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Discussion on: How can someone prepare for their first full-time software engineering job?

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Ben Halpern

Come prepared to ask a lot of good questions and help your managers fill in the onboarding gaps by pitching ways you can be helpful or areas that are interesting to you. The company is trying their best to onboard you, but it's a two-way street and anything you can do to take guidance well and demonstrate that you'll seek out the right work when there is any missing structure will seriously help.

Again, it's up to the company to get you rolling properly, but your role is not passive. Get engaged in it because nobody is ever quite organized enough to have you going properly and anything you can do will only help.

And lastly, I'll say: Be eager, but don't be in a hurry. Nobody expects you to be up to speed right away and don't feel you need to rush it. If you are eager, the pace will take care of itself. Don't feel like you need to know everything on day one.

And if something isn't clear, get help and offer to document the solution! I feel like this is sometimes the missing step. Newbies (either to the company or professional development in general) are often in the best position to provide good documentation because they are the ones who have the perspective to need it, and the energy to contribute however they can.