I’m well aware this post has been asked to death on Reddit, but I couldn’t find anything relevant on Lemmy so I thought I’d give it a shot.

I’m starting my first SDE job next week, and to be honest I’ve never really been a dev in a professional environment before. I’ve had an internship where the bar was very low so I did decently, and a part-time gig where I just assigned myself tickets. Either way I’ve never worked on a larger team or in a specific org before.

Apart from the usual like “ask questions when you’re stuck”, “write proper documentation”, “be proactive”, and “communicate well”, what are some technical things I should be familiar with to make sure I’m not bogging anyone down?

More specifically, are there concepts I should know/I am expected to know of that I might not have learned in university?

  • xyproto@programming.dev
    13·
    11 months ago

    I asked GPT4:

    What are the main differences between having 5 years of experience in a job and 20 years of experience? Make a bullet point list.

    Certainly! Here’s a list detailing some of the main differences between having 5 years and 20 years of experience in a job:

    5 Years of Experience:

    • Foundational Understanding: A solid grasp of the basics and might have ventured into some specialized areas.
    • Eagerness to Learn: Often more receptive to new ideas, looking for opportunities to grow and expand skill sets.
    • Intermediate Problem-Solving: Have encountered and overcome a range of common challenges but might still need guidance for more complex situations.
    • Building Network: Still in the process of developing a professional network within the industry.
    • Adapting to Company Culture: Fully integrated into the company’s culture but might be less resistant to major shifts.
    • Potential for Errors: A higher likelihood to make mistakes as compared to someone with more years of experience.
    • Focused Growth: Looking for ways to advance in their career, either through promotions, lateral moves, or increased responsibilities.
    • More Current Training: Might have more recent education or training on new technologies or methodologies.

    20 Years of Experience:

    • Deep Expertise: Possess a profound understanding of nuances, having seen many scenarios, changes, and evolutions in the industry.
    • Mentorship Role: Often serve as mentors or guides to younger or less experienced colleagues.
    • Advanced Problem-Solving: Can anticipate and solve complex problems based on extensive past experiences.
    • Established Network: Have a wide and deep network of contacts in the industry that can be leveraged for various needs.
    • Shaping Company Culture: Have seen the company culture evolve and might play a role in influencing it.
    • Strategic Thinking: More likely to think in terms of long-term goals and strategies rather than immediate tasks.
    • Stability & Consistency: Typically more resistant to change, valuing stability and having established personal methodologies for accomplishing tasks.
    • Potential for Innovation: While some might be set in their ways, their vast experience can also be a source of innovation, drawing from decades of knowledge to create new solutions.

    It’s essential to note that the above points are generalizations. Individual experiences and growth can vary widely based on the person, the industry, the company, and many other factors.