Someone asked me today how to strengthen their application for apprentice.io.

Here is my response, which is what I believe gets you from a beginner to a job as a Rails developer.

Work:
– Launch a simple Rails application. You’ll learn more in this process than you will any other way.
– Beef up your GitHub page with solid, well-written, small code examples.
– Write some tests in RSpec. Try to get to 100% coverage (use simplecov to check)

Technique:
– Get excellent at Ruby. Read everything on this page: https://learn.thoughtbot.com/ruby
– Work through Agile Development in Ruby on Rails, Michael Hartl’s tutorial
– Start reading about refactoring. Know what ‘good code’ means.
– Learn Vim. Just stick with it and you’ll be faster.

Learn:
– Read Ruby Weekly
– Listen to Ruby Rogues podcast
– Check Hacker News and read up on current events

Network:
– Attend meetups and hack nights. Work on a project with someone else. Learn from them and say thanks.
– Keep in touch with everyone you met, send them emails, have coffee with them.
– Join a Ruby mailing list (not ruby6) and participate.

Show interest:
– Know everything about people/companies before you meet them (Tweets/Blogs/Linkedin/Googling).
– Show up 10-15 minutes early for interviews.
– Put on a jacket.
– Be humble.