"Hacking" isn’t always a bad word in the tech space anymore, thanks to the growing popularity of "ethical hacking" and events like "hackathons".

Senior software developer Gwendolyn Faraday loves the power of hackathons to bring beginners together and let them sharpen their skills in a fun and supportive environment, and she now hosts her own hackathons for beginners.

In the episode, Gwen discusses...

• Why hackathons were so important for her own learning journey
• How to prepare for a hackathon and other hackathon tips
• What to do if you’re going to a hackathon alone, instead of with a team

Learn more about Gwen and what we discussed on the Learn to Code With Me website.

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors, Flatiron School and .TECH Domains.

Recent tech graduate Marie Armstrong discusses how to stand out to employers if you’re not a straight-A student, and the importance of personal branding to get your name heard.

See the full show notes on the Learn to Code With Me website.

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors:

• Mailparser
• Thinkful

Is getting a college degree worth it if you want to be a software engineer? Mosh Hamedani discusses the best ways to teach yourself tech skills, and why college education may not be the best route for software engineering.

See the full show notes on the Learn to Code With Me website.

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors:

• Mailparser
• Thinkful

Kyle Prinsloo, founder of studywebdevelopment.com, shares advice on finding your freelance niche, how to start your full-time freelance career, and how to market yourself online.

See the full show notes on the Learn to Code With Me website.

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors:

• Mailparser
• Thinkful