Blogging, Ahoy!

I’ve been putting off starting a blog for some time — with job searching and learning all the tools, frameworks, algorithms and interview skills required to get said job, it’s easy to put content writing aside.

That said, the first step is the hardest and I plan to fill this blog with interest pieces, projects I’m working on, challenges I come across, and explanations of concepts or tools that I myself found difficult to process — all with the aim of a) digging deeper, b) doing a better job explaining and talking about programming, and c) learning from teaching someone else/putting thought to paper.

A bit of background about myself — I’m a junior developer that went through Code Fellows, a programming bootcamp based in Seattle, specialising in the full-stack JavaScript development track. While I think Code Fellows exceeded my expectations and I had a wonderful time with the instructors and other students — I feel there is still a large gap in my knowledge of Computer Science fundamentals and even JavaScript fundamentals.

This is completely understandable — bootcamps are aimed to take you from zero knowledge to a “job ready” professional in X weeks (typically 14–20 weeks). For a while I struggled with these feelings of inadequacy — that I should know everything about JavaScript fundamentals, have OOP and functional programming concepts locked down, know my stack (MEAN) inside-out, have top-notch whiteboarding skills and still have time to sleep at night.

I took a long, deep breath and began talking to other devs and hiring managers. While they are looking for the best person to join their teams, they understand my background and experience, and they value my potential higher than what I can do at a whiteboard right there and then. I definitely think that’s the key that took my stress levels way down.

I am a junior developer that did 180 on my initial career path. While my skills should be taken at face value, this career transition and how far I’ve come within a year, proves I have a high capacity for learning and that I am incredibly passionate about what I do.

^ That is what I needed to believe. That is what I needed to own. Sure enough — I got a job offer at the next job I interviewed at.