Hey folks, I'm really looking for some candid advice here because I'm feeling quite overwhelmed. So, I just started my first development job as an IT & E-commerce Assistant while I'm still finishing up my Computer Engineering degree. I was hired without a technical interview—just showed a project I made with some AI help—and now I'm on minimum wage working in a small team with one senior developer. Our tech stack includes Laravel and Blade, but I barely know them. There's no documentation or onboarding process, which is a little stressful.
Today was rough; I mismanaged a task on the website by doing things out of order and mistakenly merged my work into the main branch instead of my feature branch. My senior dev was understandably frustrated and said I should know better. I get that I need to plan my layout and architecture first, but I was in a time crunch.
Honestly, I might have oversold my skills on my CV. I claimed to know HTML/CSS, but I should have known the difference between `` and `
So here are my questions: 1. Is it normal to screw up like this in the first week? 2. How can I learn fast and not annoy my senior dev with basic questions? 3. Should I be honest about my actual skill level? 4. What resources would you recommend for someone in my position? 5. Is it common to have no documentation and formal processes in smaller companies? Thanks for any advice!
5 Answers
You definitely have a learning curve ahead, but don't sweat it. Most places, especially small ones, don’t have formal processes set up. It’s a good opportunity for you to build those skills. Just be proactive about learning and take notes as you go along, creating your own mini-docs if needed!
Sure, and maybe suggest improvements to the team as you get comfortable!
Accidents are part of the job. When I started, I accidentally overwrote a production database—definitely not fun! Learn from this and don’t lose your confidence. Just focus on understanding what went wrong and how to prevent it next time. That's what's more important than having a perfect start.
That’s actually comforting to know, thanks! Everyone makes mistakes.
Yep! Just ensure you improve and make those mistakes a learning opportunity.
It's pretty normal to mess up in your first week, especially in a small team with no docs! Many juniors face similar hurdles. Don't beat yourself up about it. It sounds like the senior dev should've set up the branch protection rules to prevent you from merging into main. Just focus on learning from your mistakes and improving as you go. It’s part of the experience!
Thanks, that makes me feel better! I guess a lot of people go through this, huh?
Absolutely! Just keep pushing through and don’t hesitate to ask questions when you're truly stuck.
First off, relax! It's totally fine to confuse head and header when you're just starting out. Your senior should be helping you set up better processes to avoid these mistakes in the future. Just learn from this experience and ask specific questions when you need help. For resources, check out online courses for Laravel and Git—practical projects will really help you gain confidence!
I think I will! Any specific sites you recommend for Laravel?
The Odin Project and Laravel's own docs are great starting points!
You're not doomed, just learning! The first few weeks are chaotic for everyone. The fact that you're figuring out what went wrong is a huge plus. Make your next steps clearer before coding to avoid confusion. You don't necessarily need to admit to overselling yourself, but definitely focus on fast learning and showing that you're improving!
Thank you! It's helpful to hear that it gets easier.
For sure! You'll find your groove; just take it one step at a time.
Good idea! I'll start jotting down what I learn.