By clicking “Accept”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
Succeeding in Your First Week as a Junior Developer
Recorded:
July 25, 2023
Released:
August 2, 2023
Episode Number:
259
Your first week as a junior developer can be nerve wracking and anxiety inducing. Not only are you meeting a team of new people, but you're starting a new job as a newbie to coding. This week Matt and Mike discuss how to make the most of your first week of the job, making a great first impression on your team members, and hopefully letting you absorb as much knowledge as you can. By handling social situations with grace, asking valuable questions, and being honest about your capabilities; you'll be well on your way to becoming a valuable development team member.
Read the Documentation (RTFM) - Anything that is not clear is where you want to ask questions and potentially make clearer for future onboarding
Ask Questions - Attempt to solve, then ask
Don’t expect to make an impact in the first week - It’s ok to not know everything and feel underskilled. That means you have more to learn and acknowledge that part of the battle.
Break stuff locally - You sometimes learn more from breaking the code vs trying to figure out how it all works
Handle social situations with grace - If you get into trouble, explain what happened with honesty, and navigate through it politely - Learn the team dynamic, avoid stepping on anyone's toes
What not to do
Ask the same questions over and over again
Rewrite working code just because you’ve done it differently before
Suggest new frameworks and libraries that would take forever to reimplement
