What to do or how to network if there is only one junior Java, JavaScript developer job in my local city centre

[Jason9]

I'm looking to change careers as the pay is not good with my current job.

I live in the United Kingdom.

I'm looking to go into programming/developer jobs after developing a GitHub portfolio of projects.

I've looked for entry level, junior Java, JavaScript jobs in my local city centre and there is only 2 junior Java developer jobs and 1 junior JavaScript jobs available in my local city centre. Which is hardly anything.

It doesn't matter what search terms I use. Still only one entry level/junior JavaScript job in my local city centre.

Java, JavaScript, C#, Python, PHP, node, react etc.

What can I do here? I wonder why the limited prospects for junior roles. I remember back in 2016 were there were a lot of entry level/junior java developer jobs in my local city centre. I should've just pursued it back then.

Some people say certain jobs are not advertised on the job sites.

People say networking, so I go to network events and someone may offer me a position which is not advertised?

 

[Jason9]

I think the key is search for any Python or JavaScript events in my city.

Go to Python, JavaScript meet ups in my local city centre and network.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Many companies have dropped hiring for junior devs significantly because AI has taken their role...and to be honest, AI is much better in a lot of cases than most junior devs.

However, if you want to get into this field you need to understand what is important in terms of making decisions further up the chain and into architectural concerns. Not going to lie, it's tough for new devs because writing code isn't really done by hand anymore. But to learn other things you need to understand the code.

So you essentially have to learn twice as much to be useful these days.

 

[nicksaiz65]

Many companies have dropped hiring for junior devs significantly because AI has taken their role...and to be honest, AI is much better in a lot of cases than most junior devs.

However, if you want to get into this field you need to understand what is important in terms of making decisions further up the chain and into architectural concerns. Not going to lie, it's tough for new devs because writing code isn't really done by hand anymore. But to learn other things you need to understand the code.

So you essentially have to learn twice as much to be useful these days.

Holy sh*t. I didn’t realize companies weren’t hiring juniors like that. I’m glad I got out when I did, I feel bad for the new college grads.

On one hand I was like “college would have been 10x easier if I went when AI was a thing” but then you’d have the job market, so..

 

[DonJefe19]

I'm looking to change careers as the pay is not good with my current job.

I live in the United Kingdom.

I'm looking to go into programming/developer jobs after developing a GitHub portfolio of projects.

I've looked for entry level, junior Java, JavaScript jobs in my local city centre and there is only 2 junior Java developer jobs and 1 junior JavaScript jobs available in my local city centre. Which is hardly anything.

It doesn't matter what search terms I use. Still only one entry level/junior JavaScript job in my local city centre.

Java, JavaScript, C#, Python, PHP, node, react etc.

What can I do here? I wonder why the limited prospects for junior roles. I remember back in 2016 were there were a lot of entry level/junior java developer jobs in my local city centre. I should've just pursued it back then.

Some people say certain jobs are not advertised on the job sites.

People say networking, so I go to network events and someone may offer me a position which is not advertised?

You have two options:

1. Forget about programming and find another lucrative occupation
2. If you're deadset to become a programmer, change your mentality from being employee to being entrepreneur

Seriously, the job market is quite hostile to entry level developers for several reasons. Companies are having a harder time to find cheap money to hire devs and the hiring process has become stupidly stringent. You're not going to be willing to put up with the shenanigans that you have to go through just get an entry level job that pays you a fair wage. It maybe many months, if not years, before you actually get an interview for a programmer job if you're willing grind for it. There's just better job opportunities that you can find faster and achieve success whether that's lucrative pay or more time freedom.

But if you're stubborn and you absolutely want to become a programmer, you have to stop doing what everyone else is doing which is begging larger enterprises to take you in as an entry level. You have to turn your attention to smaller companies in your home town or neighboring towns and ask them where you can help them with their IT problems. They don't have to resources like a large organization has when comes to competing in the software space, and they are willing to pay you a significant amount to help me figure things out. It could be as simple as building an AI workflow for them to make operations more efficient and that sh8t is easy to put together.

 

[DonJefe19]

Many companies have dropped hiring for junior devs significantly because AI has taken their role...and to be honest, AI is much better in a lot of cases than most junior devs.

However, if you want to get into this field you need to understand what is important in terms of making decisions further up the chain and into architectural concerns. Not going to lie, it's tough for new devs because writing code isn't really done by hand anymore. But to learn other things you need to understand the code.

So you essentially have to learn twice as much to be useful these days.

Not so much that AI is replacing juniors but that money is getting more expensive to borrow. When money gets tight you either make your hiring more efficient by getting more seniors to do more or you delegate offshore. Juniors are not cheap because they f*k up more than a true seasoned dev.

 

[nicksaiz65]

You have two options:

1. Forget about programming and find another lucrative occupation
2. If you're deadset to become a programmer, change your mentality from being employee to being entrepreneur

Seriously, the job market is quite hostile to entry level developers for several reasons. Companies are having a harder time to find cheap money to hire devs and the hiring process has become stupidly stringent. You're not going to be willing to put up with the shenanigans that you have to go through just get an entry level job that pays you a fair wage. It maybe many months, if not years, before you actually get an interview for a programmer job if you're willing grind for it. There's just better job opportunities that you can find faster and achieve success whether that's lucrative pay or more time freedom.

But if you're stubborn and you absolutely want to become a programmer, you have to stop doing what everyone else is doing which is begging larger enterprises to take you in as an entry level. You have to turn your attention to smaller companies in your home town or neighboring towns and ask them where you can help them with their IT problems. They don't have to resources like a large organization has when comes to competing in the software space, and they are willing to pay you a significant amount to help me figure things out. It could be as simple as building an AI workflow for them to make operations more efficient and that sh8t is easy to put together.

I seriously question if this whole SWE stuff is even worth it these days. Hmm.

 

[DonJefe19]

I seriously question if this whole SWE stuff is even worth it these days. Hmm.

Software development is going through an evolutionary transition much like what it experienced in the last decade and the preceding decades. But again, if you're a software dev without professional experience, you're going to be more successful turning your attention towards smaller businesses then focusing on getting into a corporation. Most businesses have no clue how AI works and are willing to pay a lot of money for someone to just setup a Anthropic account and put together a n8n server.

 

[Jason9]

I thank and appreciate all of your insights and responses guys.

I may very well go down the AI self employment route, I have been thinking about this. Moreover I have browsed linkedin profiles of individuals going down this route.