How to Decide When to Ask for Help in Your First DevOps Job?

You can absolutely ask for help at any time, but the more thought you've put into your problem, the better. Instead of saying, 'I can't connect to the database', try laying out your investigation—like what you've pinged and what errors you're seeing. Engaging your colleagues in a collaborative problem-solving way is often appreciated.

When working on production systems, don't hesitate to ask for help. For other tasks, it's more about making an attempt and reaching out when you really hit a wall. Also, avoid generic questions; be specific to your company's context, and provide a little background to make it easier for your seniors to assist you.

If you find yourself stuck for about 90 minutes without progress, it's definitely time to ask for help. However, how you ask is crucial. When you reach out, be specific about your issue, explain what you've tried, and share what you suspect might be the problem. This not only shows you're putting in effort, but it also helps the person you're asking give you better guidance.

Embrace the idea that mistakes are part of the learning process early in your career. Make sure to communicate with your team, especially during onboarding, and familiarize yourself with the key architecture and processes. If you do find yourself stuck, acknowledge what you've tried before asking. This will build your credibility.

Using a simple framework can help when asking for help. Before you approach someone, make sure you have: 1) What you're trying to do, 2) Your expectations, 3) Actual results, and 4) What you've attempted. This shows that you've made a genuine effort and respect their time.