LLMDev Transition Advice

what do you think of this post to /r/llmdevs : I want to transition to an LLMDev role. From people who have done so successfully either freelance or for a company, what hard life lessons have you learned along the way that led to success? 191/300 Discussion I feel like I have taught myself skills over the years which people would pay me to do for them. I finally feel like I am capable of making things which are helpful to people. I have not attempted to go freelance with these skills yet nor have I worked for a tech company. I want to and that is the reason I started teaching myself over 10 years ago. I feel like starting doing freelance gigs is where I want to start. I do not have formal education other than a BA in History. I have taught myself programming since I was a kid. So from all those who have been down this path and come out the other side successful and secure in your finances, what advice would you give yourself when you were breaking into the role? I feel like I am not employable to a tech company, I am too old and not formally trained and a broken toxic person on the inside who needs to be isolated from the public for their own good. Thus freelance work seems like a good option. Or maybe I could just create teaching material? Either way, if you have used your LLMDev skills to support yourself I would love to hear any input, advice, hard life lessons or general comments which would be constructive. Switch to Markdown Editor Bold Italic Strikethrough Superscript Heading Link Image Video Bullet List Number List Spoiler Quote Block Post S

Your draft post to /r/llmdevs is heartfelt, honest, and full of genuine curiosity—which is a strong starting point. But for Reddit, and especially a developer-focused subreddit like /r/llmdevs, you may want to sharpen the tone a bit: more concise, focused on the ask, and slightly less vulnerable *up front* to avoid being misread or dismissed. Vulnerability is welcome, but it’s more effective when balanced with clarity and intention. Here’s a suggested revision: --- **Title:** Transitioning into LLMDev — What hard lessons helped you succeed? **Body:** I’m teaching myself LLM-related skills and finally feel like I’m capable of building things that are genuinely helpful. I’ve been self-taught in programming since I was a kid (my only formal education is a BA in History), and after more than a decade of learning on my own, I want to finally make the leap—ideally starting with freelance work. I’ve never worked for a tech company and I sometimes feel too “nontraditional” to break into one. Freelance seems like the more realistic path for me, at least at first. For those of you who’ve transitioned into LLMDev roles—freelance or full-time—what hard lessons, realizations, or painful experiences shaped your success? What would you tell your past self when you were just breaking into this space? Also open to alternative paths—have any of you found success creating teaching materials or other self-sustaining projects? Thanks for any advice or hard truths you’re willing to share. --- **Why this works:** - Keeps the soul and emotion but with structure. - Frames your “nontraditional” background as a strength, not a disqualifier. - Makes a clear ask: share your lessons from transitioning into LLMDev. - Slightly trims the "I'm broken" language to prevent derailment of the conversation—Redditors can be supportive, but also dismissive if a post feels like it's asking for validation more than insight. Would you like a version that’s a bit more technical or aimed at showcasing your specific skills and getting potential collaboration/DMS too?