It is impossible for a trainee software developer to become a trustworthy professional in just one year. However, your first year in programming may bring you many valuable lessons and insights. What to expect if you are starting your way in programming? What tips does a novice developer hear from senior colleagues every day? That’s what we’ll talk about here.
Let me start with a quick intro. I became involved in software development a bit more than a year ago. Having decided to learn to program, I applied for an intern position at Mad Devs. As an intern, I got my first experience of software development teamwork in a real project. After that, I continued to work on internal and commercial projects as a Junior Frontend Developer.
This article is not a bunch of guidelines for all beginners in development. I am not a skilled mentor who can teach something to new programmers. I am still a new programmer myself. However, if you are just starting your career in IT, or considering it, you may find my experience helpful.
Lesson one. Communicate with your team
Perhaps you still follow the popular misconception saying that communication skills are not required in the IT industry. Many people still think that programming is all about coding. In fact, this is not the case. Let’s find out why.
Software or application development is a complex process involving many people: frontend and backend developers, DevOps engineers, designers, project managers, QA professionals, and customers. Everybody needs to understand the general direction of work, and also to discuss the details of specific tasks, agree on deadlines, and sometimes resolve conflicts.