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Author of Automate the Boring Stuff With Python – Al Sweigart
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Al Sweigart
In this week’s show, Phil talks to Al Sweigart, a professional developer who teaches programming to kids and adults. As well as being a speaker at Python conferences, he has written several bestselling programming books for beginners, including ‘Automate the Boring Stuff with Python’, ‘Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python’, ‘Cracking Codes with Python’, and ‘Coding with Minecraft’. Al talks about the fact that many jobs are attainable, despite the job description and list of qualifications required. Never count yourself out of the race. He also discusses why coding itself can feel intimidating, but that it’s nothing to be feared.
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Resources
AutomateTheBoringStuff.com – Click on the link to check out the FREE book website!
InventWithPython.com – Click on the link to check out Al’s website!
YouTube – Click on the link to check out Al’s YouTube channel!
2 Top Career Tips
1) No matter what your level of education, the requirements for certain jobs in IT can often be based upon qualities that are not necessarily in the description.
2) Never be intimidated by the language and process of coding itself. Overcome your doubts and get involved, and you’ll find out how simple and intuitive it really is.
Show Notes
Worst Career Moment
Al once mistakenly deleted a vital component in a piece of software, without a backup! It taught him the value of never coding directly on a database, and to ensure that backups are kept.
Career Highlight
Writing the book ‘Automate The Boring Stuff With Python’. The process of writing itself was laced with many doubts, but the book was worth the effort.
The Future
With new tools aimed at making programming easier, the world of IT and coding has become incredibly accessible to everyone, allowing entry to some truly creative minds.
The Reveal
What first attracted you to a career in I.T.?
Nintendo! Video games played a huge part in sparking Al’s interest.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t be afraid to give bad news – especially early on.
What is the worst career advice you’ve ever received?
That Al should go to grad school and get a master’s degree in computer science. For Al’s chosen career path, this was the entirely incorrect solution.
If you had to begin your career again in today’s world, what would you do?
Al would be terrified as he wonders if he would be daunted by the language of coding itself.
What career objectives are you currently focusing on?
Al wants to focus on writing more books.
What’s the number one non-technical skill that has helped you in your career so far?
Communication skills are everything.
What do you do to keep your own career energized?
By staying in close contact with the large and helpful Python community.
What do you do in your spare time away from technology?
Origami is one of Al’s main hobbies!
Contact The Guest
Contact Al Sweigart through the following social media platforms:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlSweigart
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