What I Did to Survive My First Years as a Developer

Find a Challenge and Don't Get Comfortable

I began my first full-time role two and a half years ago, taking on an internship project that required building a competitive workout dashboard. This involved technologies I hadn't used before: Angular, Ionic, NodeJs, and MongoDB.

Stepping outside your comfort zone creates the best learning opportunities, despite the stress involved.

Speak Less, Listen More

Remember that you know nothing. By absorbing insights from experienced colleagues, newcomers can avoid repeating mistakes and benefit from their broader professional experience.

Ask Questions Strategically

Rather than interrupting frequently, collect your questions and schedule dedicated time with senior developers.

This shows genuine interest while respecting colleagues' schedules and maintaining productivity.

Accept Feedback Gracefully

Code reviews and constructive criticism shouldn't be taken personally. Every developer produces imperfect work, this is where real learning happens. Viewing feedback as growth opportunities rather than criticism helps accelerate skill development.

Take Ownership of Mistakes

I once deleted a database table in production by accident and instantly reached out for help to resolve it. It's hard, because you instantly worry about what's going to happen to you, but the goal is to restore the systems.

Taking responsibility for errors demonstrates maturity and creates learning moments that prevent future incidents.

Accumulate Knowledge Through Multiple Channels

There are countless blogs about all technology you want. Books, podcasts, and blogs all contribute to expanding professional knowledge.

Learn Core Concepts Over Specific Frameworks

Understanding fundamental principles, like how browsers function, transfers across multiple technologies. Framework-specific knowledge matters in specific roles, but conceptual foundations can be carried over in every role.

Document Your Goals

Writing daily objectives maintains focus and reduces anxiety about pending tasks.

Develop a Side Project

Personal projects provide experimentation space and mental relief from workplace demands.

Prioritize Physical Exercise

Your body is the temple. Exercise provides therapeutic stress relief requiring maintenance alongside professional development.

Conclusion

No universal formula exists for early career success. Developers must experiment, read extensively, and build their own personalized set of professional principles. Defining the rules and applying your knowledge will give you the confidence you need to achieve the things you want and overcome your challenges.