How I landed my first developer job at 17 (without a degree)

Karishma has been a real credit to the Frontend Mentor community since she started contributing over 3 years ago. Since then, she has completed challenges at all difficulty levels and helped many other community members with code reviews and support.

Her journey, from learning to code in school to getting hired at 17, is truly inspiring. We hope you enjoy this spotlight! Over to Karishma...

Introduction

In just 8 months, I went from completing my first FreeCodeCamp tutorial to getting hired as a professional developer. In three years, I’ve progressed from building simple landing pages to architecting full-stack applications and mentoring junior developers. Here’s how I compressed what typically takes four years of computer science education into focused, practical learning.

The foundation: Learning to code at school

I've been coding since I was 10 years old, thanks to my school's extensive curriculum. My first programming language was Logo (those turtle graphics!). Over the years, I was exposed to Q-Basic, C++, Java, and Visual Basic. Languages that might be outdated now, but they built something invaluable: my debugging and problem-solving skills.

My teacher had one non-negotiable rule: "Code on paper first before coding it on the computer." We had to write perfect code on paper so that when she tried it on the computer, it would work flawlessly. Even a simple semicolon couldn't be missed. During our one-hour lab sessions, no internet was allowed, so we were forced to think without Google. (Don't worry, after one hour, if we couldn't solve it, she would share the answers 😉)

Looking back, this constraint-driven approach was invaluable for developing genuine programming intuition. It forced me to understand logic and syntax at a fundamental level.

It's been 12 years since I first started coding, and those early foundations made all the difference. Since then, I couldn't think of any career other than computers. My teachers had made the subject fun.

The COVID pivot

Then COVID hit during my 10th grade, and life took a complete U-turn. After my board exams, I had to leave traditional schooling and opt for homeschooling due to financial constraints. Many people criticised this decision, saying "homeschool kids don't get good jobs," "social school life is important," "this will impact your career."

Ignoring the critics, I focused on my brother's advice: "Get certifications from foreign universities to improve your profile and skills."

I tried every online learning platform I could find. After various hit-and-trial attempts, two courses became game-changers: CS50x and FreeCodeCamp.

CS50x introduced me to the best teacher ever, David Malan. I learned Python, data structures, and the basics of web development. FreeCodeCamp made me fall in love with web development through its brilliant curriculum and teaching style. For the first time, I could see my code come to life visually, and it was mind-blowing.

From tutorials to real projects

But after completing those courses, I hit a wall. I didn't have project ideas to practice my skills, and no company would provide internships without me having finished school. I was stuck watching tutorials and thinking I understood, but when faced with a blank screen, I couldn't build anything on my own.

For weeks, I felt frustrated and directionless. All this knowledge, but nowhere to apply it.

Then a CS50x friend suggested Frontend Mentor.

Frontend Mentor was exactly what I needed. The platform provided professionally designed projects that covered all the topics required to become a frontend developer. I've completed 30+ projects on Frontend Mentor and even practised MERN stack development.

Here are some of the projects that I liked the most:

• Space Tourism website: This was my first multi-page website, and I learned cross-platform debugging while facing issues in different browsers.
• Todo App: This helped me finally learn Redux, and I also learned how to create multi-theme websites.
• Landing page projects: When I started, I completed most of the available landing page projects, which really helped me learn responsive design, accessibility, and sharpened my frontend skills.

I even took the pro subscription to complete the "Guru" challenges. I haven't completed them fully, so I haven't submitted them; however, I have used those Guru challenges to practice REST APIs, authentication flows, state management, and other related concepts. I hope to submit the completed version of those challenges soon!

The designs are so good that they force you to give them justice by making them pixel-perfect. It also helped me start building publicly. I could post my projects, receive feedback from other developers, and help others as well.

The community feedback was invaluable. It wasn't just about code review; it was about learning from developers worldwide who were on similar journeys.

Breaking into the industry

The learning was smooth thanks to the supportive communities around CS50x, FreeCodeCamp, and Frontend Mentor. The real challenge came during the job-hunting process.

I started my FreeCodeCamp journey in August 2021. By January 2022, I was determined to get a job within three months. I didn't care whether it was a freelance position, a full-time job, or an internship; I just wanted workplace experience.

I applied everywhere I could find, starting in mid-March 2022. Everyone had the same concern: "You're too young," "You won't be able to code," "A person with a degree is preferred." Here I was, applying at 17 without even graduating from high school.

But persistence pays off. Finally, in April 2022, CreativeScript replied to me and asked if I was available for a meeting. I was really sick that day and almost cancelled, but something told me to push through. Best decision ever!

The interview was straightforward but nerve-wracking. The CreativeScript team had the usual concerns about my age and whether I could deliver professional work. What I found interesting was that they were also pretty young entrepreneurs who had started their company while still in college, which gave me confidence. They handed me a login page design and said, "Show us what you can do." I treated it like any other Frontend Mentor challenge and completed it in about 2 hours. They were impressed with the attention to detail and hired me on the spot! 🎉

From that moment, I learned something new every day. I started as a frontend developer and now have experience across frontend, backend, and mobile app development. I've even worked on enterprise e-commerce platforms with SAP Hybris integration.

Moments of doubt and what keeps me going

I do have moments of doubt and burnout. My solution? Taking a nap and watching a movie or series, then resuming work. I know that's not motivational advice, but it's honest!

Impostor syndrome hits hard sometimes, especially when you're the youngest person in every professional meeting. But I've learned that everyone feels uncertain at times, even experienced developers. The key is pushing through those moments and remembering that every challenge is a chance to grow.

What drives me is seeing the impact of my work. When I build something that helps users, or when a junior developer I'm mentoring finally gets that "aha!" moment with a concept they've been stuck on, it feels amazing.

My proudest accomplishments

First, when COVID-19 started, I wasn't even allowed to participate in online classes because we couldn't afford the school fees. I had withdrawn from my school friends because I didn't know what to tell them. I was doubtful about my decisions.

But my other elder brother had also taken a non-traditional path, starting work at 16 as a graphic designer. If he could do it, why not me? I convinced myself that homeschooling would give me the time to learn what's actually necessary, rather than just studying for good marks.

When I got that first job, I was extremely happy. In India, there's still more emphasis on getting a degree than on skills alone, so landing a job based purely on ability felt like breaking barriers.

Over the past three years, I've worked on over 30 projects, ranging from CRM dashboards to e-commerce websites and financial services, including legacy codebases. I've even mentored junior developers who are older than me. I've guided freshers in my company to become Web Developers by solving their doubts and teaching them frontend concepts, E-Commerce development with SAP Hybris, JavaScript, and functional testing. One of the junior developers I mentored has progressed from building only static websites to now working independently on dynamic websites with real data, utilising API integrations and handling projects on their own through complete end-to-end testing and collaboration with backend developers, which feels incredibly rewarding.

What surprised me most about mentoring was how much it helped my own development. Teaching others forced me to truly understand concepts I thought I already knew, which helped fill knowledge gaps in my own frontend journey. When you have to explain why something works a certain way, you discover holes in your understanding. I also learned patience and collaboration skills that made me a better developer overall. Working with different learning styles taught me how to communicate technical concepts more clearly, which has been invaluable in team projects.

Second, I'm excited to have this community spotlight opportunity! I never thought I'd be writing an article for the platform that helped me so much. Really grateful! (I feel like a celebrity giving an interview 😆). When Matt messaged me, I was like, ‘Am I really getting the community spotlight?’.

The most important lessons I've learned

Master the fundamentals first. I've seen junior developers rush into frameworks without properly learning JavaScript. When they get stuck, they can't fix issues because they don't understand what's happening beneath the surface. If you're a web developer, learn to build a website in vanilla JS first.

"Code on paper first" still applies! Think through your logic before writing code.

Pay attention to design details. Before coding, thoroughly study the Figma design. If possible, meet with the designer to gain a deeper understanding of their thought process. Don't ignore pixel specifications or hover states to ship faster. These details matter for a better UI/UX.

Communication skills matter a lot. Being able to explain your ideas and collaborate with others clearly makes such a difference in tech. The better you can share your thoughts and understand your teammates, the more impact you'll have with your technical skills.

People will criticise, and they might not be wrong, according to their experience and surroundings; their advice may be correct. However, sometimes you must decide what is right for your specific situation.

It's okay to have doubts. Don't worry, just keep going. As you progress, those doubts will diminish (not completely, but enough).

Why I keep learning new things

Honestly? I'm always learning something new because I get bored easily and want to stay ahead of the curve. But there's a practical side too - each new skill makes me better at everything else.

When I learned backend development, it made me a better frontend developer because I finally understood how APIs actually work. When I took Google's UI/UX design course, I started thinking like a designer, which improved how I implement their work.

Being part of communities has been tremendously helpful. Seeing other developers struggle with the same issues, learning together, and sharing useful tips makes the journey more fun and less isolating.

What's next

I'm currently working on mobile apps and learning system design while building full-stack projects to improve my backend skills. I'm seeking remote opportunities as a Software Engineer at companies working on innovative projects where I can make a real impact.

The journey from writing Logo commands as a 10-year-old to mentoring developers and building enterprise systems has been incredible. If you're starting out, remember: age is just a number, skills and dedication matter more, and the developer community is one of the most supportive you'll find.

What would I tell the younger version of myself? Start practising Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) earlier. But honestly? Keep going, you're on the right path.

Because those same people who doubted me? They came back within a year… asking for advice.

Life has a funny way of coming full circle.

Now stop reading and start building! The developer community is waiting to see what amazing things you'll create. 🚀

Connect with me on LinkedIn, GitHub, Frontend Mentor, or check out my portfolio!