5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My First Developer Job

Introduction

Landing your first developer job is exciting, but it can also be intimidating. Looking back at my journey, there are several things I wish someone had told me before I started. These insights would have saved me from countless moments of confusion, self-doubt, and unnecessary stress.

1. It's Okay to Not Know Everything

The Myth of the "Perfect Developer"

When I started, I thought I needed to know every technology, framework, and best practice. The reality? Even senior developers Google things daily. The key isn't knowing everything—it's knowing how to find answers and learn quickly.

What I Learned:

• Asking questions is a sign of engagement, not weakness
• Everyone was a beginner once, and most developers are happy to help
• The ability to learn is more valuable than what you currently know

// Instead of pretending to understand
const confusing = someComplexFunction();

// It's better to ask or research
// "Hey, could you explain what someComplexFunction() does?"
// Or: Search the codebase, read docs, then ask if still unclear

Pro Tip: Keep a learning journal. When you encounter something new, write it down. This creates a personal knowledge base you can reference later.

2. Code Reviews Are Your Best Friend

From Scary to Valuable

My first code review felt like a personal attack. Every comment seemed to say "you're not good enough." But once I shifted my perspective, code reviews became my fastest path to improvement.

What Makes a Good Code Review:

• It's about the code, not about you personally
• Each comment is a free lesson from experienced developers
• It helps you write better code and learn team standards

How to Handle Feedback:

1. Read all comments before responding
2. Ask for clarification if something isn't clear
3. Thank reviewers for their time
4. Apply the lessons to future code

<!-- Before code review -->
<template>
  <div v-if="data">
    <div v-for="item in data">{{ item }}</div>
  </div>
</template>

<!-- After applying feedback -->
<template>
  <div v-if="data?.length">
    <div v-for="item in data" :key="item.id">
      {{ item.name }}
    </div>
  </div>
</template>

3. Version Control Is More Than Just Commits

Git Beyond the Basics

I thought I knew Git because I could commit and push. Then I had to resolve my first merge conflict, rebase a branch, and cherry-pick commits. Suddenly, I realized there was so much more to learn.

Essential Git Skills:

• Writing meaningful commit messages
• Understanding branching strategies
• Handling merge conflicts
• Using git stash for context switching
• Interactive rebase for clean history

# Bad commit message
git commit -m "fixed stuff"

# Good commit message
git commit -m "fix: resolve null pointer exception in user authentication

- Add null check before accessing user.email
- Add unit test to prevent regression
- Fixes #123"

My Workflow Now:

1. Pull latest changes from main
2. Create a feature branch with a descriptive name
3. Make small, focused commits
4. Rebase if needed before creating PR
5. Squash commits if requested

4. Communication Skills Matter as Much as Code

The Surprise Soft Skill

Nobody told me that half of my job would be communication. Explaining technical concepts, writing documentation, participating in stand-ups, and collaborating with non-technical team members became daily activities.

Communication Channels:

• Slack/Teams: Quick questions, status updates
• Email: Formal communication, external stakeholders
• Documentation: Future you and your teammates will thank you
• Meetings: Active listening, asking questions, sharing updates

Tips for Better Communication:

## When Reporting a Bug

❌ "It doesn't work"

✅ "The login form returns a 500 error when submitting with special characters in the password field. Steps to reproduce:
1. Go to /login
2. Enter email: test@example.com
3. Enter password: Test@123!
4. Click submit
5. Expected: Successful login
6. Actual: 500 server error"

5. Imposter Syndrome Is Normal (And You're Not Alone)

The Universal Developer Experience

I spent months thinking I'd be "found out" as a fraud who didn't belong in tech. Then I learned that even experienced developers feel this way. Imposter syndrome doesn't mean you're a fraud—it means you're pushing yourself to grow.

Signs You're Actually Doing Fine:

• You're learning something new every week
• Your code gets approved (even if it needs revisions)
• You're solving problems, even if it takes time
• Teammates trust you with tasks
• You're contributing to the team's goals

Strategies That Helped Me:

1. Keep a "wins" document: Write down every achievement, no matter how small
2. Compare yourself to past you: Not to others
3. Remember: Everyone's learning curve is different
4. Talk about it: You'll find you're not alone
5. Celebrate progress: Even small victories count

// Week 1: This was hard
function fetchData() {
  // Struggled for hours with async/await
}

// Week 10: This became second nature
async function fetchData() {
  try {
    const response = await fetch(API_URL);
    const data = await response.json();
    return data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to fetch:', error);
  }
}

Conclusion

Your first developer job is a learning experience in itself. These five lessons—embracing not knowing everything, valuing code reviews, mastering version control, communicating effectively, and overcoming imposter syndrome—transformed my approach to development.

Remember: every senior developer was once in your shoes. The difference isn't talent—it's time, persistence, and a willingness to learn. Be patient with yourself, stay curious, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Your journey is just beginning, and that's exciting!

Final Thoughts

What would you add to this list? Every developer's journey is unique, and your experiences will shape your own lessons learned. The important thing is to keep learning, stay humble, and remember that making mistakes is part of the process.

Welcome to the wonderful world of professional development! 🚀