I'm getting into AI automations from zero would be really happy if i get some help ( even advice )

[brave ferry]

Hey folks, I've been diving deeper into AI automation over the past week, and to be honest, things don't look very clear. Many YouTube videos promote the dream of making $100k a month, but I believe those creators haven't even achieved 10% of that themselves. I'm looking to connect with friends or join communities that are already working in this field.

I'd like to know what niches you all are focusing on, how long it took you to learn the basics and get your first client satisfied, and what realistic income you made in your first year. It would also be great if you could share the steps you wish you had taken when you started and what you think I should learn. Should I focus on coding first? Should I start with N8N? I want to avoid learning something easy just to switch later; I want to build a solid foundation for my future.

[full mulch]

Hi! I hear you—there’s a lot of hype out there, and most of those YouTube claims are way off. I’ve been learning about automation too, and here’s what helped me.
Looking back, I wish I had picked one tool or skill and stuck with it before branching out. For me, understanding the fundamentals—whether coding basics or a solid automation platform like N8N—makes everything else easier. I’d start there, then layer in more advanced tools once you feel comfortable.
It’s a grind at first, but a solid foundation pays off way more than chasing the next shiny trick.

[hoary walrus]

I think it's the best not to do freelance in the beginning (I think the word "client" implies that you would like to sell your services directly to someone vs being employed). The best way to learn is on a job in a team. That way you have oversight, help from seniors and you are also forced to work with best practices.
Doing it alone, it will be much much harder than in a team.

[brave ferry]

Thanks a lot, I understand your point.

[brave ferry]

Yeah, I think the same too, but how should I work in a team at this low level of experience?

I think no one is gonna hire me, and no one is gooing to waste time helping me if he already working.

[hoary walrus]

Hey, that's a problem that did not appear yesterday. I think there's recession when it comes to IT positions, but it may bounce back.
I personally did not get directly hired as software/automation dev but I made a move internally to dev team. It was 9 years ago though.

I was hired for IT support position.

[brave ferry]

Aha, yeah of course i need to work more on my self first even if it's harder to do alone.
Or maybe I just have to find friends and do some small projects together to share information. And it's good to know that you are 9 years old of experience.

I wonder what you do now?

[hoary walrus]

I do software automation since late 2018, I've been working with RPA (UiPath and Automation Anywhere) and did a little bit of cloud based automation with Power Automate Cloud (Flow).

[scarlet plume]

Which stark do you think I should start with then?

I'm in a similar situation

[hoary walrus]

UiPath or Power Automate (If you find more Power Automate offers in your country).

[swift helm]

Depends on how u use the automation, if u can use automation + your market niche, u could easily make 100k+ a month, i have friends that do ticket reselling and actually making good sum from it, the difference is the mindset