Iris Classon
Iris Classon - In Love with Code

Stupid Question 79 (Öredev conference special): What are the top ten things I learned from talking to over 100 junior developers?

[To celebrate my first year of programming I will ask a ‘stupid’ questions daily on my blog for a year, to make sure I learn at least 365 new things during my second year as a developer]

These questions are from my session at Öredev 2012: Stupid questions and generation n00b: top ten intriguing things you should do

All the posts related to my session can be found here: Öredev related

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Based on the information I collected I suggest 10 things that we should all do:

1.Re-consider what experience is and how it should be measured, years just means that time passed and you were there, years is not the same as experience, and experience is not the same a knowledge and understanding.

2.Be aware of cognitive biases in yourself and others – we are incredible crap at assessing our own knowledge and skill level! The top will often place themselves at the bottom and the other way around.

3.Think about the effects of grouping and social categorization, it can lead to segregation and hinder personal and intellectual growth.

4.Find out what motivates your colleagues and employees- use the right type of motivation. When passion dies the project dies with it

5.Embrace curiosity – start asking questions. Curiosity is one of the main inner motivation factors!

6.Have a plan for interaction, make sure you pair up in a good way, use mentors, communication & collaboration is key

7.Don’t promote stereotyping – embrace diversity, always.

8.Do yourself, the world and your workplace a favor- promote computer science to women

9.Beware how the environment influences stereotyping and therefore becomes less attractive to those that don’t feel like they fit the stereotype.

10.Never forget that amazing feeling when you do what you thought you couldn’t do, even after pain, sweat and tears. The feeling of utter awesomeness!

Comments

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Tracy Sells
11/13/2012 8:14:42 PM
This is a great list.  I would add one item to it - and put it at the top (#1).  Listen. 


Last modified on 2012-11-10

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