How I Became a Layout Manager from a Junior Frontend Developer in Just 8 Months

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This is a submission for the 2025 Hacktoberfest Writing Challenge: Contribution Chronicles

How I Became a Layout Manager from a Junior Frontend Developer in Just 8 Months

Hi, I am Usman. I am a layout manager/core front end engineer at Growthrune.

My professional journey began in September 2024, when I joined an ERP company based in Dubai as a Junior React.js Engineer (yeah, my boss preferred calling us engineers, not developers 😄).

It was a remote role, and the product was a full-fledged ERP platform managing accounts, products, and statements — the usual enterprise stuff. Everything felt new to me: cross-team collaboration, code contributions, reviews, and working within a larger, structured product team.

The tech stack was React.js + Vite, and Mantine.dev for UI and tables. Later on we added Tanstack query and redux toolkit. I spent my first three months learning the ropes, sharpening my frontend skills, and truly understanding what it meant to contribute to a real-world product.

The Turning Point

Out of curiosity — not necessity — I started sending my CV around to see where I stood in the market. I wasn’t chasing a “better” job; I just wanted to gauge how far I had come.

Surprisingly, within three months, I got a call from another company — the one I currently work for. It was for the same position, React.js Component Developer, but this time, it was for an AI product.

And honestly… I couldn’t say no.

I joined the new company while still managing my previous role for a while. The tech stack here was initially React.js, Tailwind CSS, and Redux. But within a month, we made a major shift to Next.js, TypeScript, and TanStack Query.

At first, it was intimidating. I had never really worked with TypeScript or Next.js beyond the basics, and I wondered if I could keep up. But after a week or so of deep diving and consistent learning, I found my rhythm.

From Developer to Layout Manager

Within six months at my current company, I was promoted to Layout Manager, leading a swarm that included a designer, a backend engineer, and a couple of full-stack developers.

It was a huge shift — not just in title but in mindset. Suddenly, I was responsible for code ownership, reviews, testing, architecture, and team coordination. I wasn’t just writing code anymore; I was managing delivery and maintaining quality across the layout layer of our product.

Meanwhile, I officially resigned from my previous company. It wasn’t because of burnout or pressure — it was simply time to focus on one path. That company will always hold a special place for me; it gave me my first break, my first professional confidence, and my first team experience.

What I Learned

Looking back, the biggest lesson I learned is this: keep trying until you reach your destiny. Growth doesn’t come overnight — it’s a mix of effort, character, and faith in the process.