Building Confidence: 11 Essential Tips for Junior techies
It’s been a little while since I last shared an article, and that’s because I’ve been pretty tied up with planning my tech conference coming up in October. But you know me — I always have your growth and development as tech professionals in mind, so I’m back with some valuable insights.
A few days ago, I stumbled upon a post that really struck a chord with me. It was about a junior developer who had recently been let go from his job because he was deemed “too slow.” The frustration and self-doubt in the post were palpable. He was on the verge of giving up on coding altogether and turned to the online community for advice. It got me thinking, and I felt compelled to share some guidance for those of you who might be in the early stages of your tech careers.
I understand that many junior techies face challenges silently, often turning to Google for answers instead of seeking guidance from those who’ve walked the path before. So, here are some pieces of advice that I’d like to pass on to you as you continue your journey in tech.
1. Understand Business Requirements: Tech isn’t just about writing code; it’s about solving real-world problems. Familiarize yourself with understanding business needs, and learn how to make technical decisions that align with your employer’s goals.
2. Don’t Sweat the Syntax: Programming languages come and go, and you’ll forget most of their syntax anyway. Focus on understanding the core principles of coding.
3. Learn How to Code, Not Just a Language: It’s not about memorizing code; it’s about knowing how to think like a programmer and solve complex problems.
4. Master Debugging: Debugging is like solving a detective novel. Invest time in becoming a proficient debugger; it’ll save you countless hours.
5. Embrace Unit Testing: Your code will have bugs — that’s a fact. Implement unit testing to catch them early in the development process.
6. Efficiency vs. Development Cost: Highly efficient code is great, but sometimes the development cost outweighs the gains. Find the right balance.
7. Mistakes Happen: You’re going to make mistakes — accept them, learn from them, and keep moving forward.
8. Embrace Your IDE: Invest in learning your Integrated Development Environment (IDE) inside out. The learning curve might be steep, but the productivity gains are worth it.
9. Read and Understand Code: A significant portion of your job will involve deciphering code written by others. Practice reading and comprehending different codebases.
10. Don’t Blindly Follow Trends: Don’t succumb to peer pressure. Not every new tool, language, or framework is the right fit for every project.
11. Embrace Change: Technology is constantly evolving. Don’t get overly attached to specific tools or languages; be adaptable.
In the words of Thomas Edison, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” There are no shortcuts in this industry. The key is practice, practice, practice!
Remember, your tech journey is unique, and it’s okay to face challenges along the way. Don’t be afraid to seek guidance from those who’ve been there, and done that. We’re all in this together, and your growth is what matters most.
Keep coding, keep learning, and keep pushing your boundaries — you’ve got this!
Stay inspired❤️
Temidayo
