All the things I learnt as a junior developer (so you don't have to)

Being a junior developer is scary. But what should you do to make sure your junior developer journey is productive? My talk will give you some career advice that you can take, or pass to your juniors - through the lens of all the lessons and mistakes I've done.

Spoken at pyconAU 2023 in Adelaide

Transcript

1. All the things I learnt as a junior developer (...so you don’t have to) Terence Huynh Software Engineer at Atlassian terencehuynh.com
2. But what if I’m not a junior? There’s something for everyone.
3. L E S S O N O N E It is very easy to burn yourself out.
4. “ …a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity. “Job burnout: How to spot it and take action” from the Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642
5. ACWells / Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/man-computer-tired-zoom-meeting-6982044/)
6. What can you do? • If you need a break, take a break. • Take some time off - consider a mental health day. • Never feel guilty about taking some time off.
8. What can you do? • If you need a break, take a break. • Take some time off - consider a mental health day. • Never feel guilty about taking some time off.
9. L E S S O N T W O It goes both ways.
10. Ask what your company can do for you.
11. What junior developers should be looking for? • A plan in place to help you grow as a developer • A working environment that is nurturing and supportive • Access to a corporate buddy or mentor
12. How can you help me achieve what I want to do?
14. L E S S O N T H R E E Sometimes, you have to make your own experience.
15. Other ways to demonstrate experience Contributing to open source or working on a project. Volunteer! Help a charity, or become an organiser of a community or meetup event
16. This presentation is creating my own experience…
17. “ As video conferencing replaces phone calls, many workers find they have more face time with multiple colleagues not less. “Is public speaking fear limiting your career?” Tim Smedley, BBC Worklife https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170321-is-public-speaking-fear-limiting-your-career
18. Charles Deluvio/Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/wn7dOzUh3Rs)
20. L E S S O N F O U R Do something, not nothing.
21. “ I'd rather end up wishing I hadn’t, than end up wishing I had. “Anna Karenina” Leo Tolstoy
22. … and here’s why.
23. Josh Parnham for Terence Huynh (https://www.instagram.com/p/B17Ph1Djaa-//)
24. Obligatory summary 1. It is very easy to burn yourself out. (never feel guilty for taking a mental health break) 2. It goes both ways. (ask what your company can do for you) 3. Sometimes, you have to make your own opportunities. (seek alternative pathways) 4. Do something, not nothing. (staying quiet never works) Yes, you can take a pic of this.
25. terencehuynh.com buymeacoffee.com/terencehuynh TWITTER @terencehuynh MASTODON @terence@melb.social LINKEDIN linkedin.com/in/terencehuynh