Junior programmers are entry-level software developers who help development teams with all aspects of software design and coding. The main task of a junior programmer is to learn the code base, write basic code, fix bugs, and collect user data.
Every company looks for different skills in junior developers. However, they usually need a general understanding of the tasks in a development project. They also must have knowledge of basic programming languages, the ability to quickly grasp new technologies, and the ability to work in a team environment.
Most of the younger programmers are people who have been in the field for 6 months to a year or a year and a half. So, they will need to support the design team as well as continually improving their own coding and programming skills.
What Is Seniority?
Seniority is a term that classifies the experience and knowledge of professionals in technical fields. This concept can be a bit vague or ambiguous because many companies classify employee seniority in different ways.
Some companies have metrics that determine the seniority of their associates, such as passing an exam or course in a certain technology, their years of experience with a certain tool, or recognized titles within the company.
It can also be defined in terms of more qualitative aspects, such as autonomy and the person’s ability to face tasks, emotional intelligence, leadership and knowing how to lead an entire work team.
Usually, the seniority levels are as follows:
Trainee: Graduates with no work experience can fit into this category. Some of their tasks will require supervision.
Junior: Programmers at this level have completed (or are about to complete) college education and are starting their careers. Typically less than two years of programming experience.
Semi-senior: Professionals at this level may have from 2 to 5 years of experience in professional practice. They are capable of managing themself and know how to appropriately use the available tools.
Senior: They usually have 6+ years of programming experience, can make decisions without supervision and train others.
What Does a Junior Programmer Do?
Every programmer needs to write code and the junior programmer is no exception. However, due to lack of experience, there are some tasks that they cannot perform and require supervision.
Some common tasks for a junior programmer in companies include:
- Assist programming managers or senior programmers. Higher levels of the company organization can assign them tasks that they can solve based on their knowledge.
- Promote the development process of the company. Although they have basic knowledge, being part of a team and getting involved in a project can give an opinion on the feasibility of implementing specific changes or improving certain small aspects.
- Ongoing training. A junior programmer has very little work experience, and it is part of their job, or should be, to train themselves to gain more knowledge to enable them to take on increasingly difficult or challenging tasks. In this sense, companies also have the obligation to provide them with tools for their professional development.
- Junior developers can also analyze user reports and suggestions to improve the project. for supervision. Some of the tasks in this profile may include continuous monitoring of programs and applications to identify problems and working with the team to find solutions.
- Design and define in code. Junior developers are constantly working to address project design and framework recommendations and translate them into code.
- Fix errors. Another common task for them is to take care of fixing bugs, updates, and improvements to apps or other software.
An Approach to the Profile of a Junior Programmer
To define the profile of a junior programmer, one must take into account the employee’s trajectory, the scope of the project in which he is working, knowledge and skills, etc. Another important aspect is the field in which they work and the tools they use.
For example, A Backend Jr. Developer has different knowledge and skills than A Frontend Jr. Developer.
However, this inexperienced profile has some distinctive aspects to take into account when hiring. They have more to do with their education and the way they progressed in their field of knowledge.
Knowledge
Knowledge of different programming languages is essential for junior developers. This diverse knowledge gives you a wide range of opportunities to specialize later.
There may be several programming languages that a Junior Developer might need to learn, and for different purposes. They will not need to fully learn every single one of them, but at least understand their syntax to be able to handle them better. Each language has its own terms, conditions, etc., but it is important to be able to use and manipulate them in an acceptable way.
It is not necessary to be an expert in five or ten programming languages, but you must manage or know three or four basic languages that will allow you to function in any work team, understand the tasks of your colleagues, and create solutions for the most basic ones.
Frameworks
Today, understanding frameworks helps development teams increase productivity, ease the development process, and reduce programming time. This aspect is essential for junior programmers, since the ability to adapt to new tools to work as a team is highly valued. They’re also part of the path you delve into, whether it’s a particular programming language or development field.
Professional Experience
Work experience should also be considered in this profile. As mentioned, this is not a profile that requires years of experience, but you usually need at least a couple as it will show you what to work on next.
True, time is not everything and a person can have the same knowledge as a person who has worked for three or four years in just one year or a little more.
However, it is an aspect that can be considered, which is why we present it here.
Specialize In a Field or Tool
A junior programmer may have knowledge of multiple domains, languages and tools, but it is important that over time they can specialize in one or two of them. Identifying your background in the industry can give you a clearer picture of your professional future, while in the company it allows you to position yourself as an important part of a team that supports a specific mission.
Junior Programmer Skills
Amateur developers should be able to look for alternatives and use techniques that make the programming process easier. Today, there are many tools that allow you to schedule and troubleshoot more efficiently.
Error or error analysis is an important part of programming. There will always be errors in the development process due to human reasons or tool compatibility, so a junior developer should work and improve this skill with more experience.
To begin with, getting job training is a daily task. Whether or not you make mistakes is up to you, but being able to follow instructions and constructive advice is part of a good career. There is always something new to learn, especially in this ever-changing industry, so this skill is essential.
Junior developers work in teams and under the supervision of other more experienced programmers. This profile values the ability to adapt to the personalities of colleagues and the work environment in general.
Constantly improving your skills and learning and increasing your productivity is easier when you work as a team.
You also have a better chance of controlling potential errors or opportunities, and reducing production costs. All this is possible using a method designed primarily for technical work. Each has its own characteristics, and team leaders can choose which one to use based on the needs of the team and the specific project.
Career Planning for Junior Programmer
Junior developers can choose from several alternatives to learn and work in this field. One of the main directions is to obtain an engineering degree in information and communication technologies, computer systems, programming, etc. There are self-taught IT professionals looking for ways to learn through online courses, diplomas, digital schools, and more. While self-study is great for any developer, it’s also important to put that knowledge into practice.
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