Best practices for novice developers
Tags: frontend, backend, programming, ux
Published: 2023-03-29 12:00:35

Today developers are fundamental parts of every business, they are in startups, in small and medium-sized companies that seek technological solutions for their products and services.

In a quick search, it is possible to find hundreds of news and surveys that point to the lack of skilled labor in the technology area. The conclusion of the articles is the same: there are vacancies here in Brazil and international opportunities are pouring in.

Those who stand out can swim with an armful in this ocean of possibilities.

## Define your journey

First of all, you need to know where you are going. Beginners in programming are often lost amid so much information. You need to have well-defined goals to chart the best career path.

Make sure you have a solid foundation in programming fundamentals. Only after knowing the basics of programming will you know where to go next.

## Choose a language

Knowing a single technology deeply will help you more than knowing several superficially. This doesn't mean you can never learn more in the future, just that it will direct your focus towards a learning objective.

By mastering a language, you get closer to companies that tend to look for people to fulfill specific roles in a technology team.

Accompanying the evolution of the tools you use, you don't let your applications become outdated and remain relevant to the market.

## Organize your studies

Bear in mind that technology is constantly evolving, developers need to continue studying even after entering the job market.

Having the habit of dedicating yourself to studies will make all the difference in your career growth.

## Create a study schedule

Define a study plan that is part of your routine in the best possible way.

- **Understand your routine:** Do a realistic plan. List your tasks, meals, obligations, and set aside some deep focus time to dedicate to code.
- **Organize your schedule according to small goals:** Separate your time to absorb content, practice, test and review what you've learned in the last few days.
- **Use organization tools:** Platforms like Notion are great options for planning your schedule and for documenting your study materials, useful links and project ideas.
- **Apply the pomodoro technique:** This method helps you take advantage of study times without any interruption, interspersed with moments of rest.

## Be consistent in your studies

Having frequent studies is more relevant to your learning than focusing for long periods of time.

Studying every day will help you retain knowledge by keeping in constant touch with what you need to learn. It is preferable that you study for a shorter period of time on recurring days than for many hours on a single day of the week.

## Practice and Practice

There's no way, programming is a practical discipline. Only by practicing will you be able to develop your technical skills. Theory will come from practice, not the other way around. Practicing will also help you develop the critical thinking needed to solve problems and prioritize tasks.

## Count on the community

Getting involved in communities will be a game changer for your career. Helping other developer people will make you better retain your learning.

The community will be very supportive on many challenging issues for you.

## Networking is everything

In any career, networking is one of the main visibility strategies for professionals. In development it could not be different.

You can gain relevance in the community, better opportunities can come to you. You can also find that person who can create a partnership with you to undertake according to your goals, and connect with professionals who also know the skills.

## Boost your career

Think of your professional career as a brand. Your brand needs to be solid, have credibility and be publicized. To stand out at the beginning of your career or at any other stage of your career, you can progress through some jobs such as:

- **Tech Events:** Just follow the communities to stay on top of the main technology events. From workshops, so you can learn by doing, to entrepreneurship and conversations, so you can keep up with the advancement of technology. Networking is another positive point of being part of technology events.
- **Hackathons:** These are events that can be defined as a practical dispute for technology professionals. Hackathons help you gain experience in group solution development.
- **Personal Projects:** Personal projects are a way for you to develop your technical skills, creativity and critical thinking. Everything you build becomes baggage for your resume.

These are some tips for you who are a beginner developer or for you who are looking to make a career transition.