13 year old hacker, looking for an occupation or job.

[DanTheGamer]

Hey, my names Daniel, im 13 and was wondering... where can i use my skills for good? Perhaps a job in Sydney, Ausralia that will take me seriously. I've currently opened up a business (www.danielswebsites.com) where i make websites for people. Made bout $2000 so far, only been 4 months. I base my sites on code but made mine on wordpress (too lazy). I've hacked into my school computer which contained 'Sophos', 'Zenworks' and 'Italc' with 24/7 IT pro's keeping us out of trouble. I hacked into it with only linux and a USB stick, became admin and soon enough, had every shool network password (even staff one). Is there someway I can occupy myself with LEGAL hacking or a paid job? I'm currently learning my second programming language (C++) and I know HTML and CSS. I love computers! Anyone?

[bigohms]

If you enjoy the challenge of breaking into systems, consider becoming an "ethical hacker" while continuing to grow your programming skills. Break open SICP (http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/) and go at it. Put the focus on learning and thinking of new ideas, not on making money at this age.

You can get paid lots of money for the opportunity to learn a whole lot more working with companies to test their networks, computers and webservers against attacks. Set up a side business just like you have with DanielsWebsites.com, to focus on vulnerabilities. The goal is to not be a small player in a huge pond of similar businesses. Avoid becoming a commodity.

Aside from technology learning, continue working on your English writing and reading skills, maths and socialization skills (meet and keep the right friends). Develop good habits of not being content or lazy. Always move forward and up, give your body to relax, rest and recharge. Give up wordpress (you're right, its too easy) and challenge yourself constantly, learn Rails or Python and see a new idea into reality.

[Blackradio]

Hey, you're really 13? Cool. When I was your age… ah, cut that BS. Okay, I don't have a job for you, but maybe a little advise: Continue what you're doing, but give yourself some time. You are obviously way ahead of others of your age, so no need to rush. Listen, learn – and become a kick-ass coder by the age of, well, let's say 16 :)

Here's why: No matter what you do, no matter how good you are, people will take you more serious when you are a little older. Does that mean you should stop asking for jobs? Hell no! But use your in between time to develop skills that might help you later on. Explore some hardware hacking and electronics (start with Arduino, continue with building a synthesizer or something), make sure to have the basics covered: C++, Javascript, Python and/or Ruby, PHP etc. Then continue with something like Clojure, just to get an even better understanding. When it comes to real jobs: Start with an internship at a start-up or a webdesign agency. It's way easier to get in and you will most likely find people who are willing to support you, when they discover your talent. Continue from there.

Oh, and don't forget to party as hard as you can.

[DanTheGamer]

Thanks! your like the only person who hasn't given a 'state the obvious' comment. Thank you so much, 16 is a good age and i will start more with hardware, dont really know much bout internal stuff. Cool

[Joakal]

Keep at it. You may wish to charge more (more professional, etc) and emphasise less on age though because you'll definitely face youthism. Especially where the law frowns upon child labour. Also, the government will refuse to allow you to form your own company until you're 18.

You may want to consider alternative sources of revenue such as odesk, etc. Contracting work and more. But sadly, don't look for a job for reasons mentioned above. If they find out that you're too young and don't want to work with you, move on. Don't dwell on them.

Go to networking conferences. Establish a social reputation for what you do. Do NOT rely on your age to help you. Lie if you have to and pretend to be that 'age' from then on. No one will demand ID.

Protip: Reiterate many times on how to lie about your age. Maybe pretend that you're short.

/sydneysider too

[lachyg]

I'd argue that you should abuse your young age for press though. Press loves a story about how a young person is succeeding, it's a USP to them. Use it whilst you can!

[Joakal]

He specifically wanted to make more money over developer fame. For people under 16 in Australia, they won't have much opportunities due to law. Especially if the media knows that he's underage, they may attack the company for using child labour.

[oliciv]

If you want to be taken seriously, don't tell people that you're "too lazy"

[latch]

or that you probably broke the law.

[helen842000]

What about designing and building useful web apps or utilities?

Then provisioning and maintaining any popular sites would be your job.

You'd build an impressive portfolio and have a bunch of assets that you could sell or charge for if you ever wanted to.

Inventing something that didn't exist before and helping it to gain popularity can be pretty exciting as you see the progress over a longer term as opposed to building a site and handing it over once it's done.

[asto]

Stick to what you're doing for money. Hack away on the side for fun and knowledge. Joining another firm/company can be quite weird for you. And lonely. I doubt there will be other kids there.

I checked out your website. There's still plenty you can learn. Like cross-browser compatibility. The search bar is broken on firefox 7. Increase the quality of your services, charge more, live a good life till you're old enough to fit into a big company!

[DanTheGamer]

Thanks, check out www.croatianclubsydney.com.au first client

[chubs]

Where in sydney are you? I'm in sydney too, could help point you in the direction of the local hacker scene.

Anyway, if you've got a mac (or hackintosh...) and an iphone or itouch, you could make iphone games?

Make sure you hit up the local meetup scene. RORO, SydJS, and Cocoaheads are a good start.

[rizz0]

Just start doing stuff. I started going to peoples homes and fix their PCs for $20/hr at 14. Advertised online and in supermarkets, it was good business and people were thankful.

Start a couple of sites of your own, you'll find out there's more to learn than just programming languages.

[HiroshiSan]

Hey Daniel, maybe you can offer some tips to me. I'm 20 years old going, right now going through Zed Shaw's Learn Python the Hard Way. I would really like to make money off of programming but I really don't know how, some tips on how you got started?

[OpenAlgorithm]

Why not do some of your own projects and build something cool.

Just think about what you would want (maybe for a hobby or interest) or what other users would want, build and either sell it or in the more hacker style give it away for free.

[c_t_montgomery]

Keep being awesome. Just keep your head on straight.

[alperakgun]

go launch a new facebook or google. the next web billionaire will be a teenager.

[jlambert1]

Talk to [e-mail]

[Zer0VoiD]

I hack alot of things and I've never come across someone better than me, if you can deface this website: www.danielswebsites.com I'll give u a job.