To Junior Developers
Tags: programming, beginners, career, productivity
Published: 2023-11-16 01:53:56

I have 15 years of experience, coded in various languages, and solved multiple problems. I started my career when being a software developer was a hot commodity.

Looking at what is happening around us, I have to say a few things, and I will stay realistic. Things may sound harsh, but it's better than divulging in some copium.

## Don't Do Coding Bootcamps

Just don't. You will not land a job after three months of learning how to code. Why? You won't know how to code in that amount of time, and it's impossible.

In the golden years, when the bootcamp craze was starting, I worked in a company that recruited many junior devs from bootcamps. Then they realized most of those people could barely set up a project and were able to write simple http controllers slowly. That's too little to call yourself a developer. They tried to educate them more by leaving them with a dedicated senior dev answering their questions (kind of a dedicated mentor). After learning something, several people took that opportunity and left the job for something else with a slightly better salary. Management wasn't pleased. Then, the layoffs started.

What most people in such a position did? Most of them were focused on keeping the job, "selling themselves" better and trying to impress their bosses. Nobody focused on actually learning how to code better. Also, if you try to impress someone with small talk / fast talk, it only shows that you have no skills and feel uncertain.

Conclusion? Coding bootcamps / coding schools promised them six-figure jobs after a few months of learning, which is a plain scam. Then, most people couldn't cope with that or coped in a non-productive way. Don't be like that. Spend more time on learning, and do not expect others to push the knowledge on you.

## How AI Affects Jobs?

When I started 15 years ago, entering the job market as a junior developer with very little knowledge was possible. 

Now, to start a job, you need to be better than ChatGPT, plain and simple. Why would anyone hire a junior if an AI can do the same amount of job in a shorter time and about 100x cheaper? 

That means the entry point is higher. Previously, you could start as a junior, then get a salary rise every several months, and slowly climb to senior. 

Now, you can't. First, you won't land a job, and if you do, you already have to be at least a developer because you are competing with an AI.

Conclusion? No good way to alleviate that. You should try releasing your apps and other digital products instead. It sounds harsh, but it might be easier than landing a job. Also, your app / digital product might start to earn something. 

## Be Independent

If you land a coding job, be independent. Ask only a few questions about how to do things in the tech stack. People may tell you at first that there are no wrong questions, but in practice, there are. You should figure out most things by yourself. 

Why?

Let's say the company hires a senior dev for $10k/month and a junior dev for $2k/month. Suppose junior dev takes away 2 hours daily (25% of senior developer time) to solve every issue they meet. In that case, the business loses $2.5k/month of senior developer time and ALSO has to pay $2k/month to a junior dev. So the business LOSES $4.5k/month by hiring you. 

What do you think is going to happen? Yes, I saw people fired over this. Some businesses are prepared for onboarding juniors, but those are few and far between.

Also, only expect others to teach you something. You have to own your education. That doesn't mean people won't help you, but don't do that to the point that it hinders others' work.

## Coding Courses Won't Help You (The Way You Think)

What will then? Coding. Code a lot. Don't pay for another course or another 'inspirational example for beginners' - most of them are worth nothing. Trust me, even if you feel down, the best you can do is to **make** something - any project, app, website. It will give you much more value than staying in the permanent beginner/learning mindset.

The really useful skill is to learn how to learn from the framework / programming language documentation directly and not relying on processed knowledge.

## Focus On One Thing

Technology changes fast; each month, new frameworks and libraries are emerging. There is always a temptation to switch technologies, but you will only learn a little this way. I guarantee you will bring a lot more value as a good vanilla JS developer than a JS developer who barely knows the eight most popular frameworks.

## To Sum Up

Focus on producing good, maintainable code fast, stay independent, and learn by doing. 

The substance is what the current market is missing the most.