I've been a professional C, Perl, PHP and Python developer.
I'm an ex-sysadmin from the late 20th century.
These days I do more Javascript and CSS and whatnot, and promote UX and accessibility.
I don't know if this is going to be a helpful comment, since I'm answering pretty much the opposite of how I guess you expect.
Compared to most juniors, I knew a lot. A lot about programming a lot of different systems and languages.
I worked with computers, and I've been programming as a hobby since I got my first zx81. But I didn't go for a programming job for something like 20 years - because I didn't think I knew enough.
When I did go for a software job it was because I'd been made redundant from a hardware support job and had nothing to lose. I thought it would be too hard, and that I'd get fired for not being any good.
It wasn't, and I didn't.
Turns out, a lot of companies - all the good ones - are very understanding when it comes to juniors. You get help along the way, and everything you can't quite do without someone's help fades into insignificance as soon as you manage your first ticket on your own.
When I've ended up on the other side, interviewing candidates, coaching newbies - and telling people to go home when it's 1730 and they're worried about not having done enough - it feels good to try to help. What you have to know is that when you're applying, people want the best candidate, sure, but they want to help you out as well. They want the junior who's keen to learn, who can soak up ideas like a fresh sponge and come out with a few of their own.
There's a saying, which goes something like, "if you can look back on what you wrote six months ago without feeling embarrassed, you're not learning enough". And now I look back and think how little I knew when I started.
"If you can look back on what you wrote six months ago without feeling embarrassed, you're not learning enough
Thanks Ben. This almost made my day. 🙌
I've also been up to myself a lot of time, I hadn't even thought of working for some company until couple months ago, when I wanted to move out of my parents home. I always loved making stuff for myself and friends and writing to explain the hardships I faced in the way. However, starting out in search for jobs, I found the importance of algorithms and also some frameworks which I completely neglected, as a newbie. That's when I used to get a surge of imposter.
But however, I am glad for the presence of such inclusive online communities like Twitter and DEV, which have been like bread and butter for me and everytime I fall, I'd be inspired to get back up listening to some amazing people as you. Thanks a lot. 💙
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I don't know if this is going to be a helpful comment, since I'm answering pretty much the opposite of how I guess you expect.
Compared to most juniors, I knew a lot. A lot about programming a lot of different systems and languages.
I worked with computers, and I've been programming as a hobby since I got my first zx81. But I didn't go for a programming job for something like 20 years - because I didn't think I knew enough.
When I did go for a software job it was because I'd been made redundant from a hardware support job and had nothing to lose. I thought it would be too hard, and that I'd get fired for not being any good.
It wasn't, and I didn't.
Turns out, a lot of companies - all the good ones - are very understanding when it comes to juniors. You get help along the way, and everything you can't quite do without someone's help fades into insignificance as soon as you manage your first ticket on your own.
When I've ended up on the other side, interviewing candidates, coaching newbies - and telling people to go home when it's 1730 and they're worried about not having done enough - it feels good to try to help. What you have to know is that when you're applying, people want the best candidate, sure, but they want to help you out as well. They want the junior who's keen to learn, who can soak up ideas like a fresh sponge and come out with a few of their own.
There's a saying, which goes something like, "if you can look back on what you wrote six months ago without feeling embarrassed, you're not learning enough". And now I look back and think how little I knew when I started.
It's all good, though.
Thanks Ben. This almost made my day. 🙌
I've also been up to myself a lot of time, I hadn't even thought of working for some company until couple months ago, when I wanted to move out of my parents home. I always loved making stuff for myself and friends and writing to explain the hardships I faced in the way. However, starting out in search for jobs, I found the importance of algorithms and also some frameworks which I completely neglected, as a newbie. That's when I used to get a surge of imposter.
But however, I am glad for the presence of such inclusive online communities like Twitter and DEV, which have been like bread and butter for me and everytime I fall, I'd be inspired to get back up listening to some amazing people as you. Thanks a lot. 💙