Lessons I’ve Learned in My First Year Working in Tech

As of now, it’s been a little over a year since I first started working in tech. That fateful month, I’ve managed to hit some of my biggest goals – I’ve moved out and started working in the tech industry as a software engineer. Now, when I look back, I seem silly to myself for so many reasons. I was worried, anxious and shy all the time back then. Plus, I’ve learned so much in only this one simple year that I could write several books. So, I thought that it might be good if I shared my thoughts with other people so that I can maybe inspire more people to start a career in tech, give them some insight or help people find kindred spirits. 

Here are some of my insights:

You know more than you think

Many people say this a lot but it is true. People starting out in tech often have the imposter syndrome and they feel like they don’t know enough to work in tech. This is especially true if you are a woman trying to start a career in tech. When I first started out, I was so scared to make any changes to the code or to ask for more work. I was always scared that I will fail at something or that I will screw up. But, as I got more comfortable with my new workplace and my place in it, I took on some major parts with new features. There are many things that you need to ask for help with and some revisions to your code will be made but you can do it without major issues. After having that push, I felt more comfortable working and taking on projects I figured out that I can do it. 

You need to speak up 

Even if you consider yourself an introvert, you need to be comfortable talking with people and you need to communicate with others. Coming into a new job, you are going to be a little shy but you need to communicate as much as possible. Figure out the nuances of your team, learn what your role is and meet people a little bit. This is what I did and it was vital for me to absorb this information before you start to ask questions. But, eventually your input will bring value to the team. Remember that most of communication is, in fact, listening, so make sure you listen carefully. 

“Give ideas to your team, especially if you find them interesting. For a while, I was scared to do this as well because I thought that they won’t see me as worthy. But, they did and we actually discussed some of my ideas,” says Teresa Hadish, a project manager at Brit student and 1day2write.

There will be some know-it-alls

When you have an entry-level position it means that people will know more than you, especially when these people have been in that company longer or when they are in a position higher than you. Sometimes they can be your mentors as well, which is great. But there will be some know-it-alls too and it might bother you at times. Being in tech, I have noticed this as well and it starts even in college. Some people think they really know everything and this can quickly get old. 

“But you should come prepared for this and focus on what you know is best. They will try to make you feel like you don’t know anything but you should learn to ignore that,” says Stephanie Nataniel, a web developer at Writemyx and Next coursework.

More experience doesn’t mean that someone is right. Make sure that you listen to good advice but when you know that something is wrong, try to come up with your own solutions. 

Doing something else helps

Doing the same thing all day every day can become boring. At least I felt that way after a while. But what kept me refreshed and energized to work harder and work more is my other work. I liked to help people solve their problems. It made me a better coworker and helped my brain stay active. You can even find someone to mentor. Have a hobby related to your job to help you learn more. 

This has been a difficult year in all aspects but a great one as well. I would recommend that anyone interested in tech and with knowledge in tech should start working. It’s fun, challenging and you will learn a lot. 

Katrina Hatchett, a tech blogger at Academic Brits and writer for Origin Writings, is involved in many business projects. She enjoys identifying project problems and find solutions for these, and her goal is to improve the effectiveness of our communication. She also writes for PhD Kingdom blog.