HACKER Q&A
📣 mthwl

Returning to work after 5 years?


After a 5 year hiatus, I’m planning to return to a programming job next fall (so I have about a year to prepare).

Previously, I’ve done generalist web development stuff (front end, back end, database/api, integrations, a bit of devops, design work).

And a few different kinds of employers: design agencies, product companies, universities, startups.

Since I haven’t been in the market for a long time, I’m curious to hear how it might have changed.

1) any recommendations on pieces of the web stack to focus on? I’ll be spending a year or so brushing on current tech.

2) what’s the current job market like? I see a lot of React jobs, but I can’t say I love React

3) any advice for reentering the job market after such a layoff?

Thanks!

  👤 joshxyz Accepted Answer ✓
you got a lot of catching up to do good lord. even a month of break already sets me back with a bunch of backlogs to digest on both frontend and backend development.

1. the one youre familiar with

2. check then hn Whos Hiring threads

3. we now do everything in javascript. theres actually rule # 3434 of the internet: if you can think of it, there's a javascript version of it (maybe with some wasm)

👤 dylanhassinger
just jump in. sure there's new tools but common sense and technical problem solving are same as they ever were. build a resume site with NextJS, that'll get you up to speed

u will learn more by getting a job/freelance project than by studying