How Emmett Naughton Transitioned from Janitor to Developer

TL;DR

Emmett Naughton transitioned from working as a hospital janitor to becoming a developer by teaching himself programming through Free Code Camp. He founded Coder Dads, a supportive community for fathers in tech, and shares insights on making career transitions, leveraging social media, and the importance of sleep for cognitive performance.

Transcript

Welcome back to the Free Code Campamp podcast. I'm Quincy Larson, teacher and founder of freecodeamp.org. Today we're talking with EMTT Nton. He worked as a hospital janitor for years while teaching himself programming using Free Code Camp. He's the founder of Coder Dads, a chat community where dads encourage one another. We're going to talk about ... Read More

Key Insights

• Emmett Naughton taught himself programming while working as a hospital janitor, using Free Code Camp resources.
• He founded Coder Dads, a community where fathers in tech support each other in their career journeys.
• Emmett emphasizes the importance of networking and social media to build a career in tech, even if one doesn't enjoy using social media.
• He experienced layoffs twice in one year but continued to persevere in the tech industry.
• Emmett transitioned into the PHP Laravel ecosystem from a full stack JavaScript background, finding the community more welcoming.
• He highlights the importance of sleep, noting that treating his sleep apnea significantly improved his cognitive abilities and coding performance.
• Emmett advocates for being genuine and transparent online to build a strong professional reputation.
• He shares the importance of taking small, consistent steps toward career goals, even when balancing family responsibilities.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Emmett Naughton transition from a janitor to a developer?

Emmett Naughton transitioned from working as a hospital janitor to a developer by teaching himself programming through Free Code Camp. He utilized online resources, built projects, and engaged with tech communities to develop his skills. Networking and sharing his journey on social media also played a crucial role in his career transition.

Q: What is Coder Dads and how does it support fathers in tech?

Coder Dads is a community founded by Emmett Naughton that provides support and encouragement to fathers pursuing careers in tech. It offers a space for dads to share experiences, seek advice, and connect with others facing similar challenges in balancing family responsibilities and career growth in the tech industry.

Q: Why did Emmett Naughton choose to transition into the PHP Laravel ecosystem?

Emmett Naughton transitioned into the PHP Laravel ecosystem from a full stack JavaScript background to take on a new challenge and because he found the Laravel community more welcoming and supportive. He appreciated the out-of-the-box features Laravel offers, which streamline the development process and provide a positive environment for newcomers.

Q: How did treating sleep apnea impact Emmett Naughton's coding performance?

Treating his sleep apnea significantly improved Emmett Naughton's cognitive abilities and coding performance. By using a CPAP machine, he ensured better sleep quality, which enhanced his focus, problem-solving skills, and overall productivity. This highlights the crucial role of adequate sleep in maintaining optimal cognitive function.

Q: What role did social media play in Emmett Naughton's career development?

Social media played a pivotal role in Emmett Naughton's career development by allowing him to network, share his learning journey, and connect with other professionals in the tech industry. Despite not enjoying social media, he leveraged it to build a professional reputation, gain visibility, and access opportunities that advanced his career.

Q: How did Emmett Naughton handle being laid off twice in one year?

Emmett Naughton faced the challenge of being laid off twice in one year by relying on his network, maintaining a positive attitude, and continuing to apply for roles in tech. Although the job market was tough, he persisted in his job search, eventually accepting a support engineer role and working towards transitioning back into a developer position.

Q: What advice does Emmett Naughton give for building a career in tech?

Emmett Naughton advises aspiring tech professionals to be genuine and transparent online, consistently take small steps towards their career goals, and leverage networking opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of building a supportive community, such as Coder Dads, and maintaining a positive attitude, even when facing setbacks like layoffs.

Q: How did Emmett Naughton's early career experiences influence his approach to tech?

Emmett Naughton's early career experiences as a janitor and his background in electrical engineering taught him the value of hard work, persistence, and continuous learning. These experiences influenced his approach to tech by instilling a strong work ethic, adaptability, and the ability to leverage diverse skills and knowledge in his software development career.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Emmett Naughton transitioned from a hospital janitor to a developer by self-learning programming through Free Code Camp. He founded Coder Dads, a community supporting fathers in tech, and emphasizes the importance of networking and social media for career growth. Treating his sleep apnea significantly improved his cognitive abilities, highlighting the importance of sleep for productivity.

• Emmett's journey into the PHP Laravel ecosystem from a JavaScript background was driven by a desire for a new challenge and a more welcoming community. He shares insights on how to effectively use social media, even for those who dislike it, to build a career in tech.

• Despite facing layoffs twice in one year, Emmett persevered in the tech industry. He stresses the importance of being genuine online, taking small consistent steps towards career goals, and the value of sleep in improving cognitive performance and coding skills.