How to be a Better Junior Developer (RailsConf)

by Katherine Wu

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How to be a Better Junior Developer Katherine Wu @kwugirl. ! ! Junior Software Engineer

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where I’m coming from

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@kwugirl where I’m coming from > Long…! way…! to go… https://ﬂic.kr/p/e9UTz

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@kwugirl constantly learning where I’m coming from >

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@kwugirl where I’m coming from > Pac-Man Not Pac-Man Pac-Man's eye

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@kwugirl can find a way to apply any skill where I’m coming from >

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@kwugirl expand ways for junior devs to learn faster & feel valued where I’m coming from >

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why it’s hard to be a junior dev

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why it’s hard to be a junior dev > so.! much.! to learn. how to help?? https://ﬂic.kr/p/8iXWEJ https://ﬂic.kr/p/eaGPCC

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@kwugirl How to help your team! 1. Ask good questions   2. Give good feedback   3. Make your team look good So much to learn! 1. Get people to want to help you 2. Make it easy for people to help you 3. Narrow the scope Where We Are next: so much to learn, step 1

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3-step plan for ! “so much to learn”

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@kwugirl 1. get people to want ! to help you so much to learn >

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@kwugirl “build relationships” so much to learn > get people to help you

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@kwugirl so much to learn > get people to help you > build relationships friendship is magic!

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@kwugirl so much to learn > get people to help you > build relationships

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@kwugirl so much to learn > get people to help you > build relationships

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@kwugirl so much to learn > get people to help you > build relationships mentor as guide https://ﬂic.kr/p/6TJNK6

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@kwugirl so much to learn > get people to help you > build relationships the support team https://ﬂic.kr/p/57gjkS

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@kwugirl show you did your homework so much to learn > get people to help you

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@kwugirl “If you’re busy, who else could I talk to about this?” so much to learn > get people to help you > show your work

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@kwugirl “Is there somewhere I could’ve found this answer on my own?” so much to learn > get people to help you > show your work

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@kwugirl so much to learn > get people to help you > show your work push out and extend https://ﬂic.kr/p/86nc96

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@kwugirl show your appreciation so much to learn > get people to help you

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@kwugirl tell their manager so much to learn > get people to help you > show your appreciation

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@kwugirl 2. make it easy for ! people to help so much to learn >

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy

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@kwugirl articulate why you’re confused so much to learn > make it easy

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@kwugirl “You had me up until _____” so much to learn > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused

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@kwugirl “I’m confused, because I thought you said a=b, and b=c, but here… a!=c ?” so much to learn > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused

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@kwugirl “I’m trying to ___, so that I can ___. I’m running into ___. I’ve looked at ___ & tried ___.” so much to learn > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused courage to say! “I don’t know”

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@kwugirl “Wait, I don’t actually even know what that word means.” so much to learn > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused

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@kwugirl “Sometimes things are confusing not because you’re new, but because they’re confusing.” so much to learn > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > articulate why you’re confused team effort to get out https://ﬂic.kr/p/agQkvi

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@kwugirl give specific, positive reinforcement so much to learn > make it easy

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@kwugirl “It really helped me when you…” so much to learn > make it easy > positive reinforcement

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@kwugirl how mentors can help learning so much to learn > make it easy

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help https://ﬂic.kr/p/7N7nGa

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help safe environment https://ﬂic.kr/p/bsR8Aj

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@kwugirl don’t be afraid of making mistakes so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help > safe environment

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@kwugirl “It’s not a matter of if you break production, but when.” so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help > safe environment

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help > safe environment Mike Monteiro, http://bit.ly/1i2P2yS

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help awesome mentoring! learning style teaching style

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help when it is ok ! to interrupt? https://ﬂic.kr/p/37gGBL

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help keeping an ear out https://ﬂic.kr/p/dZibct

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help “You will reach the top alive.” “Throw me the rope.”

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@kwugirl so much to learn > make it easy > how mentors help push up ! responsibility for deadlines https://ﬂic.kr/p/9oXPuL

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stretch break!

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@kwugirl 3. narrow the scope so much to learn >

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@kwugirl prioritize so much to learn > narrow the scope

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@kwugirl timing matters so much to learn > narrow the scope

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@kwugirl so much to learn > narrow the scope death spiral of self-doubt :*( https://ﬂic.kr/p/7e5kgk

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@kwugirl so much to learn > narrow the scope learning happens! learning style tutorial style

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@kwugirl so much to learn > narrow the scope Programming tutorials:

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@kwugirl so much to learn > narrow the scope goal-oriented vs. just playing https://ﬂic.kr/p/azW9VQ

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@kwugirl team processes, product knowledge so much to learn > narrow the scope

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@kwugirl so much to learn > narrow the scope keyboard ! shortcuts https://ﬂic.kr/p/9mjR

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@kwugirl So Much to Learn 1. Get people to want to help you 2. Make it easy for people to help you 3. Narrow the scope next: helping your team

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3-step plan for ! helping your team

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@kwugirl helping your team >

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@kwugirl your technical contributions matter helping your team >

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@kwugirl don’t compare your beginner to someone else’s middle helping your team >

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@kwugirl “No one comes out of their mama’s womb knowing how to code.” helping your team >

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@kwugirl 1. ask good questions helping your team >

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@kwugirl helping your team > ask good questions how to use questions for good?? https://ﬂic.kr/p/e5PKTt

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@kwugirl “Are we working on the right thing?” helping your team > ask good questions

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@kwugirl “Is there a reason we’re doing it this way?” helping your team > ask good questions

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@kwugirl helping your team > ask good questions don’t put people ! on the defensive https://ﬂic.kr/p/6eFVyB

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@kwugirl helping your team > ask good questions ask All The Questions https://ﬂic.kr/p/chf4im

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@kwugirl 2. give good feedback helping your team >

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@kwugirl helping your team > give good feedback step into their shoes https://ﬂic.kr/p/hgrkXJ

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@kwugirl helping your team > give good feedback speak up when you have good things to say https://ﬂic.kr/p/4PdRQ8

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@kwugirl “I don’t have an opinion on this topic.” helping your team > give good feedback

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@kwugirl 3. make your team look good helping your team >

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@kwugirl give awesome demos helping your team > make your team look good

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@kwugirl helping your team > make your team look good write a script https://ﬂic.kr/p/fbQZmF

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@kwugirl be responsive, thorough, & empathetic helping your team > make your team look good

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@kwugirl Helping Your Team 1. Ask good questions 2. Give good feedback 3. Make your team look good next: pitfalls to avoid

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pitfalls to avoid

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@kwugirl pitfalls to avoid > “Girl Scout tax” https://ﬂic.kr/p/7Eu25y

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@kwugirl pitfalls to avoid > don’t be sidelined https://ﬂic.kr/p/du2JYZ

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@kwugirl pitfalls to avoid > stay focused ! on your goal https://ﬂic.kr/p/cwrm2u

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@kwugirl Recommended Resources Team Geek: A Software Developer's Guide to Working Well with Others   (http://amzn.to/1gyRzAH) The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success (http://amzn.to/1kJC0vK) “How to Survive Your First Year as a Programmer” (http://bit.ly/1mSoyYI) “5 Undervalued Skills in Tech & Why You Should Master Them Anyway”   (http://bit.ly/1hu796E) “Self-promotion for Game Developers” (http://bit.ly/1kdVsmH) “Becoming an Influencer” (http://bit.ly/1htNrlt) next: recap

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conclusion

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@kwugirl lean on your strengths conclusion >

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@kwugirl have confidence in your ability to learn conclusion >

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So much to learn! 1. Get people to want to help you 2. Make it easy for people to help you 3. Narrow the scope How to help your team! 1. Ask good questions 2. Give good feedback 3. Make your team look good http://bit.ly/1n6Wcdk Katherine Wu @kwugirl. ! ! Junior Software Engineer