So I’m going into my final year of Uni, passed the first semester with distinction. Unfortunately had to defer for a couple years but kept up studying since.
My job ended due to the unexpected passing of my boss. It was a great gig, WFH, flexible hours and not great, but decent pay. Not programming, though.
I need money to get through the year - and honestly, I really don’t want to work at anything other than programming.
I’m not even that good. I know what SOLID principles & RESTful services are - but not really how to implement them. I’ve grinded a bit of leetcode and hackerrank and try my best to learn from the highest rated results only after finishing the assignment on my own. Can solve medium tier Q’s, badly and inefficiently.
I know some Java, but only vanilla. I’ve used python a bit more, but mostly due to all the API’s available for it. I know basic JS, HTML and CSS. I can set up a docker instance, but I haven’t delved into it because I need to better understand the permissions behind the container and how to secure that properly. I’ve used Apache Tomcat to serve some localhost projects, and also to host things on AWS freetier and maybe Azure too? Can’t remember. Built a DnD bot for a discord group of mine that’s easily scalable and has been running with no issues for over a year.
I understand multithreading, Async and anonymous functions. Still getting the hang of using the latter across all languages. Need to figure out specifically wtf Lambda is because I think I might be misunderstanding it. Or the things I’ve read are referring to two different things.
I know enough SQL to google what I need, but need more exp with Databases in general (design in particular).
I suck at writing tests. Working to get better with that - note to self; how to check code coverage of tests.
There’s definitely other things I’ve done, but I can’t think of anything RN.
Am I still too green to be applying to JR roles? Also what kind of roles are there for Jr Dev’s outside of webdev? Do I just search “Jr software developer” in job sites? (And on that note having done so, god there’s not really much out there right now. Are you still supposed to be a JR with 3+ years exp?!) Any advice (or constructive criticism!) is very welcome.
Thank you for your time, and best of luck with everything you’re up to. :)
You have a pretty solid skill for a JR, to be honest. Sometimes I work with a mid-senior one and they don’t know a single thing (well, a bit of exaggeration but they somehow “hacked” the system to get to that title).
Anyway, ignore the job requirements with 3+ years of Exp and apply anyway. Accept the first position that you feel “good enough” to gain practical experience. It will be your stepping stone to another job. Don’t think that your first company will be ever be your final company for 10 or more years.
Out of curiosity, on your first point about the mid-senior; do you think that’s nepotism, CHA skill or something else that allows them to get to that position without the skills to back it up?
Also for clarification on your second point; by good enough do you mean the job is good enough, or my own skillset?