Dear new developer, Just like you should learn a text editor, you should learn an integrated development environment (aka IDE). This is typically a standalone program focused on one or more programming languages. They range from free to a couple of hundred bucks in pricing. Using an IDE will give you the following benefits: It … Continue reading Learn an IDE
Dear new developer, At some point in your career, you might get laid off. This is different than being fired for performance reasons (which might happen too, unfortunately). First off, I am not a lawyer, so this is based on experience, reading and research, not a law degree. Please don't take this as legal advice … Continue reading How to go through a layoff
Dear New Developer, Congratulations! Let’s take a moment to celebrate the decision you’ve made to launch or redirect your career. What lies ahead is a lot of hard work, satisfaction, the occasional desire to throw your laptop out a window, and a ton of learning. That’s true of most professions, so you’re also in good … Continue reading “It never gets easier, you just go faster.”
This is a guest blog post from Zach Turner. Enjoy. Dear New Developer, Don’t forget to play. I spent the year after undergraduate working and learning. My goal was to find a job at a company and eventually I succeeded. However my passion dwindled because it was always put second to finding a salaried position. … Continue reading You Should Play (A Lot) More
Dear new developer, Make sure you maintain your work life balance. You'll never know everything. You shouldn't try. But even if you accept that, there may still be a temptation to work work work. Why? You want to "prove yourself". You want to over-index in your first few months. Working extra is an easy way … Continue reading Maintain work life balance
This is a guest blog post, lightly edited, from Josh Doody. Enjoy. Dear new developer, Let's talk about jobs. My first job I was 25, and I wanted to move my career along as quickly as possible. I had my first real job, and had gotten three raises and a promotion in only two and … Continue reading The best career advice I’ve ever gotten
This is a guest post from Jeff Beard, lightly edited. Enjoy. Dear New Developer, Preparing for a university job fair or similar recruiting event is very important if you want to make an impression that results in a phone screen. A hiring manager and their recruiters receive an enormous number of contacts and resumes from … Continue reading Preparing for a recruiting event
This is a guest post from Cara Borenstein. Enjoy. Dear new developer, A couple of years ago, I started my first job in Silicon Valley. I was a junior software engineer at a fast-moving company and I was so excited to have the opportunity to learn. I worked hard. I looked up terms I wasn’t … Continue reading You know more than you think
Dear new developer, I thought that this post, "The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)", from 2012 was still relevant today. It's a long one, so I won't excerpt all the interesting parts, but this really resonated with me: Both engineers and product managers tend to think, incorrectly, that product … Continue reading Why software engineers are grumpy
Dear new developer, Hopefully you'll work in a place where you'll have regular one to ones with your manager. I find these helpful for building a relationship and engaging with your manager and your reports (if any). I even did them with my co-founder when I founded a startup. These meetings tend to be 30 … Continue reading How to manage one to ones
Letters To A New Developer 