My First Year as a Professional Developer – Tips for Getting into Tech

Two years ago, I was working a dead-end job in an entirely different field, feeling unfulfilled and yearning for a more challenging, lucrative career. Today, I‘m a full-time software engineer at a top tech company, working on complex full-stack web applications. The journey to get here was arduous but incredibly rewarding. For anyone else considering making the leap into tech, here‘s my story and some hard-earned tips to guide you.

The Demand for Developers

But first, let‘s look at some data on the current state of the tech industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of software developers is projected to grow 22% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.[^1] The median annual wage for software developers was $110,140 in May 2020, more than twice the median wage for all workers.[^2]

Clearly, it‘s a lucrative and high-demand field. But what does it take to become a professional developer? Let‘s dive into my journey and the lessons learned along the way.

Learning to Code

My first step was to learn the necessary technical skills. I started by taking some online coding courses through sites like Codecademy and freeCodeCamp to see if programming was something I enjoyed and had an aptitude for. These free resources are a great way to dip your toes in and start learning the basics of programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Once I decided to fully commit to this path, I enrolled in a local coding bootcamp. Those intensive 12 weeks were extremely challenging yet rewarding. The curriculum covered full-stack web development – everything from front-end technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript frameworks, to backend technologies like Node.js, Express, databases like SQL and MongoDB. We learned through building hands-on projects, which was key for gaining practical skills.

However, I quickly realized that completing the bootcamp was just the beginning. To be job-ready, I needed to go beyond the basics and dive deeper into the technologies, tools, and computer science concepts employed by professional software engineers.

Over the following months, I built up my skills by taking on increasingly complex projects. I learned a JavaScript framework (React), familiarized myself with industry-standard tools like Git and the command line, reviewed data structures and algorithms, and started implementing testing and best practices like writing clean, modular, well-documented code.

Here‘s a roadmap of the key skills I focused on:

• Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React
• Backend: Node.js, Express, APIs, Databases (SQL, MongoDB)
• Tools: Git, Command Line, VS Code Editor, Chrome Dev Tools
• Computer Science Concepts: Data Structures, Algorithms, Big O Notation
• Best Practices: Testing, Clean Code, Documentation, Agile Methodology

Some of the best resources I used to learn these skills include:

• The Odin Project – A free open-source full-stack curriculum
• Full Stack Open – A comprehensive course on modern web development by the University of Helsinki
• Eloquent JavaScript – An excellent book on JavaScript fundamentals and programming concepts
• freeCodeCamp – A wealth of free courses, coding challenges, and projects
• LeetCode – Platform to practice coding problems common in technical interviews

The key to accelerating your learning is building projects. Struggle through the challenges of making real-world applications, as that‘s where genuine skill development happens. Document your process and share your work on GitHub to start building a portfolio.

Equally Essential: Soft Skills

In addition to technical abilities, certain soft skills are just as crucial for success as a developer:

• Communication – Effectively conveying complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Collaboration – Working productively in a team, using tools like version control and project management software
• Problem Solving – Breaking down large, ambiguous problems into smaller, solvable ones
• Continuous Learning – Staying curious and adaptable in an ever-evolving field

Improving these skills was an ongoing process for me. I practiced pair programming and collaborated on projects with other aspiring developers. I worked on clearly documenting my code and writing effective commit messages in Git. When I encountered a bug or roadblock, I embraced the challenge as a problem-solving opportunity rather than getting frustrated. I made a habit of reading tech blogs and listening to podcasts to expose myself to new ideas.

Ultimately, as a developer, your job is not to know everything but rather to be able to figure anything out. Demonstrating your growth in both technical and interpersonal skills makes you a strong candidate in the eyes of employers.

The Path to Landing a Developer Job

Once I felt I had a solid foundation of skills, I began applying to developer jobs. But first, I needed to make myself a competitive candidate. Here are the steps I took that I attribute to successfully landing my first role:

1. Tailoring my resume and online presence. I updated my resume to emphasize the relevant technical skills, using the same keywords from the job descriptions. I also created a simple portfolio website to showcase my projects and convey my personal brand. Establishing a strong GitHub profile with regular commits and clear documentation also helped demonstrate my coding abilities.

2. Building a strong portfolio of projects. I polished 3-4 of my best projects to a professional level, as if they were being launched to real users. I made sure they were fully functional, mobile responsive, and as bug-free as possible. I also wrote thorough READMEs detailing the technologies used, key features, and my development process.

3. Actively networking and seeking referrals. I attended local meetups and conferences to connect with other developers and learn about companies that were hiring. I reached out to bootcamp alumni and other contacts in my network to inquire about openings at their companies. Employee referrals are one of the best ways to get your foot in the door.

4. Preparing thoroughly for technical interviews. I practiced dozens of coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode, CodeWars, and HackerRank. I studied up on key CS concepts like Big O notation, data structures, and sorting algorithms that frequently come up in interviews. I did mock interviews with peers and attended interview prep workshops to get comfortable articulating my thought process out loud.

After dozens of applications and a string of rejections, I finally landed my first offer for an entry-level full-stack developer role at a small startup. It was an incredible feeling to see my hard work start to pay off.

My First Year as a Professional Developer

That first year on the job was a steep learning curve. I was absorbing new things every day – not just a myriad of new technologies and tools but also how to collaborate effectively on a development team, communicate with stakeholders, plan and estimate my work.

Some of the biggest challenges included:

• Overcoming imposter syndrome, feeling like I wasn‘t skilled enough to be there
• Struggling to meet aggressive deadlines while still producing quality code
• Deciphering and modifying legacy codebases with little documentation
• Fixing bugs that I unintentionally introduced into the codebase
• Communicating my progress, blockers, and needs to my manager and team

But through each challenge, I grew immensely. I learned to be proactive in asking for help when I was stuck. I developed strategies for dissecting large, complex tasks into manageable pieces. I practiced clearly documenting my code and writing effective tests. Most of all, I gained confidence in my ability to tackle hard problems and continuously learn.

The rewarding aspects of the job made all the challenges worthwhile:

• Seeing a feature I built being used by real customers
• Collaborating with and learning from brilliant teammates
• Having the creative freedom to propose and implement my own ideas
• Continuously being challenged to learn and level up my skills

One of the most valuable lessons from that first year was the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It‘s easy to fall into the trap of working long hours and constantly pushing yourself in a mentally taxing job. But preventing burnout is crucial for long-term success and happiness.

I learned to prioritize my physical and mental health – taking breaks throughout the day, setting boundaries on my working hours, pursuing hobbies and social connection outside of work. I also found a supportive community of other early-career developers to share the struggles and celebrations with.

After that first year, I felt I had proven to myself that I could make it in this demanding yet incredibly rewarding field. And I‘m excited to continue growing and making an impact.

A Path of Lifelong Learning

The beautiful thing about a career in software development is that the learning never stops. There‘s always a new technology to learn, a new problem to solve, a new way to level up your skills.

In the next phase of my journey, I plan to deepen my expertise in my company‘s tech stack while also branching out to learn new languages and frameworks. I‘d like to improve my skills in unit testing, performance optimization, and web security. Farther down the road, I could see myself specializing in a particular domain like data visualization or machine learning.

Beyond the technical realm, I want to continue growing as a leader and communicator. Mentoring new developers, giving technical talks, and writing articles are great ways to crystallize my knowledge and share it with the community.

And as I progress in my career, I feel a heightened responsibility to advocate for ethical and socially responsible practices in tech. As developers, we wield immense power in shaping the products and tools that affect people‘s daily lives. It‘s on us to be continually thoughtful about the societal impact of what we build – to use our skills in service of making the world a bit better.

Tips for Aspiring Developers

For anyone considering making the leap into a technology career, here is my best advice:

1. Choose the learning path that fits you best. There‘s no one "right" way to acquire the skills to become a developer. You could take the self-taught route, attend a coding bootcamp, or pursue a traditional 4-year computer science degree. The best choice depends on your learning style, timeline, and resources. Don‘t feel limited by your past educational background – people from all walks of life can succeed in this field. The tech world needs diversity of thought and experience.

2. Build real-world projects to cement your learning. Hands-on projects are the best way to apply theoretical concepts and run into the challenges you‘ll face on the job. Make your projects as polished and professional as possible, as if they were being deployed to real users. Document your code thoroughly and follow best practices – this will set you apart from other candidates. Share your work on GitHub and include it in your portfolio.

3. Network authentically and aim to add value. Meeting people in the industry is key to finding opportunities, whether online or at in-person events. But don‘t just network with the aim of getting something. Focus on building genuine relationships. Offer to help where you can, even if it‘s just providing feedback on a project or making an introduction. Down the line, that goodwill will come back to you in spades.

4. Prepare thoroughly for the technical interview process. Acing the coding challenges is only one part of landing a developer job. Just as important is articulating your thought process, collaborating with your interviewer, and conveying your eagerness to learn. Practice a variety of problems on coding platforms, and do mock interviews to get comfortable talking through your approach. Prepare compelling stories of how you‘ve tackled challenges and worked with others in the past.

5. Cultivate a mindset of growth and resilience. Adopting the belief that your skills can be continually developed will serve you well in this fast-evolving field. Embrace the discomfort of not knowing things – that‘s where true growth happens. When you face an obstacle, reframe it as an opportunity to learn something new. And remember that every developer has been in your shoes before. Don‘t hesitate to reach out to others for guidance and support.

Transitioning into a technology career is not a straightforward or easy path. It requires dedication, hard work, and a willingness to be humbled daily. But if you persist through the challenges and false starts, the rewards are immense: intellectually engaging work, endless room for growth, the opportunity to build solutions that tangibly improve people‘s lives.

If a career in tech calls to you, trust that pull. With determination, a solid strategy, and a commitment to continuous learning, you can turn your aspirations into your reality. Take it from someone who not long ago was staring at lines of code in utter bafflement, wondering if I‘d ever be job-ready. Every expert was once a beginner. So take that first step. The tech world needs what only you have to offer.

[^1]: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Software Developers
[^2]: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Software Developers