Before we dive into the activities I undertook in 2024, let's take a step back and revisit the resolutions I set for myself in 2023. 🔄 I had been working with my first company for 2.6 years, a place I joined right after graduation. This journey taught me a lot about collaboration, adapting to new trends, and continuous learning. 🎓💼
Working with a company for such a long period, you naturally form personal connections with your team members. This makes the decision to leave quite challenging. However, I realized that growth often requires change, be it in terms of salary or work culture. So, I made a resolution in 2023 to find a new job by the end of the year. 💡🎯
Yes, you heard it right! Even though I work in tech, changing jobs required me to hit the books again. I had to brush up on data structures, system design, and solve machine coding puzzles. So, I began my prep, solving questions on platforms like CodeChef, GeeksforGeeks, LeetCode, and reading through various system design articles. 📚💻
Simultaneously, I started applying for jobs and attending interviews. Although the rate of receiving interview calls was only 20%, I remained undeterred. I knew that every 'no' was one step closer to the 'yes' I was working towards.
Initially, I stumbled and fell at every interview I attended. It was disheartening, to say the least. 😔 The failures bred self-doubt, making me question my abilities. After all, how could someone who had worked on production-level apps for 2.5 years fail? What was I doing wrong? 🤔
However, after the initial few interviews, I decided to turn my failures into lessons. I started maintaining notes on the areas that needed improvement. These notes were a reflection of my shortcomings in the interviews. 📝💡
These notes turned out to be a game-changer! They helped me identify my weak spots and work on them. With every interview, I was learning, growing, and inching closer to my goal. And sure enough, after a few more interviews, I managed to crack a few companies! 🎉💼
Finally, I decided to go with the company I'm currently with. It was a journey filled with ups and downs, but every stumble was worth it. So here's to embracing failures, learning from them, and turning them into stepping stones towards success! 🚀🌟
With a few months left before joining the new company, and after the whirlwind of job-switching hustle, I decided it was time for a breather. 🍃 So, I packed my bags and set off on a trekking adventure with my ex-manager. 🎒👟
The experience was nothing short of surreal. 🏞️ Being amidst nature, away from the chaos of the city, felt like a balm to my soul. Every step I took, every trail I followed, brought a sense of calm that's hard to find in our everyday lives. 🌳🌲
The rustling leaves, the chirping birds, the cool breeze - it was a symphony of nature that played the perfect background score to our adventure. 🍂🐦🌬️
After a rejuvenating 10-day trip, it was time to get back to the grind and kickstart the onboarding process at my new company. 📝💼 With a new company comes new tools to learn, and this time it was TypeScript. Having worked with JavaScript for two years, picking up TypeScript was a breeze for me. 💻🚀
Upon joining, I was assigned a project that required me to learn the AntD Design system. This was a new territory for me, and I had to learn it on the go while implementing it on the frontend. 🎨🖥️
I dove right in, and with time and the guidance of senior engineers, I gained a good grasp of AntD. In this project, I also got the opportunity to work with monorepos and follow atomic design principles for a scalable frontend architecture. 🧩🔬
Every day brought new learnings and challenges, but with each one, I grew not just as a professional but also as an individual. So here's to embracing new tools, learning on the go, and turning challenges into opportunities for growth! 🌱🌟
In the past, I had worked with startups, where the approach to project management was quite unconventional. However, in my new role, we used more structured tools like JIRA for task management and Sentry for alerting. 📋🔔
Working with these tools not only streamlined our processes but also significantly boosted our productivity. 🚀💼 It made tackling issues easier and more efficient, allowing us to focus on what truly mattered - creating and innovating. 💡🎯
Lately, I've also incorporated AI tools into my workflows. I've been using Cursor for writing code, Claude for resolving tech doubts, and GPT for proofreading and copywriting. 🖥️🤖
Being passionate about writing, I've also managed to secure 2-3 paid gigs for tech writing. 📝💰 A big shout-out to the dev.to platform for providing such opportunities! 🙌🎉
Over time, I've come to realize the importance of extending our software services by building a SaaS product. 🌐💻 Building a successful SaaS requires understanding and knowing your audience. To achieve this, I've embarked on a journey of personal branding. 🚀🎯
I've secured a domain name for my portfolio site, created an Instagram page dedicated to tech content, and started posting regularly on LinkedIn and Twitter. 🌐📸💼
I built a SaaS product, and although it didn't work out as planned, the journey was filled with invaluable lessons. 📚💡
In my current organization, we have a book club that has encouraged me to delve into the world of books. 📚💡 I took this path and ordered a few from a long list of recommendations.
As we step into 2025, let's make it a year of enriching our minds with more books, 📚 rejuvenating our souls with more trips, 🌍 giving our dreams another shot with more SaaS ventures, 💻 and focusing on real connections by spending less time on social media. 📵 Here's to a year of growth, exploration, and mindful living! 🌟🚀 Let's make every moment count! 💫
So, there you have it - my 2024 wrapped up! 🎁🎉 A year full of ups and downs, but with plenty of moments to cherish at the top.
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