Jennifer Reif Developer Advocate, Java [email protected] @JMHReif linkedin.com/in/jmhreif Fingerboard to Keyboard Transposing One Profession to Another

Who is Jennifer Reif Developer Advocate, Neo4j • Continuous learner • Technical speaker • Tech blogger • Other: geek Jennifer Reif Developer Advocate, Java [email protected] @JMHReif linkedin.com/in/jmhreif

My history Long story…short • Music lessons (violin) • Orchestras • Pursuit of music major • Skill-building: • Practice + theory + history + side business • Business minor -> MS CMIS

Entering tech market Adulting • Edward Jones • Programmer analyst • JavaOne conference • Attend -> Speak • Neo4j • Developer relations engineer

Transition And Challenges • Crafting your story • Preparing • Applying what you know • Navigating what you don’t know

Crafting Your Story

Crafting your story You write the narrative • Highlight what excites you • Fast-paced or time to think? • Focus on strengths • Things you’re good at and will propel you • Find your “why” • Looks are deceiving • Not just for fame and fortune

Jenn’s version Example • Introduced to programming • Discovered a new interest • Overlapped with things I already loved • Logical: music theory -> programming constructs • Creative: Emotion / interpretation -> solutions / content • Found way to do one and enjoy the other • Progress towards balance between creativity and logic

Preparing a transition

Preparing a transition • Upskill / research • Prerequisites or homework • Gaps you can fi ll? • Communicate • Avoid confusion, enlist help • Plan • Things you can do ahead of time?

Jenn’s version Example • Explore new opportunities • Build something • Take on opportunities to learn

Use what you know

Brainstorm Example What skills will be helpful in the next? • Music • Consistent work • Preparation for performance (practice) • Performance skills • Collaboration / communication • Balance logical and creative skills • Finding patterns • Other • Research and writing • Projects (music library) • Prioritize - work + school • Learning at a fast pace • Business skills • Carving unique road

Navigating the unknown

Jenn’s thoughts • Preparation helps • Be honest • Be willing to learn • Willing to work • Relate to known concept • Unknown -> Known (for next time) :) Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash

Tips and Tricks

Guiding Principles • Learn • Practice • Create • Pursue (opportunities)

Learn

Tips and Tricks And stories :) • Be curious! • Determine your method • Read? • Build? • Teach? • Find something to apply

Practice

Ways to practice TL;DR - Do It! • Build something • Present • Write / record • Expand / experiment • Collaborate

Examples: My Experience • Teach to learn • Interacting with community at events • Writing code • Spring Data Neo4j • Querying a database • GenAI • Writing blog posts

Create

Your art And sharing it • Create content • Mentor / teach • Share your perspective • Contribute to something • Find / Create your path! Photo by hannah grace on Unsplash

Examples: My experience • Presentations • Technical blog • GraphStu ff .FM podcast

Set boundaries • Stepping out of comfort zone • When it’s good, when it’s bad • What you can / can’t sacri fi ce • Can change over time

Pursue (opportunities)

You don’t say you’re not good enough. You let them tell you you’re not good enough. Don’t talk yourself out of trying things. If it’s not the right fi t, life will guide you to the right one.

Taking Risks From the risk-averse • Story: 2nd week training • Calculated risks • Plan A, B, C, etc • You set your level: • Small risk, small reward / fail • Big risk, big reward / fail

If at first you don’t succeed… Try, try again? • Story: live demo disaster • Plan, execute, perform…repeat • Other options: • De fi nition of insanity • Tweak the path / approach • Try something else • Success stories -> those who overcame challenges

Finding opportunities Easier said than done • “That kinda sounds fun…” • Saying “yes” • Tag along with a friend • Find a mentor or group • Online chats, forums, etc • Tangentially related

FIDO Forget it, Drive on • Haters gonna hate • How someone treats you is more a re fl ection on them than it is you • Outside expectations • Do / don’t do x • Because of criteria • Credibility / respect • Be genuine

Closing Thoughts Jenn’s highlights • Remember: • Never too late to learn / change path • You can add value to the conversation • Carve out your space and own it! Photo by Rachel Loughman on Unsplash Jennifer Reif Developer Advocate, Java [email protected] @JMHReif linkedin.com/in/jmhreif