"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

Entrepreneur, content creator and educator Masha Zvereva talks about influencer marketing, how to create your own tech career, and why she founded her business, Coding Blonde.

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

Thank you to this episode's sponsors:

• Mailparser
• Thinkful

Chris Castiglione, the founder of One Month, discusses what it means for the internet to be decentralized and the importance of having digital literacy skills in 2019.

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

Thank you to this episode's sponsors:

• Mailparser
• Thinkful

Find out how former airport security officer Samit Saini transitioned into tech, despite being dyslexic and leaving high school at the age of 16.

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

Thank you to this episode's sponsors:

• MongoDB
• Flatiron School

Wes Bos discusses his extensive background in tech, why he started creating online JavaScript courses, and shares some tips on how to build an online presence.

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

Thank you to this episode's sponsors:

• MongoDB
• Flatiron School

Imtiaz Ahmed shares why Java and Python are great languages to learn first, and how to become a software developer quickly - even if you're a complete beginner.

Learn more about this special, limited-time bundle here: https://learntocodewith.me/toolbox2019.

Mark Lassoff explains how online education has evolved over the years and the best way for beginners to start learning how to code.

Learn more about this special, limited-time bundle here: https://learntocodewith.me/toolbox2019.