What is it like for an entry level developer?
im a junior CS major and starting to look for some internships/coops...
i am wondering how is it like to be an entry level developer? do they just give you a cubicle/desk/office and tell you "Here is what we are doing, start coding xx. If you have any questions, look at our documentation". Or do they sit down with you and explain things, and have a "mentor" so you can ask questions.
Just wondering...the whole thing sounds intimidating. Kinda like throwing you in the water so you can learn how to swim.
[528 byte] By [
messycan] at [2007-11-20 9:19:03]
# 1 Re: What is it like for an entry level developer?
im a junior CS major and starting to look for some internships/coops...
i am wondering how is it like to be an entry level developer? do they just give you a cubicle/desk/office and tell you "Here is what we are doing, start coding xx. If you have any questions, look at our documentation". Or do they sit down with you and explain things, and have a "mentor" so you can ask questions.
Just wondering...the whole thing sounds intimidating. Kinda like throwing you in the water so you can learn how to swim.
It really depends on where you "land". Both situations are quite common. (I have done both depending on how busy I am at the time an intern arives...)
The best thing (if possible) is to talk with someone who has already spent some time with a given internship.
# 2 Re: What is it like for an entry level developer?
Even if you are being "throw into water before you learn how to swim", most likely there is still some form of mentorship. Someone should be assigned as your mentor guiding you through your work. IMHO, the most important of all is learning how to research and asking smart questions.
Beside if the company happens to hire a lot number of new developers and depending on schedule, usually they will cater some knowledge-sharing sessions.
Kheun at 2007-11-9 13:03:05 >
# 3 Re: What is it like for an entry level developer?
Keep in mind that a few percentage of new employees on Probationary status are doomed to never make it at any given location. Doesn't stop them from becoming MVP's, though. May have even helped!
# 4 Re: What is it like for an entry level developer?
If you're lucky you'll start coding. If you're unlucky they'll give you a whole load of spaghetti code with no spec and you're supposed to maintain it. You are supposed to work out what the spec is by looking at the code and seeing what it does.
Although in reality they tend to give that job to the very expert programmer who has a chance of understanding the spaghetti code.
# 5 Re: What is it like for an entry level developer?
Prob depends on the companies needs and also what your bringing to the table.
For example: I'm a developer with a software company and we just hired an intern but are probably going to have him doing more testing type work than dev but that could always change at a drop of a hat if the workload shifts.
We would never throw him into a .net dev position w/o a Sr. person coaching him if he's never had exposure to it.
# 6 Re: What is it like for an entry level developer?
Even if they don't give you some trainings on the project domain (technology trainings less likely at some places, but still there's a chance) go and ask about it. If you have problems and you have tried hard enough not wasting much time then catch hold of one of the senior members and sit with them for sometime and ask questions on application framework etc etc. Some of them will become your good friends. It is a little nervy when going out for a job for the first time but it is not something to be afraid of. Good luck!
