Hey everyone! I'm a full stack junior developer and my company is expecting me to handle back-end, front-end, DevOps (including Azure, Docker, and GitHub Actions), and end-to-end processes. It's a small local company, and I need to have a solid grasp of these areas to build and maintain projects from the ground up, as well as add new features when needed.
I'm really curious about how more experienced developers approach learning on the job. For example, when you complete a ticket and find yourself with a few hours to spare during an 8-hour workday, how do you use that time? Do you focus on deepening your knowledge of your tech stack, such as studying design patterns or improving your backend skills? What's the best way to transition from being a junior dev to a senior one? I've read some discussions suggesting that just having the title of senior doesn't always mean the skills match up, so I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!
4 Answers
Getting to senior level is less about just coding and more about understanding the entire process. Juniors need guidance, while seniors can produce tasks and coordinate effectively. Work on your communication and problem-solving skills. Also, consistently tracking your tasks and time can really help you provide better estimates and improve your work approach!
Remember to keep work and free time separate. Don’t feel pressured to work or learn outside of your hours. If you're spending time learning at work, it should be counted as part of your duties, not at the expense of your personal time. Learn at your own pace and enjoy your free time!
I feel you! I also struggle to find time to learn while working. I’ve found that just Googling solutions or using AI tools like ChatGPT can feel superficial. I prefer to spend dedicated time actually doing hands-on coding instead of skimming through documentation.
That's the tough part! Getting experience is crucial, but if you're just rushing to deliver code, you risk not understanding the big picture.
As I moved into senior roles, I focused less on coding skills and more on managing the team and communication. If you have extra hours daily, it might mean you're being under-utilized. Use that time to enhance your soft skills and help others rather than just coding more.
Totally agree! When I was new, I had to figure things out by tackling tickets quickly, but I never really got the chance to dig deeper because the focus was on fast output rather than solid learning.