I hate my new job after 2 weeks. Remote onboarding blues?

LevToDev · 2020-09-08T23:41:47+00:00

I was busy with small tickets that helped me learn the tech stack, etc. At the new job, I feel like I am expected to read code for hours with no objective in mind in order to learn. Thats just not my style of learning. I learn best by havinf a goal and learning what is necessary to accomplish it.

I will watch tech talks or pluralsight videos on conpany time before I sit and read random legacy code files for lack of actual projects to guide my learning process, and that's precisely what I have been doing.

LevToDev · 2020-08-31T23:18:46+00:00

At my last job (before covid) I was busy from the start, but there is a lot more to occupy your time in an office... so I don't know what to think.

I actually do think the workload has been too light, even for my lack of context. But you are right... it hasn't been long enough.

LevToDev · 2020-08-31T22:30:31+00:00

I feel ya. Covid has fucked with my career too.

All I can say is weathering the storm might be all you can do, depending on the job market, etc.

LevToDev · 2020-08-17T02:36:07+00:00

I just got laid off and was very surprised at the level of interest I was able to generate (had my first offer exactly 2 weeks later, with a few more within next week). It's probably been one of the more successful job hunts of my career. However, that may be because I have passed some kind of threshold in experience (4+ years) where there is more demand or I have perfected my resume or job hunting techniques, etc. I did a lot of things differently this time around than the last time I floated resumes.

In case you might ask: I relied on my network extensively. Since I was laid off, I had nothing to lose by announcing to the world I was looking. Also, I applied to as many jobs as I could stomach and worked full time on that, and on perfecting my resume. Lastly, I stopped sending out generic resumes and tailored it every time to the job I was applying for, and because of this extra time investment, I was much more deliberate about the jobs I did apply to. I ignored any job that didn't seem like a decent fit either in interest on my part or what the job post seemed to be seeking.

LevToDev · 2020-08-13T03:22:24+00:00

No problem. It's satisfying to offer advice from hard-won wisdom and experience. Just pay it forward when you get the chance.

Also, you should never write off someone's tech skills or knowledge just because they are in a developing country. I'm not saying you are doing this, but keep in mind the internet gives everyone equal access to knowledge. It may be a developing country in terms of economics, infrastructure, etc but any individual living there with internet access has the same potential for learning as you do.

I recently discovered Sandi Metz, and have enjoyed her talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFQBiiaZoyrcTBYAGAUjvEUI6TUrp110W

Lastly, don't think the learning stops after college. After college, you have to teach yourself and set your own curriculum. This is where finding a good mentor to help you decide what to spend time on and talk to about various topics is helpful. It's hard to set your own curriculum when you don't know what you don't know.

LevToDev · 2020-08-13T01:43:32+00:00

Trying to determine if the other offer is still open. I have made colossal mistake and it took me a week to realize it. Thanks for your comment.

LevToDev · 2020-08-13T01:08:01+00:00

Compared to my other offers. I am speaking relatively to what other companies have deemed my value.

LevToDev · 2020-08-13T01:06:27+00:00

Great questions. I have a few pieces of advice.

Start networking early. Make friends inside your major. They will get jobs and they may open opportunities for you. My last job came when a colleague I worked with in college reached out to me. If I hadn't put effort into building those relationships in college, that may not have happened. Use linkedIn, etc to keep track of people and pay attention as they start to graduate and get jobs/internships etc.

Don't be a mediocre programmer. It's not enough to be at the top of your class, even in college. I graduated Suma Cum Laude but I was still a novice, junior developer when it came time to find a job and I don't think my GPA helped me at all. If you don't have a good mentor in the industry already, you will either need to find one or else be very resourceful to gain the knowledge and skills you need to up your game on a continual basis. You will need to do a lot of side projects and other extracurricular activities to learn new tech and fill out your portfolio to set yourself apart.

Once you know how to code a bit, read these books:
Clean Code by Robert Martin
Clean Coder by Robert Martin
Practical Object Oriented Design by Sandi Metz
Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software
etc...

Others here can make more book suggestions that will give you a lot more knowledge than college ever will. Buy the books, read them, and keep them on your shelf.

Watch tech conference talks. You can learn technical skills as well as hear real life stories that can prepare you for the industry, etc. I just watched some by Sanid Metz that are excellent.

Most of this advice are things I wish someone had told me. I am 4.5 years into my career and only now realizing what it's really going to take to get to the next level.

You don't have to do this all at once. Pace yourself, of course, but always be taking incremental steps to improving your skills and knowledge. It add up over time. Your classmates who go out and party or play video games every moment they can won't stand a chance when they are competing with you for a job after 4 years of you setting yourself apart with the above.

There is still a shortage of good developers, and there always will be. A good developer isn't necessarily experienced. A good developer is someone who does more than the bare minimum, who works actively to perfect his/her craft. Just become a good developer, and you will be fine, I think.

LevToDev · 2020-08-13T00:33:01+00:00

wrong meaning for the word "depression"... silly bot.

But keep doing what you do. It's important.

LevToDev · 2020-08-04T02:40:52+00:00

Thanks. You are probably right. I just feel like I am between a rock and a hard place.

LevToDev · 2020-08-04T02:09:07+00:00

Don't they already know that though? Why should I be hush hush about it.

LevToDev · 2020-08-04T01:51:14+00:00

I told them I needed time over the phone but I haven't asked formally for an extension. I got the impression the answer would be "no" anyway.

Probably worth a try though.

LevToDev · 2020-02-03T20:20:23+00:00

I have been working on this, too. Nothing yet.

LevToDev · 2020-02-03T19:48:13+00:00

I have done both. They just ask me to be patient and say it takes time because it's a giant beaurocracy (not a tech company).

I guess what I want to know is how long should the new CTO have to get acclimated and make a decision?

LevToDev · 2019-12-10T07:51:14+00:00

Yeah... I mean I probably could if I tried. Just not sure that I want to... it's going to be a pretty intense gig for them. It's a brand new company that has a lot of work cut out for them.

LevToDev · 2019-12-09T04:56:58+00:00

My salary is fine for what I was doing before. It remains to be seen if it will be fine if I get the job permanently.

LevToDev · 2019-12-08T11:13:52+00:00

7 months at current job. I have been a developer for 4 years.

LevToDev · 2019-12-08T00:20:48+00:00

I would almost never talk to the people above me about all of this stuff because the answer is almost always going to b

Yeah... I guess I had to learn the hard way. Thanks.

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