I just got laid off today. What courses can I take in the meantime to boost my skills

As the title says, I was just laid off from my Front End UI Developer job after 7 years.

I enjoyed my position because it felt comfortable and easy, but working at a small company meant I wasn’t pushed to grow my skills.

What skills can I develop or what courses or certifications can I earn to make myself more appealing to employers quickly?

With all this free time, I want to enhance my resume. Where should I focus my efforts the most?

Current skills: JavaScript, HTML, SCSS, a little bit of Angular, jQuery

If I were in your position, I would choose a course on a modern UI framework like React or Vue.js from Scrimba or a Udemy class. Create a comprehensive project and add it to a portfolio website before deploying it. Start applying early

@Cade
Scrimba is my favorite site for learning. The interactive video and text editor with hands-on experience make it great

Nile said:
@Cade
Scrimba is my favorite site for learning. The interactive video and text editor with hands-on experience make it great

Their Discord can be really helpful too. I used it while working through a free YouTube course. Highly recommend

Sorry to hear that. Make sure to apply for unemployment benefits right away.

Concerning skills that are in high demand, I’d say React for sure, and also TypeScript.

Build a small CRUD web app using those technologies—put it on your resume and start applying. Check out /r/engineeringresumes and follow their guidelines closely for your resume.

Do those two things first and then apply.

Good luck

@Sky
What does unemployment mean and how do I apply?

Ash said:
@Sky
What does unemployment mean and how do I apply?

Some countries offer financial support for those without jobs, like the UK: Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA): How it works - GOV.UK

I think one of the best skills to develop is networking. Schedule coffee chats with some people in tech each week. Discuss their current jobs, past positions, tech stack, and open roles. A referral can make a big difference

@Jensen
You have a point, but with OP’s skills they should also focus on improving their technical skills

@Jensen
This is good advice, but reaching out to random people on LinkedIn might seem weird. Many experienced folks are too busy for coffee with strangers

Eden said:
@Jensen
This is good advice, but reaching out to random people on LinkedIn might seem weird. Many experienced folks are too busy for coffee with strangers

I wouldn’t suggest talking to complete strangers. It’s better to connect with people you’ve met through places like the gym, church, hobby groups, tech conferences, or meetups. You’ve already established some rapport there

React is currently the most popular frontend framework. You can’t go wrong learning it, along with testing tools like JUnit. Also, NestJS is a good entry into backend because it shares similarities with Angular. Full-stack JavaScript is a valuable stack you can achieve based on your current skills.

Using jQuery makes the company look dated. If that’s their tech stack, you’re better off moving on to more modern technologies

Consider learning React, Node, and SQL.

A guy named Dave Gray on YouTube offers classes for all three

Check out Laracasts.com, which offers great tutorials. They have a series called ‘The Path’ that helps take you from beginner to pro with Laravel. It could be an excellent way to transition to a full-stack role.

Consider taking backend courses in Java, Python, Golang, etc., and aim to become a full stack developer. Last time I checked the market for frontend developers was not great; it’s best to be versatile these days.

I have a different view. In my opinion, frontend work isn’t as relevant in this job market since companies are looking for more general skills. I’d focus on full stack roles: Java and Oracle or .NET and MS SQL, along with Azure and AWS.

I’ve been looking for a frontend job for 7 years with no success while working as a full-stack engineer. To be honest, I had some opportunities, but I didn’t want a pay cut given my skills and experience (over 15 years).

So, what about enhancing your full-stack skills?

Focus more on Angular and learn React too.

It’s not up to the company to help you grow your skills; it’s up to you.

Flynn said:
It’s not up to the company to help you grow your skills; it’s up to you.

I completely disagree.

It’s in a company’s best interest to help you grow. If you don’t have opportunities for growth in your job, you’ll eventually become bored and disengaged. I say this as an Engineering Manager working hard to help people advance in their careers