Totally agree! I think you articulated some rock solid points like "learning to learn web dev" and how it's hard for mid level devs to learn more (I am definitely not mid level -- ...yet -- but can totally relate to the difficulty of leveling up).
I guess the tried and true way of learning is just to code, build, code side projects, but ugh burnout is too real sometimes.
Do you find that having senior developers around you often helps a lot? Any thoughts on mentorship in general?
I am a developer at The Washington Post and I help build newsroom facing tools. I also am the Chair of the DC chapter of ACM and produce a podcast called DC Tech Stories.
I have been SO lucky to have multiple people who have served as mentors - right now I have two amazing senior devs, Andrew Frye and Thomas Lincoln. They are always happy to hep me with ANY issue. One thing I ask of them it to always contextualize the problem they are solving so I can learn to to it myself next time. When I first started out I had an specific mentor - Mitchell Shelton, he was so important to teaching me HOW to be a good mentee - ask direct questions, never lie when you're lost, and never let them 'do it for you'. On top of that my partner is a techie with a CS degree so I get an on demand resource whenever I want (#loveYouBabe). Asking for help, coming with an open mind, and leaving your ego at the door - these things make me a good mentee which I believe helps people want to help me (Plus I'm funny hah)
I am a developer at The Washington Post and I help build newsroom facing tools. I also am the Chair of the DC chapter of ACM and produce a podcast called DC Tech Stories.
Totally agree! I think you articulated some rock solid points like "learning to learn web dev" and how it's hard for mid level devs to learn more (I am definitely not mid level -- ...yet -- but can totally relate to the difficulty of leveling up).
I guess the tried and true way of learning is just to code, build, code side projects, but ugh burnout is too real sometimes.
Do you find that having senior developers around you often helps a lot? Any thoughts on mentorship in general?
I have been SO lucky to have multiple people who have served as mentors - right now I have two amazing senior devs, Andrew Frye and Thomas Lincoln. They are always happy to hep me with ANY issue. One thing I ask of them it to always contextualize the problem they are solving so I can learn to to it myself next time. When I first started out I had an specific mentor - Mitchell Shelton, he was so important to teaching me HOW to be a good mentee - ask direct questions, never lie when you're lost, and never let them 'do it for you'. On top of that my partner is a techie with a CS degree so I get an on demand resource whenever I want (#loveYouBabe). Asking for help, coming with an open mind, and leaving your ego at the door - these things make me a good mentee which I believe helps people want to help me (Plus I'm funny hah)
Hah humor helps 🙃
Great points about being a mentee. Oooooh do I have a lot to learn...
Also, having an on demand resource is so damn helpful! That's great that your partner is available and willing.
We're life partners for that and many other reasons :P shout out to my boo!!