Ask HN: Why not more hiring of junior devs, then on-the-job-training?

Re:Ask HN: Why not more hiring of junior devs, then on-the-j... by seniorsassycat on Thursday November 22, 2018 @12:38AM (#18508090)

I owe my career to on the job training. My first programming job was at a small shop in New Jersey. Their interview had me write a loop, not even fizzbuzz. They asked if I knew JavaScript, Ruby, css, HTML, or SQL, I said no for all of them. They hired me ("at least you haven't learned bad habits") taught me rails, git and about as much about software development as I learned finishing college. I took the job summer after freshman year and worked every summer till after junior year when I interned at Amazon.

Showing up at Amazon felt like starting over again, I had so much to learn.

I think those experiences formed my attitude, I spend a lot of time learning new things at work, because I've always learned at work.

I think I'm good at my job, I just got promoted to senior engineer, and I attribute it all to my first job being willing teaching me.

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Re:Ask HN: Why not more hiring of junior devs, then on-the-j... by gigatexal on Thursday November 22, 2018 @12:41AM (#18508102)

Me too. I was a know-nothing kid from off the street with a newly minted economics degree. And I learned SQL as a Junior DBA and now I’m a Senior Python developer at a startup in Germany. Tutoring from senior level coworkers and home study is how I got to where I’m at. I try to give back where I can too!

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Re:Ask HN: Why not more hiring of junior devs, then on-the-j... by myrloc on Thursday November 22, 2018 @01:18AM (#18508239)

Curious - are you in Germany on a visa?

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Re:Ask HN: Why not more hiring of junior devs, then on-the-j... by gigatexal on Thursday November 22, 2018 @02:04AM (#18508388)

I have a residency permit aka a Bleue Karte - which is tied to my employer. I have to maintain a job and it has to pay above 50k euros but it’s good for 5 years.

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Re:Ask HN: Why not more hiring of junior devs, then on-the-j... by locklock on Thursday November 22, 2018 @05:59AM (#18509238)

I don't think German Blue Cards are tied to a specific employer. As far as I know you only have to let the authority know if you change jobs less than a year after getting the card, and beyond that you just need to make above the money limit and you can work anywhere.

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Re:Ask HN: Why not more hiring of junior devs, then on-the-j... by gigatexal on Thursday November 22, 2018 @12:42PM (#18511316)

I had to when I changed jobs change it into the name of my new employer. But that was probably because I changed jobs before a year.

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Re:Ask HN: Why not more hiring of junior devs, then on-the-j... by sethherr on Thursday November 22, 2018 @12:44AM (#18508114)

I agree with this experience, I learned everything I know on the job.

I don’t hire any developer unless they can demonstrate they’re willing and able to deliver business value. Junior devs have a harder time demonstrating this ability.

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