Dear new developer, Story time. Many years ago, I was a contractor doing web development. I focused on web/database apps in unix-like environments. I wrote primarily php, java and perl. (Like I said, it was many years ago.) A friend and former colleague reached out and said they had a client seeking development help. It … Continue reading Stretch, don’t contort
This is a guest post from Matt Schellhas. Enjoy. Dear new developer, I personally look for some of the same things as my peers: Is your resume/LinkedIn fine? It doesn’t need to be awesome. You don’t have a ton of experience to show, so please don’t try and oversell your experience — that just makes … Continue reading What I look for when hiring new grads
This is a guest post from Rowell Belen. Enjoy. Dear New Developer, What I am about to say may be seen as controversial and somewhat unpopular, but I believe it is important. You are responsible for your career. No one else is. It doesn't matter if you have a great boss or work at a … Continue reading You are responsible for your career. No one else is.
This is a guest post from Rizel Scarlett. Enjoy. Dear Developer, If you're experiencing impostor syndrome, you're not alone. For some people, impostor syndrome will never "go away," but you can create a healthy relationship with it. Impostor syndrome in technology is pervasive. Part of the problem is that tech is rooted in elitism and … Continue reading Own Your Power
Dear new developer, When I was a new dev, I brought my lunch almost every day. I would take a break from coding, walk out to a small embankment, and sit in the sun. I'd munch on my sandwich and carrots, and enjoy a bit of piece and quite. What a mistake! I'm not saying … Continue reading Eat lunch with your coworkers
This is a guest post from Caitlyn Greffly. Enjoy. Dear new developer, If you decide to go the coding bootcamp route, chances are you are going to have a few months of absolute madness. You are trying to change careers and pick up a mass of technical knowledge in a condensed amount of time. It's … Continue reading Changes from Bootcamp to a Real Dev Job
Dear new developer, It's a crazy market right now for developer talent. But I still see plenty of new developers struggling. I also see some mid and senior developers struggling. "What? I thought senior developers had it made!" you might be saying to yourself. Unfortunately, one can fall into the trap of the expert beginner. … Continue reading What To Change If You Aren’t Getting The Offers You Want
Dear new developer, I heard this phrase on a podcast from a reporter and it struck home. I don't know how old you are. I don't know if software development is your first career or your fifth. I don't know if you have a family. But, I do know that work can be mighty fulfilling. … Continue reading “Work will never love you back”
This is a guest post from Charity Majors. Enjoy. Dear new developer, Story time. Susan was hired as a database engineer. Her primary projects, which are supposed to be upgrading/rolling out a major point release and running load tests against various config options and developing a schema management tool, keep slipping. But she is one … Continue reading Know your “One Job” and do it first
This is a guest post from Sonja Parsell. Enjoy. Dear Developer, Don't misinterpret a small distraction, or even a big disaster, as a "sign" that coding isn't for you. There were definitely times in my journey when a break in learning was completely justified, but by no means should I have seen it as a … Continue reading But First, Don’t Do the Dishes
Letters To A New Developer 