Life in Tech - for a beginner!

It will soon be a year since I graduated from my coding camp and entered the work force. If coding camp was tough, the real world had its own challenges (esp. since it was my re-entry into the tech field after almost two decades). I have to say though that the coding camp came pretty close to giving me a good feel for what’s in store at the real job. Learning new technologies on your own, reading documentation, figuring out a new API and using it, working with different personalities in a team, are a part of everyday life at the workplace.

When I first started working it was quite a challenge. Being in a somewhat startup like environment, things were volatile and being re-invented almost every day. Not much structure was in place and innovations were welcomed! I was a part of that process! And though it was exciting as new hire, it was also very intimidating. I was lost. There was so much to learn, so much I did not know. So many questions flooded my mind every second of the day – What do I start learning? Where do I begin? Will they think I am dumb? What if I am not able to deliver? Will I ever be able to come up to speed? Should I tell them that I don’t understand? How many times should I go ask questions? You get the idea – it was confusing and scary. The unknown, uncertain world of technology was unsettling. But as the months went by, it became a bit easier or should I say ‘less’ unsettling.

In the past few months, I have been asked many times by first time techies about my experience as a new software engineer. Every time I am asked that question, it gets me thinking.  I have begun to realize that I am enjoying my job more and more with every passing day. And as I look back at this past year these are a few things I have learnt –

1.    No one expects you to know your job on the very first day or the first week or even the first month in some cases. You are hired for a reason. You have something that they were looking for, which other candidates did not have. So know that you are valued.

2.    If you feel lost at work, you are not alone. Believe me, there are many others who feel the same way. You just don’t know that the person at the desk next to you may also be experiencing the same feelings as you. There were times in my first few months when suddenly someone who I thought had their act together, would talk about how stupid they felt about themselves and how scared they were.

3.    Quit judging yourself. Your mind plays with you in weird ways, especially when you are feeling low. So every time you start doubting yourself, ask your mind to shut up. Get out of your head and remind yourself of how far you’ve come and give yourself a pat on the back for that.

4.    Ask questions – there are no dumb questions. Remember, people are always willing to help. Everyone wants to see you succeed. But never forget to acknowledge any help you get. Appreciate them for helping. Do not take their help for granted.

5.    Get to know the whole picture. Find out how your job fits in the big puzzle. It will give you a better understanding of why your job is important and how you are helping the company achieve its vision.

6.    Learn the tech stack. Focus on learning something new every day. Sometimes it is easy to waste an entire day being stuck on something that you don’t understand. So instead of just blankly staring at the screen, keep a timer. Try to check with yourself every few hours. Every two hours ask yourself about how it is going. If need be, switch gears or go ask for help.

7.    Programming is an art, so be creative and be proud of your work. Just like in art there are multiple ways of doing the same thing. So even you are not using the best practices or best algorithms, be kind and forgiving with yourself. Over time and with practice, you too will grow your imagination and knowledge, and produce beautiful satisfying work.

8.     Attend meetups and tech gatherings. Take inspiration from the leaders in your field. Read about them, listen to their interviews. Fortunately, today we have so many meetups around us. These events give us an opportunity to meet fellow women and men in our field. Attend those meetups, introduce yourself to others and get to know them.

9.    For the women - There are so few women in tech that it is highly likely that you might be the only woman in the room during a meeting or conference. Be confident! Make yourself heard. Watching TED talks and listening to motivational women speakers really has helped me here. Once a speaker talked about the wonder woman pose, I have been using it before meetings or situations that I am scared to go into. Listening to these women has helped me get over my own fears and inhibitions. Almost all of them started where I did and paved their way forward. This gives me hope and inspires me to do the best I can. I know that I still have a long way to go but what I also know is that I have come a long way from where I started.

10. Last but not the least – GIVE YOURSELF TIME – be considerate to yourself – YOU ARE AWESOME – You just have to believe it!!