I still remember the day I got my first developer job. It wasn’t a big company, not a fancy title — but for me, it meant everything. After months of learning, building small projects, and applying everywhere I could, I finally got a “yes.”
But here’s the thing: I don’t think I got hired just because my code worked. It was the little things — the stuff we usually ignore — that made the difference.
1. Understanding Beats Copy-Paste
Early on, I used to build things by copying code from tutorials and tweaking it until it worked. But when interviewers ask why you wrote something a certain way, or to explain how promises or async/await work — you can't fake it.
I made a habit of not just using code but understanding it deeply. If I couldn’t explain it in simple words, I didn’t really “know” it. That mindset helped me a lot in interviews and actual work.
2. Be Professional in Your Skills
Whatever your stack is — JavaScript, Python, React, Node, whatever — get really comfortable with it. The goal isn't just to use it, but to be professional with it.
That means:
- Writing clean code
- Knowing common patterns
- Understanding how things work behind the scenes
3. Write Code That Looks Good Too
One thing nobody told me: your code shouldn’t just work — it should look good.
Clean indentation, meaningful variable names, reusable functions, comments where needed.
When someone reads your code, they should be able to say, “Wow Man!”
Trust me, it matters — especially when you're working on a team.
4. The “Small Things” Add Up
We often focus on the big stuff — frameworks, APIs, etc. But in my experience, the small habits helped me stand out:
- Writing good commit messages
- Using keyboard shortcuts
- Organizing project folders
- Keeping a README updated
- Naming things clearly It shows attention to detail — and people notice that.
5. And Then There’s Typing Speed — My Secret Weapon
Now let me talk about something no one really talks about: typing speed.
Sounds small, right? Like a side thing? But honestly, it made a huge difference for me.
Whether I’m writing code, debugging, searching Stack Overflow, or chatting with my team — fast, accurate typing makes everything smoother. It helps you stay in the “flow” without breaking focus.
I used to ignore it too. But once I started practicing, it became second nature — and now I feel lost without it.
A Tool That Helped Me Improve (And Can Help You Too)
Improving typing speed is easier than ever. There are tons of tools online.
But one I personally use (and recommend) is this simple one:
Toolsyra’s WPM Typing Calculator
You can choose your level (Easy, Medium, Hard), and it shows your speed, accuracy, and mistakes. It’s not fancy — but it's practical and works well.
This tool really helped me build confidence and speed up my daily workflow.
Conclusion:
Getting a developer job isn’t just about learning syntax or completing a course.
It’s about:
- Understanding what you build
- Being professional with your skills
- Writing code that’s clean and readable
- Not ignoring the little things
- And yes, even improving your typing speed These small habits helped me — maybe they'll help you too. If you're working hard and still waiting for that first job… keep going. You’re closer than you think.
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