Protect Your Time: Work Smarter, Not Harder
When you start a new job, it’s tempting to work endlessly to prove your worth:
- Fixing bugs rapidly
- Pushing countless merge/pull requests
- Hustling overtime for promotions and salary increases
But in reality, this often leads to burnout, more late-night work, and minimal pay raises (just 1–2% annually). Instead of grinding endlessly, follow this principle:
Interface IdayOfWork{
int Money writeKillerCode(me, const int hours=8);
}
Optimize Your Workday
- Limit your work to 8 hours—no more, no less.
- Write high-quality, well-documented code.
- Cultivate hobbies beyond coding. Side projects? Not necessary—focus on enjoying life.
- Detach from work outside of working hours.
If a company doesn’t respect this balance? Don’t join.
Speed Alone Won’t Make You a Better Developer
Quality Over Quantity
Consider these two types of developers:
- Dev1: Fixes bugs quickly but introduces new ones.
- Dev2: Fixes bugs thoroughly with proper testing, avoiding future issues.
Who do you think grows faster in their career?
🚀 Speed is valuable only when it doesn’t compromise quality.
The Harsh Reality of Bug Fixing
- No one tracks how many tickets you close.
- Management only cares about pending issues and deadlines.
- Introducing new bugs makes you a liability, not an asset.
Prioritize quality. Your reputation depends on it.
Focus on Impact, Not Just Output
Killing 100 Rabbits Won’t Make You a Lion
- Solving the same type of bug repeatedly? That’s not growth.
- A better approach: Fix 10 bugs across different domains (security, performance, data, etc.) instead of 100 in one area.
- If you can complete CRUD tasks in 2 hours instead of 2 days, challenge yourself with something more complex.
Growing as a developer means stepping out of your comfort zone.
Apply the Bloom Filter to Your Career
Filter Out Distractions, Focus on Growth
A Bloom Filter optimizes searches by filtering out irrelevant data. Apply the same logic to your career:
- Domain Knowledge: Invest time in universally applicable areas (authentication, payments, security, etc.).
- Skill Development: Prioritize skill sets over specific programming languages. Focus on security, performance, or system architecture instead.
🚀 Set yearly learning goals to align with your long-term career path.
Master System Architecture, Not Just Coding
Why System Knowledge Matters
Great developers don’t just code; they understand how systems work.
- Knowing Golang or Rust is useful, but these languages can be learned anytime.
- What sets senior developers apart? Understanding architecture quickly.
- In interviews, expect: “Do you understand how this product/service works?”
Actionable Steps
- Create flowcharts to map system architecture.
- Challenge design decisions to optimize workflows.
- Ask senior developers tough questions.
The better you understand the system, the faster you’ll grow.
Good Enough Is Good Enough
Avoid Premature Optimization
Once your code passes tests, move on.
- Don’t overcomplicate things by planning for future scenarios that may never happen.
- Instead, throw a
NotSupportedExceptionorNotImplementedExceptionand revisit if needed. - Follow the Boy Scout Rule: Leave the code cleaner than you found it.
🚀 Focus on efficiency, not unnecessary perfection.
Promotion: More Than Just Money and Title
Think Before You Climb the Ladder
Many developers ask:
- “How long until I get promoted?”
- “Will I be a senior developer in 2 years?”
Reality check: Promotion means more work and higher expectations.
What to Consider Before a Promotion
- What additional responsibilities come with the role?
- Are you prepared for team leadership, stakeholder management, and decision-making?
- Observe senior developers: What inefficiencies do they face? Can you optimize their workload?
Promotion is a career shift, not just a title upgrade. Make sure you’re ready before you step up.
Final Thoughts: Work Smart, Grow Fast
Your career is in your hands. Use these strategies to maximize growth, avoid pitfalls, and maintain work-life balance.
Thanks for reading! 🚀
