Media, Web Dev Simplified) were his classrooms.

Step 3: Practiced Daily, Religiously
He made a study plan—3 to 4 hours every day—and stuck to it. No excuses. He practiced HTML, CSS, and JavaScript basics and later explored ReactJS.

Step 4: Built Real Projects
To stand out, he built mini projects like a weather app, a task manager, and a personal portfolio. These weren’t just for learning—they were to show employers his ability.

Step 5: Joined Developer Communities
He connected with coders on Reddit, Discord servers, and Twitter/X. These platforms helped him stay motivated and get real feedback on his code.

Step 6: Created a Strong GitHub Portfolio
All his projects were uploaded on GitHub. Recruiters love clean, consistent, and documented GitHub profiles—it’s like a developer’s resume.

Step 7: Worked on His Resume and LinkedIn
He updated his resume with keywords like “self-taught developer,” “JavaScript,” “React,” and “remote collaboration.” On LinkedIn, he shared progress updates and connected with recruiters.

Step 8: Applied Consistently
He applied to over 100 jobs on LinkedIn, RemoteOK, We Work Remotely, and AngelList. Rejections came, but he didn’t stop.

Step 9: Cracked His First Job Interview
After two months, he landed his first remote role at a US-based startup. They were impressed with his projects and how he self-learned everything.

Step 10: Still Learning, Still Growing
Today, he earns a decent income in dollars, works from home, and continues to learn backend skills like Node.js and Express. His journey proves you don’t need a CS degree to break into tech—just consistency, discipline, and free internet resources.

July 20, 2025

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