Mistakes to avoid in your first job in Tech
Starting a career in Tech is an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its challenges. During your first job in Tech, balancing professional expectations, quickly learning new tools, and adapting to company culture can be overwhelming. It’s easy to make mistakes that could slow down your progress. Here are the key mistakes to avoid and practical tips to help you anticipate them effectively.
1. Not asking questions
🚫 Common Mistake: Many new employees are afraid to ask questions, fearing they will appear incompetent.
🔎 Example: A backend developer hesitates to ask for clarification about their company’s microservices architecture. Trying to figure it out alone, they end up implementing a solution that does not follow internal standards, causing bugs and project delays.
💡 Tip: Ask questions! Companies prefer employees who seek to understand and learn rather than those who move forward blindly.
2. Underestimating the importance of communication
🚫 Common Mistake: Working in isolation without updating colleagues on progress or challenges.
🔎 Example: A data analyst spends two weeks working on a report without checking the stakeholders’ needs. During the presentation, they realize that the report does not meet the internal client’s expectations.
💡 Tip: Hold regular check-ins with your team and ask for feedback to avoid misunderstandings.
3. Ignoring documentation and best practices
🚫 Common Mistake: Not reading the documentation or ignoring internal standards.
🔎 Example: A DevOps engineer deploys a script without checking the existing documentation. Their script unintentionally overwrites critical configurations, causing a major outage.
💡 Tip: Take the time to read your company’s documentation and follow the best practices already in place.
4. Not asking for feedback
🚫 Common Mistake: Thinking that if no one criticizes your work, it must be perfect.
🔎 Example: A UX designer presents an interface that seems intuitive to them, but users find it difficult to navigate. This could have been avoided by seeking early feedback.
💡 Tip: Regularly ask for feedback to improve your skills and deliver high-quality work.
5. Overloading your schedule
🚫 Common Mistake: Accepting too many tasks without organizing your work.
🔎 Example: A cloud engineer wants to perform well and accepts every task offered. They quickly become overwhelmed, make mistakes, and eventually burn out.
💡 Tip: Learn to prioritize your tasks and say no when necessary.
6. Not continuing to learn
🚫 Common Mistake: Thinking that what you learned in school is enough.
🔎 Example: A data engineer is proficient in SQL and Python but ignores new trends in big data. Within a few months, they realize their skills are already becoming outdated.
💡 Tip: Stay up to date by reading blogs, taking courses, and attending meetups.
7. Neglecting company culture
🚫 Common Mistake: Focusing only on technical skills without paying attention to company values and dynamics.
🔎 Example: A highly skilled software engineer ignores the company’s culture of feedback and transparency. As a result, they struggle to integrate and collaborate effectively with their team.
💡 Tip: Take the time to understand your company’s culture, participate in discussions, and adapt to the values of your work environment.
8. Not documenting your work
🚫 Common Mistake: Working on projects without leaving any documentation for colleagues.
🔎 Example: A frontend developer creates a complex component but does not write any documentation. When a teammate needs to modify it, they waste valuable time trying to understand how it works.
💡 Tip: Make it a habit to write documentation, even if it’s simple, to facilitate collaboration and ensure the longevity of your contributions.
Conclusion
Your first job in Tech is an intense learning phase. By avoiding these mistakes, you maximize your chances of success and rapid growth. Remember, adaptability, communication, and curiosity are essential assets. Best of luck in your career!
