I got my first Job, Any suggestions on how to improve from here?
Posted by dark2132@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 6 comments
Hey Everyone! I got my first software engineer intern at Mr. Cooper and i got it via campus recruitment. I still have 3 months time for my internship as i am still in my 3rd year. I just want advices or tips on how to improve and upskill myself from here as i am planning to become a Senior Software Engineer in 2-3 years. Is it achievable? and if it is then how do i do it? I can't quite figure it out myself as i don't have connections in the industry and every blog or video only covers how to get a job.
Thank You.
kschang@reddit
Be ready to UNLEARN all the bad habits you learned in college. Corporate programming is VERY different. You need to actively query users to figure out what they want, and what they want may be quite DIFFERENT than what they SAY they want.
Write down EVERYTHING, ask and ask and ask until you get exactly what they said they want. Record them, even. If you don't understand, go back and ask again. Mock up some UI, make a demo of each screen, VERIFY again that's what they wanted, THEN finally put up a prototype, get a confirmation from your boss before starting on the actual programming.
dark2132@reddit (OP)
Can i do something now, before the internship starts to become a better developer?
kschang@reddit
Study business cases, and how they are solved, bone up on the fundamentals (DSA, etc) but the idea basically is you will be learning a lot "on the job", and you will learn that you knew NOTHING. Bone up on some SOFT skills (how to figure out what users REALLY meant, i.e. if they say A, they really mean B), story-boarding (draw the UI), and so on. You may end up doing some IT work before you get to do programming.
Wingedchestnut@reddit
That depends on the company you work for, but for majority of companies 3 years will not be enough for senior position.
You simply need work experience and ask feedback from your seniors and managers etc. Not sure why you're in a rush, especially if you're a consultant it can be harder to get projects the more experience you have.
dark2132@reddit (OP)
It is just a goal that i have set for myself, to become a senior developer before 26, go remote, have a family and a farm and settle down.
hux-EmergiMentors@reddit
Since you have time before starting, focus on strengthening your fundamentals - DSA, system design, and a tech stack you're interested in. Try contributing to open-source projects and building side projects for hands-on experience.
Get free mentorship sessions on platforms like Emergi Mentors or ADPList or by connecting with senior engineers on LinkedIn. Learning from experienced professionals can give you insights beyond just technical skills. Fast-tracking to Senior in 2-3 years is ambitious but doable if you consistently make high impact contributions. Best of luck