10 Things To Do In Your First Year As A Software Developer

Starting a new career as a software engineer can feel daunting 😫. No matter how many projects you've worked on during your coding boot camp or the grade you got in your Computer Science degree, there is something nerve-racking about having your code out there in the corporate world 🌎. This is something I experienced after transitioning from a Pharmacist to a Software Engineer and bagging my first role.

1. Dive into Your Programming Language

Before you even step into your new role, get a head start on the programming language you’ll be using. I recommend reading through the documentation, learning the syntax and then BUILDING SOMETHING. Practical experience with the language will be invaluable, and the best way to learn is by doing. Whether it’s a small project or a contribution to an open-source repo, hands-on practice will give you a solid foundation. Another key strategy I got from a senior developer is to solve HackerRank-like questions in the new programming language you have learnt as a way to practice.

2. The Setup Phase

The first few weeks will likely be focused on setting up your development environment. This can be surprisingly time-consuming 🕣 but is crucial. Make sure you’re comfortable with the tools and systems your team uses. If something seems unclear, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

3. Get to Know Your Team

Your new team is a diverse group with different roles—business analysts, scrum masters, product owners, and more. Take time to understand each person's role and how they contribute to the project. Building relationships early on will help you navigate the team dynamics and foster collaboration. Do this by scheduling 30-minute coffee chats with each person to ask them questions to get to know more about them personally, and the work they do.

4. Learn About the Technology and the ‘Why’

Understand the software you’re building, but don’t stop there. Dive into the ‘why’ behind the project and why the tools you’re using have been selected to execute it. Book meetings with managers and product owners to piece together the bigger picture. Get clued up about your users, how the software helps them, how it generates revenue for the company 💵. Understanding the goals and rationale behind your projects will make your contributions more meaningful and effective.

5. Set Realistic Expectations

Set clear expectations for yourself and communicate them with your team. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at first, so be honest about what you can handle and what you need help with. This will help manage your workload and prevent burnout.

6. Start Small

Initially, you’ll likely be assigned smaller tasks—bug fixes or minor features. Embrace this as an opportunity to learn the workflow, understand sprint cycles, and get familiar with code reviews. These smaller tasks are crucial in building your foundational knowledge and getting acclimated to the team’s processes.

7. Embrace Your Newbie Grace

As a newcomer, you’ll be given some leeway. Use this time to be inquisitive—schedule meetings, ask questions, and soak up as much information as you can. This level of access won’t always be available down the line, so take advantage of it while you can.

8. Gradually Tackle Complex Tickets

After a few months of working on smaller tasks, you’ll be ready to take on more complex tickets. Dive straight into them - you won't always feel 100% confident that you can tackle them, but you'll be surprised with how much you can grasp with some research and patience. Even senior developers don't always have their tickets all figured out!

9. Learn from the Codebase

Instead of relying solely on external courses, dive into the codebase to learn new technologies. Reading and understanding the code will give you practical insights that are directly relevant to your work. This approach helps you apply what you learn immediately and in context. Read this previous blog post to learn more about this technique.

10. Find a Mentor

A mentor can be a game-changer in your professional development. Look for someone with experience who can offer guidance, answer questions, and provide feedback. A mentor can help you navigate challenges and accelerate your growth in the field.

So there you have it, 10 things you should be doing in your new developer job.

If you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy:

• 8 Goals You Should Be Setting As A Software Developer

• 6 Quick Tips To Help you Learn How To Code

Until next time,

Ruth