Self-Taught Developer Journal, Day 63: I Quit My First Developer Job
Published: 2023-03-15 01:30:06

I quit my first junior software developer job. 

About a year ago, I started [documenting my journey](https://dev.to/jteacodes/starting-my-self-taught-developer-journey-2dga) learning web development.  

Although it was difficult at the time to write almost every day, I found it incredibly rewarding. The experience made me want to continue writing and has compelled me to want to write about how I quit my first developer job, even though I find it nerve-wracking to share. 

## Background
To start, I want to clarify that I love the people I worked with and hold no ill will towards anyone. I joined the company knowing and working with some people from my previous jobs. So I felt comfortable joining the company and was excited and thankful for the opportunity. It honestly felt like a dream come true. I got to work in my dream career with people I liked. I learned so much about development. I remember in the beginning how lost and overwhelmed I was. It probably didn't help I wasn't that far into my studies before starting the job. But sometimes, you need to be thrown into the deep end to learn. 

In my short time there, I learned about Node, Express, Bootstrap, SASS, JavaScript template engines, SQL stored procedures, etc. I developed and deployed a web application on a Linux server. I recreated a WordPress website. I created a login page against a client's API for their internal training site. **I would have never had these experiences if I didn't take the opportunity.** 

So, if my co-workers or boss ever end up reading this, I hope you know how thankful I am. Thank you for helping me and guiding me. Also, thank you for the fun memories and laughs. 

## Why did I choose to leave? 
Ultimately, it wasn't the right fit for me anymore. In a small company with many clients, it was hard to receive time with the other developers for mentorship and collaboration. The initial excitement wore off, and I was unsure if this was where I wanted to be. I also eventually felt stagnation in my own growth. While I mentally wrestled with the decision to leave, I contacted close friends for advice. I also began to look for other jobs. 

As time passed, it became harder mentally to stay. After much thought and discussion, I decided to leave, take a career break, and dedicate my time to pursuing new opportunities.

**I didn't take the decision lightly to leave**, especially without another opportunity. But I'm hopeful to figure out what's next and explore what I want to do. To improve my developer skills and build. To take the risk, so I can be better and find something that fits me. **I love being a developer, and I want to excel at it.** 

I hope any other junior developers who find themselves in the same situation doesn't feel like they're alone. It's hard. You think the journey ends after the first job, but sometimes it doesn't, and that's okay. **To be clear, I don't recommend quitting without weighing the risks and deciding if its the right decision for you if you find yourself in a similar situation**.

## What do I hope for in my next role? 
I'm not quite sure yet. I have an idea of things I enjoy and things I dislike. I hope to find somewhere to excel and grow professionally. I'll continue documenting my journey and building in public more. I'll be exploring what's out there and researching. I'll also be prepping and getting myself ready for the job hunt. Lastly, I'm hopeful for the future and what new adventure awaits.