Nowadays, landing your first job in the tech industry is quite challenging; most companies require candidates to have some commercial experience already, and their expectations towards new developers are pretty high. With that in mind, being finally hired might come with much stress and an urge to present yourself as an independent employee. It’s crucial to understand that your job is not only about getting things done, and most of the time, it’s about being a part of the team. So how you can contribute to that?

CONSULT YOUR SOLUTIONS

You cannot win a football match by playing alone, and the same rule applies to your work. At the beginning of your career, you will mainly focus on just solving the tasks. And while there is nothing wrong with this approach, you will come to notice that your more experienced colleagues might consider performance, code readability and other factors. That’s why it’s always good to get another pair of eyes to look at your work.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help or tips in general and make yourself available when others need help from you. You will be able to learn something new, and without a doubt, this will affect the quality of your solution.

Asking for help is a sign of strength and confidence.

SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE

One thing needs to be clarified right away — you don’t need to be an expert in the topic to share your knowledge, and it would be best not to assume that you have to surprise your co-workers with something they are not familiar with yet. It’s more about inspiring others and exchanging experiences.

By speaking up, you are taking an opportunity to growand encouraging people to share their thoughts.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF FEEDBACK

Honest feedback, regardless of whether you give it or accept it, is way more essential than you think. Don’t assume that being less qualified means you can’t give constructive criticism. And don’t forget to admire individuals’ work too. By speaking openly about positives and negatives, you help other people grow and do a better job.

Keep the good things up and work on aspects pointed by the others.

Listening is the key to improving!

SHARE YOUR DOUBTS

Is something not looking right? Speak up! You don’t have to agree on everything (and by the way — it would be weird if you did). Don’t be afraid to be wrong; actively participate in planning sessions, code reviews, and if anything seems unclear to you, you’re not convinced, or you have another idea — say it.

Your opinion matters. And it really can make a difference.

If I could say one thing to my past self, I would tell her to stick to these rules. With that in mind, I encourage you to do the same. These principles are crucial for self-development, and the faster you bring them to your work routine, the quicker you will grow.

^{Thanks to Chris Kraszewski}