I'm a beginner web developer with about a year of experience and no prior background in coding. I've really put in the effort, starting with the basics like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for several months. Then I jumped into Angular quite heavily. Four months ago, I landed a junior front-end developer job through a friend. While I can handle the tasks at work—like adding validations to forms and catching errors—I often feel like a fraud. Since starting this job, I've realized just how vast the knowledge gap is. I've been humbled by exploring production code and looking at my colleagues' commits. I thought I was making good progress, especially since I was already setting up ngrx stores before getting this job. But now I'm questioning if I've even grasped the basics. I know people say not to compare yourself to others, but in the job market, it feels like I have to. How can I effectively evaluate my progress and determine if I'm learning at an average or above-average pace?
1 Answer
It's tough to gauge your progress objectively. I've been a developer for 25 years, and some days I feel like an expert and other days like a total novice. Progress in development isn't linear; it’s more like a spiderweb of overlapping concepts. I’m confident in full-stack web development, but when it comes to specialized areas, I still have a lot to learn. The best way to evaluate yourself might be by how quickly you can pick up new topics—everyone has different areas of expertise. Remember, it’s about your growth, not just what you currently know.
Damn, well written. Thanks for your input!