Your First Assignments

Pre-program tasks to complete before Day 1

Accounts to Setup

• Github

• LinkedIn

• Twitter

• Product Hunt

• Dribbble

• CodePen

• Dropbox

You Need a Website

In Week 1, your first assignment will be to setup your personal, professional website. In this industry, an online portfolio is the most important indicator of who you are, your capabilities, and whether someone is interested enough to talk to you when considering a job.

Preparation

• Domain

  • Find a domain name for your website

  • A domain with your name would probably be best, if available. Example: calebsylvest.com

  • Resources:

    • 8 Great Examples of Personal Domain Names in Action

    • How to Choose the Best Domain Extension for Your Personal Site

  • Domain Registrar:

    • Namecheap

    • GoDaddy

• Technology

  • Determine what tech would be best to keep a Blog throughout the apprenticeship

  • Note: consider that a Portfolio element will be necessary eventually as well

  • Recommendation:

    • WordPress

      • Pro: Will provide long term capabilities for blog, portfolio, and more

      • Con: More difficult to setup initially as a beginner

      • How to Install WordPress (with Namecheap)

    • Jekyll

      • Pro: Easy to get started hosting on Github Pages. Start blogging immediately.

      • Con: Primarily for blogging, not growing into a Portfolio.

        • Jekyll on Github Pages

    • Something else

      • There are dozens of options, but just remember, simplicity and easy of use is key

• Make a decision

  • Research the items above to determine what direction you should choose

  • Ask people for advice

  • Finally, run your decision by your Mentor before setting up your website