Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:
In week 4, you'll have a job experience activity with employers. The next two prompts are designed to help you both prepare and reflect on that experience:
- Prepare for Job Experience: AEIOU
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Activities: what questions do you have about the activities that a software developer does on a daily basis? Generally I'd just like to know what their daily schedule looks like, and how often they actually work, is this work outside of the normal working hours? Or when they leave the office is their work done?
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Environment: what questions do you have about the overall environment and culture of this workplace?
I'd like to know how easy it is for them to ask questions and what the culture is like. Does everyone work as a team? Or is it more working on your own?
- Interactions: what questions do you have about the team at this company? What do you hope to learn during this experience?
I'd love to know how large the team is and how it's broken up if it even is. I hope to get a better understanding what a 'normal' day in life of software developer looks like.
- Objects: what questions do you have about the code or the product?
I'd like to know when the code or product is 'finished'. Does it get tested? What are the deadlines like?
- Users: what questions do you have about how the company interacts with their users?
I wonder if there is any empathy towards design a product for those with less accessibility? If so when is accessibility taken into account, is it at the end? During the process?
- After the Job Experience, reflect on the same questions; what are your takeaways from the activity?
- Activities: what was engaging to the person/people you met with?
It was reassuring to see someone who was self-taught, and had no formal computer science education be so proficient at software development. This was encouraging to see, and made me feel like that with time and practice I might actually be able to become a software engineer.
- Environment: what did you notice about how they talked about the culture and environment of this company?
They really emphasized how great their work culture and environment was, and how previous jobs that he had it wasn't the case. He really made a case for how working for the right person can make a huge difference, and how if you respect your boss, you can be motivated to work harder.
- Interactions: what did you notice about your interactions with this person/people?
That he shared a lot of the same values that I do, and I hope to one day work for a company that is simialr to Turbine labs.
- Objects: what did you learn about their approach to code and/or product development?
That pseudo coding and whiteboarding are a huge tool used in his everyday life for planning. Problems are broken down into smaller problems and lots of the planning is done beforehand before coding implementation.
- Users: what did you learn about their approach to their users?
I was surprised to see such an emphasis on accessibility for all. He didn't really go into the details about the app that they created, but in terms of the app design, their was a strong emphasis on accessibility and making the user experience simple and straightforward.
- What are your main takeaways from the shadow? How will you use this information to help you with your job search strategy?
My main takeaways are that culture and the work environment and a crucial part about the job. Also that planning before jumping into a problem will save time in the long run. Also that the learning process never stops, and I will continue to learn new concepts and languages throughout my time as a software developer.
Ideas below are adapted from Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Assess your habits from week 3: how did you spend your time this past week? What was effective in your habits? What could be more effective? What steps will you take to make that happen?
I did a much better job with time management, and scheduling my time to work on certain things, such as project time, JSFun, and pre-learning lessons. I found it very effective to time block my schedule so I had specific times in my schedule to work on certain things. I could have done this more effectively by planning my day/week out in advance. Some days I wasn't sure how my schedule would work so I would block time off in the moment. I need to do a better job of time blocking in advance to help keep myself on track.
- Implement a reiforcement strategy: to make one of your habits more satisfying, what is a reward you can give yourself immediately after completing the habit? How will this reward encourage you to continue completing that habit?
After I complete an hour of JSFun/IronFE practice, then I will eat breakfast and have a second cup of coffee. Breakfast and coffee will be my reward for completing that habit.
- "Don't Break the Chain": Use a habit tracker
- What is a habit that you want to make sure to do every day? How could you visually cue yourself to complete it (i.e., moving a paper clip)? How can you visually track it each time you've completed it? Could you automate the tracking? How will you do that?
I want to go for a small walk everyday during my lunchtime period. To visually track this I can place my shoes/boots on the ground near my front door in the morning, and if I go for a walk, put my shoes back on the shoe rack. Then replace my shoes in front of the door each morning.
- Need help? Check out one of these habit tracking apps
- How to get back on track when missing a habit: if you miss a day or two of completing your habit, how will you get yourself going again?
Rather than getting down on myself for missing a habit, I need to take that energy to refocus and try restarting the habit the next time. Also set up a reward system for completing a habit, so I'm more successful about my habits.
- Pick an accountability partner (your cohort accountabilibuddy, your mentor, a close friend, etc.) and create a habit contract with them. How often will you check in with each other? How will they hold you accountable?
Every week or even more frequently I'll check in with my cohort accountabilibuddy to access how our progress is going with keeping up with our habits. In these meetings we will provide feedback on how best to continue or habits and offer solutions or tips on how to get back on track!