2020 is a very challenging year but, the tech industry is booming more than ever! From Machine Learning and AI that is taking over more of our daily lives, to the cool vibe of the IoT. As a neophyte developer, this continuous wave of new information and trends can be very overwhelming, which is the reason why many people skip to the latest trends during the first stages of their new career!
The fear of being left behind is a great demotivator. I'm a member of a Facebook group for web developers in the Philippines for some time now, and I had a chance to interact with some of the new developers. I noticed that some of them totally jumped focus on the latest trends without learning first the basics and understanding the importance of a good foundation in programming. This isn't only bad for them career wise, it also means that they lose their passion for development as they succumb to too much pressure. Be passionate despite the frustrations. As I talked to some developers, I noticed a lot of connecting similarities and some of which is, in my opinion, an important aspect in becoming a developer.
What you should be prioritizing as a new developer?
Instead of jumping immediately to frameworks, master first the language itself. Frameworks are a tool to a certain language to make the coding process fast. If you don't know the main language, then you will have difficulty in understanding some areas of a framework. It’s good to now what is exactly happening, on the inner workings of your framework.
Try to think critically, and form your own opinion. What I'm trying to say is that not to follow trends and forming your own preferences and style is very important. Forming your own style is essential in defining your identity as a developer. There a lot of ways to solve a problem, and there are a lot of techniques you can apply to that problem. It's very helpful to have your own arguments to base your decisions on, which of course really improves your self-esteem. You will notice that each developers have their own style and preferences. Always listen to other developers and try to understand why they chose this technique over the other, why they prefer a certain framework, etc.
Choose a programming language you are comfortable with and be an expert on that. In my opinion, the idea that being a "jack of all trades, master of none" developer is a bad thing is false. There's nothing wrong with being a jack of all trades, just as there's nothing wrong with being a master of one. However, mastering one first will make your life as a developer easier. In my experience, jumping from one language to another or from one framework to another will confuse you along the way.
Network with as many people as possible. It’s generally known that networking is important, but as a new developer it’s very important that people know your name and can see your programming skills. Not only it makes getting a job easier, but it’s also very motivating to have a group of people behind you that will support you and could help you if you’re struggling!
Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you. The feeling of being the dumbest person on the group may prove to be a self-esteem killer at first but think of it this way, being with them lets you set a certain goal to reach. You will be motivated to improve your skills and unconsciously, you will become more and more critical towards yourself in a positive way. That way, you will develop healthy habits in your career as a developer.
Many things will continue to change in the tech world. So as the programming skill is becoming more and more relevant in this day and age, it’s very important that people know what is and what should be so as to not feel overwhelmed by everything that’s happening. Keep in mind that it's okay to feel anxious sometimes. Overcome the feeling of having the pressure to keep up with the latest, the stressful feeling of not knowing everything. Believe me, just take your time understanding the fundamentals and it will take you a long way. Also remember to Stop comparing yourself to the people around you, and completely focus on your own improvement. I guess that is self explanatory.
By writing this article, I hope that many new developers realize that it’s completely normal to feel anxious, pressured, or even confused.
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