Hiya guys, I'm a unicorn developer, almost done with backend JavaScript. So my plan is to get a job in November, as a web designer or web developer( whichever gets me a job). But I never had a job in this department so my portfolio is blank. I am building my personal website with 100% of its content made by me using photoshop, vector, sketchapp. And later using bootstrap, jQuery, and etc.

Do I stand a chance in getting a job? Or not a chance. Because of a few bad investments my money is almost at 0. So I'm going to desperate mode.
I tried freelancing but so far i haven't gotten any jobs.

There's a bunch of jobs as web developer and designer on glassdoor and indeed in California. But a lot of them asks for over 3 years of experience or some kind of degree, which I don't have, and being transgender makes me a bit more worried.

Quote from: EvaT on September 27, 2018, 02:46:42 AM
Hiya guys, I'm a unicorn developer, almost done with backend JavaScript. So my plan is to get a job in November, as a web designer or web developer( whichever gets me a job). But I never had a job in this department so my portfolio is blank. I am building my personal website with 100% of its content made by me using photoshop, vector, sketchapp. And later using bootstrap, jQuery, and etc.

Do I stand a chance in getting a job? Or not a chance. Because of a few bad investments my money is almost at 0. So I'm going to desperate mode.
I tried freelancing but so far i haven't gotten any jobs.

There's a bunch of jobs as web developer and designer on glassdoor and indeed in California. But a lot of them asks for over 3 years of experience or some kind of degree, which I don't have, and being transgender makes me a bit more worried.

You've got great credentials here, so I think it comes down to networking and trying to make connections. Try to personally submit resumes to places of great interest to you and speak directly with someone, even if it's brief and an assisstant. It sounds silly, but really, it can make a difference. You want to make an impression of some kind that helps you stand out a bit and be memorable.

Don't give up yet on freelancing; One nice thing is, once you've worked from afar once or twice and have a reference or two, (which is bound to happen sooner or later) people will be much more likely to jump at you online. Design and web are pretty doable for customers from anywhere, and it's the best market in my opinion. If they feel confident in your ability to communicate and deliver what they want, and you can get things done quicker and a little cheaper than your mainstay competition, you can get a really nice flow going while looking for a permanent place to plant your root directory.

You can put in resumes. There is a chance that someone will take you on as an employee. However, keep your options open. Those with  more experience will be more likely to get the jobs.
If putting all your best work on a website was good enough, I might have gotten employed by DreamWorks. Several people suggested I should work for them.

I know you said you have tried freelancing but that is probably the best way to build a portfolio and still at least make some money. I would be actively on the sites like upwork and when a job comes up respond. The people posting those jobs are flooded with foreign proposals that you would likely blow out of the water. You might have to lowball your offer compared to what you feel you should make but in the end it would be worth it to get a positive review and a project under your belt.

https://www.indeed.com/jobs?as_and=web+developer%2C+equal+opportunity%2C+gender&as_phr=&as_any=&as_not=&as_ttl=&as_cmp=&jt=all&st=&as_src=&salary=&radius=25&l=United+States&fromage=any&limit=50&sort=&psf=advsrch

The above search of Indeed show web developer jobs
Criteria...Web Developer, Equal Opportunity, Gender

Take one of these online courses from MIT and apply for certification. The class is free but the certification may have a small fee.   https://ocw.mit.edu/search/ocwsearch.htm?q=web%20design