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Discussion on: It's ok not to know everything

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lawrencejohnson profile image
Lawrence

I've been in charge of hiring as either a lead developer, tech director, or company owner for about 15 years. The value of a developer is in their ability to learn and figure out new technology, not what they already know. When applying for jobs, if you can demonstrate your ability to learn and show your confidence in it, you will have a competing chance for the position. So, when asked to discuss projects you've done in the past, try to highlight ones where you were presented with new technology and how you overcame the challenge of learning it. We listen for things like how resourceful you were on your own versus whether or not you needed someone to teach you.

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lawrencejohnson profile image
Lawrence

Be warned though, do not confuse resourcefulness with stubbornly ignoring advice or guidelines of seniors. No one wants a rogue developer who doesn't leverage their team for technologies that are already learned or in use within the company.