What I Did to Survive My First Years as a Developer
Starting out as a developer is overwhelming. Here are the principles I applied early in my career to build competence and resilience.
Find a Challenge and Don’t Get Comfortable
My internship required Angular, Ionic, NodeJs, and MongoDB—all unfamiliar technologies. Stepping outside your comfort zone creates the best learning opportunities, despite the stress involved.
Speak Less, Listen More
As a new developer, absorbing insights from experienced colleagues rather than dominating conversations helps you avoid repeated mistakes.
Ask Questions Strategically
Rather than constant interruptions, batching questions and scheduling dedicated time with senior developers demonstrates genuine interest while maintaining team productivity.
Accept Feedback Gracefully
Code reviews shouldn’t feel personal. Every developer produces imperfect work—this is where real learning happens.
Take Ownership of Mistakes
I once accidentally deleted a production database table. I immediately sought help to restore systems. Taking responsibility demonstrates maturity far more than hiding mistakes ever could.
Accumulate Knowledge Through Multiple Channels
Blogs, books, and podcasts collectively expand professional knowledge across technology domains.
Learn Core Concepts Over Specific Frameworks
Understanding fundamental principles—like how browsers work—transfers across technologies better than framework-specific knowledge.
Additional Strategies
- Document daily goals to maintain focus
- Develop side projects for experimentation
- Prioritize physical exercise for stress management
No universal formula exists for early career success; developers must experiment and build personalized professional principles through experience and continuous learning.