How I Taught Myself to Code in minutes and Landed a Job at Google

How to Learn Coding by Yourself

Landing a job at Google may sound like a dream reserved for computer science graduates from top universities. But my story proves it’s possible to achieve that goal through self-teaching, persistence, and smart strategy — even without a formal degree in coding.

Step 1: Setting a Clear Goal

The first step was setting a clear, ambitious goal: I wanted to work at Google as a software engineer. This focus gave me motivation and direction. Without a concrete target, learning to code can feel overwhelming.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Learning Resources

I started with free and affordable resources online. Some of my favorites included:

freeCodeCamp: Hands-on coding challenges and projects.
CS50 (Harvard’s Intro to Computer Science): A solid foundation in algorithms and programming concepts.
LeetCode and HackerRank: For practicing coding problems and preparing for technical interviews.

I dedicated 2-3 hours daily to coding, treating it like a job.

Step 3: Building Projects & Portfolio

Theory isn’t enough. To prove my skills, I built real projects — a personal website, a simple game, and a small app to track habits. I uploaded these projects to GitHub, which became a live portfolio I could share with recruiters.

Step 4: Networking and Learning from Others

I joined online coding communities like Reddit’s r/learnprogramming and Stack Overflow, where I asked questions and learned from experienced developers. I also connected with Google engineers on LinkedIn, respectfully seeking advice and insights about the interview process.

Step 5: Preparing for the Interview

Google’s interviews are famously tough. I focused on:

Data structures and algorithms
System design basics
Behavioral questions

Using platforms like LeetCode daily helped me improve problem-solving speed and accuracy. Mock interviews with peers boosted my confidence.

Step 6: Never Giving Up

I applied multiple times before getting a call. Each rejection was a learning opportunity. I adjusted my study plan and improved my projects. Persistence paid off.

Final Thoughts

Teaching myself to code and landing a job at Google took grit, discipline, and smart strategies — not just talent. If you’re willing to commit, use quality resources, build projects, network, and keep learning, you can achieve your dream too.