# Is Learning Flutter Worth it? My Year in Review. Grab a glass of juice and follow me on a ride. I'm not sure how long this is going to be but it's worth mentioning that it might be a lengthy one. ### Recommended Listen to the Podcast version of this. I gave more detail on getting a Job as a Flutter Developer [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YujGK0GdaE1S9EAaCyCRC](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YujGK0GdaE1S9EAaCyCRC) # About Me My name is Temitope and I am a [Flutter](https://flutter.dev) Developer. I have been building mobile apps in the last 3 years using Flutter. Prior to that, I have been a Web developer building perhaps one of Nigeria's largest loan lending [platforms](https://paywithspecta.com). I eventually got tired of the web and decided to go head-on into mobile app development. Was this a good decision? You will find out in a bit. I have made a lot of progress as a developer and a major highlight of this is getting a job as a **Flutter** developer. # A Timeline Started the year with a plan - Learn as many Data Structures and Algorithms as possible - so I can confidently apply for Flutter jobs. I do not like to go to an interview unprepared and look like a fool. So January, I started learning and by the end of January, I was a little confident. I knew some C# and JavaScript so I used these two languages to practice some DS and Algo exercises. The following month, February, I started applying to jobs on LinkedIn. Applying to jobs on LinkedIn turned out to be a huge time waster. I am not sure how people get jobs from just applying to jobs on LinkedIn. Recruiters never got back to me on LinkedIn. I think one would have a better chance by sending a message to recruiters directly on LinkedIn rather than wasting time using the job board. Another strategy that could work is to "**Show workings**". # Show Workings "Rather than applying for jobs, why not get recruiters to notice you instead"? This was my thought after sending over 50+ applications on LinkedIn. But, how do I get them to notice me? Show workings. I believe that no matter how talented/genius you might be, hiding under the bed would make you go hungry and people won't see how good you really are. Or at most, you become underpaid. I had worked at Sterling at the time and seen a lot of wasted talents in the banking industry getting underpaid because they did not show the world what they can do. I had an idea. I will build pockets of Demos and POCs in Flutter and post them on Twitter and LinkedIn. The first week I did that on LinkedIn, I had recruiters and CEOs in my Inbox. It should be noted that you can see a better response from recruiters on Indeed than on LinkedIn when applying for jobs - my opinion. > A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden - Matt. 5:14 # A Stream of "Unfortunately" ![Screenshot at Dec 29 13-32-17.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1640781282227/gh09unKiw.png) ![Screenshot at Dec 29 13-32-47.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1640781291321/TIxnbeZAM.png) ![Screenshot at Dec 29 13-33-47.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1640781297579/30ZYotYUO.png) Yeah! Typical. You apply for a job, go through some series of interviews and bam, you get those emails. Rough. It can mess with your self-esteem. I was fortunate, I didn't take those emails seriously because I had a job at Sterling. If I didn't, it would have been really hard when those emails came in. It was a learning process for me and the first thing I learnt was that recruitment for a Flutter role was quite different from what I was used to. I was expecting algorithm questions and the likes. Imagine preparing a whole week solving challenges on Codility but then you get asked "**What is the difference between a Stateless widget and Stateful widget**". Hold up. I froze. An interview for another company, same series of questions. *confused* I was given a lot of take-home assessments too. Then I figured, If I am going to land a job, I need to go learn the basics of Flutter in-depth. It was not like I didn't know how to write Flutter, I just never really paid attention to explaining what some concepts are. Some of those things are just big words - "immutability and mutability". Huh? It's simple right? Yes, but that is such a big word. Things that change and things that do not change. Simple. This is a [thread](https://twitter.com/passsy/status/1404903280728330245?s=20) on Twitter that helped me know which questions to expect in Flutter interviews. Not that I'd advise it, I kept a folder for all the rejection emails. This helped me to reminisce and prepare for the next interview. # A Job Finally Looks like it's usually the interview you thought you didn't do well in that you'd actually get a job with. Got a job in October. Yay! I had wanted to leave banking and fintech and so it's a dream come through. I remember getting an offer from a company in the UK. I turned down the offer because it is Fintech(*shhh.. na because of money sha. How I go dey work for company for UK dey collect local rate.*). # Key Takeaway(*Party Jollof inside*) I am not sure there is a key takeaway from what I have written so far, however, if this article was written by someone else and I was reading, my key takeaways would be: - Applying for jobs on LinkedIn may be useless. You'd have more success with Indeed. - Showcase what you are capable of on LinkedIn and Twitter. They are powerful tools to gain exposure. - Job hunting is a game of numbers. Is learning Flutter worth it? Yes, it is. Apart from the joy I get to showcase the demos and POCs I built on Twitter and LinkedIn, I get paid as a Flutter Developer. Will it be worth it if you learn Flutter? Definitely, yes. In retrospect, I should have started applying for jobs earlier than I did. I thought I really needed DS and Algo in the interviews. # Other than career Moving away from career update, earlier this year, the [Code Clan Nigeria Community](https://twitter.com/codeclannigeria), which I founded, moved to Discord. Since then we have grown to over 600+ members learning together. You can join us [here](https://twitter.com/codeclannigeria). By the way, if you are interested in volunteering for the community, please send me a DM on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/codeclannigeria). Earlier in the year, I also took on 3 Flutter Mentees. Next year, I will do the same. # Life Update Got engaged to the most beautiful woman in the world. This is the highlight of my 2021. She loves her ring y'all. ![IMG_0114.jpg](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1640794404387/AepSM391s.jpeg) # What next? - Next year, I will keep applying for jobs. I believe the time to apply for jobs is when you currently have a job. You'll be able to confidently do interviews and negotiate your pay. - Resume Podcasting. - Upload more videos to my YouTube [channel](https://youtube.com/temicodes). - Launch a beginner's Flutter course. - Organize a meetup for Code Clan Nigeria. - Write more articles this year. Is this article long? Is this an article? Well, I hope it was a good read. Your friend, Temi(*not Timi*) Ajiboye