Becoming a junior developer can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming and challenging. As a junior developer, you are just starting to build your career and gain experience in the field. While it’s important to be passionate and eager to learn, it’s also crucial to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes that can hinder your growth and progress. In this article, we will discuss some dos and don’ts for junior developers that can help you navigate your way through your first few years in the industry and set you on the path toward becoming a senior developer.

Table of content

• Know thyself
• Stay on the Edge
• Show your dedication
• Be observant
• Track your progress
• Conclusion

Know thyself

“The most important thing is to know yourself. To know what you can do, and to know what you cannot do. This is the most important thing.” — Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba

As a junior developer, it’s essential to understand your strengths and weaknesses to maximize your potential. The concept of “know thyself” is crucial in the world of software development. One of the things a junior developer should do is identify areas of expertise and build on them. Whether front-end development, back-end development, or database management, focus on your strengths and become an expert in those areas.

On the other hand, it’s also essential to acknowledge areas that need improvement and seek help to strengthen them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or seek mentorship from experienced developers. A common don’t for a junior developer is to overestimate their abilities and be too confident in their skills. This can lead to mistakes and missed deadlines, which ultimately damage your reputation. Keep in mind that nobody knows everything, and there’s always room for growth and improvement.

Take a moment for some introspection and write down the things you’re good at and the things you need to work on. Only then can you improve on your limitations, and grow in the process.

Stay on the Edge

“Stay on the edge or become irrelevant” -unknown

Technology is like a raging river. It’s always on the go, changing and improving. As a junior developer, it’s important to keep up with the times and always stay up-to-date with the latest programming languages, frameworks, and libraries. Staying on the edge can help you remain relevant and competitive in the job market. Additionally, it’s also essential to explore emerging technologies and experiment with them.

Don’t limit yourself to your comfort zone or what you’re familiar with. Always be open to learning new things and stepping out of your comfort zone. Remember, staying on the edge is crucial for your growth as a developer.

Consider subscribing to tech blogs, newsletters, podcasts, and even attending tech conferences whenever there is one near you.

Show your dedication

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs.

Being a junior developer, you’re expected to prove yourself and show your superiors how much you’re committed and dedicated to your job. You can show this by being punctual, meeting deadlines, and delivering high-quality work. It’s also essential to take ownership of your work and be accountable for your actions. Additionally, showing dedication can also mean going the extra mile to learn new skills, taking on additional responsibilities, and being a team player.

Don’t be complacent or settle for mediocrity. Always strive to give your best and show your dedication to your work. Small things like these can go a long way. But be careful not to overdo it and burn yourself out in the process. I remember my first few weeks at my new job, when I spent hours glued to my laptop, coding away to submit my task early. It worked, and I quickly got my peers’ and superiors’ recognition. But it left me tired and exhausted at the end of the week.

So next time try to put in that extra mile while being cautious not to burn yourself out.

Be Observant

“You have 2 ears, 2 eyes, and only one mouth for a reason.” -unknown

One of your main priorities as a junior should be to take in as much information as possible from your surroundings and see how things are done and executed by more experienced seniors. Pay attention to other teams and projects as well.

Observing how others work and learning from their techniques can help you improve your own skills. Additionally, it’s also essential to ask questions and seek clarification when necessary. Don’t assume that you know everything or that someone else will catch a mistake.

Being observant is essential and can help you develop a keen eye for detail, which is critical in this field.

Track your progress

“What gets measured gets managed.” — Peter Drucker

It’s always a good idea to keep a record of your progress so you can see how far you’ve come. It helps you measure your growth and identify areas for improvement. And let’s be honest, we’ve all had one of those moments where our project manager asks us what we’ve been doing for the past 3 weeks, and we’re just sitting there dumbfounded, wondering if we really did anything productive or just sat around all week doing absolutely nothing. Then you manage to spit out one or two tasks you managed to remember, but in reality, you did much more than that. This is why keeping track of your progress and achievements becomes useful.

It’s also extremely helpful in the long run when you write your resume or update your portfolio you have a detailed list of all the projects you participated in.

I personally recommend trying out notetaking apps like Notesnook and personal task management apps like TickTick.

Conclusion

In conclusion, always keep in mind that your goal is to become better at what you do and thrive in your career. The best way to do that is to know your capabilities and limitations, always keep yourself updated and informed, stay dedicated to your craft, consume as much information as humanly possible, and keep a record of your activities.

If you reached this far I hope you found something helpful. Feel free to add your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.