How I Became a Software Developer (From a Junior Who Just Loved to Code)

When I first started learning to code, I didn’t have a clear roadmap or a perfect plan. I just knew one thing: I loved the vibe of creating things with code, even if it was just making a button change colors.

In the beginning, I spent countless hours struggling with basics. I broke things. Fixed them. Broke them again. And honestly? Most of the time, I loved it. That’s when I realized: loving the process is more important than rushing the results.

Fast forward — after building small projects, improving a little every day, and learning to trust the process — I passed my interview and officially became a Software Developer at a bank. 🏦

How I Passed the Interview (Real Tips)

  • Know your basics, really well. They didn’t throw crazy algorithms at me — they cared more about how solid my understanding of fundamentals was. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and basic backend concepts were key.

  • Be clear when explaining your thought process. When I got a coding question, I didn’t just jump into code. I explained how I would approach the problem first. (Even when I wasn’t 100% sure, thinking out loud helped a lot.)

  • Stay calm when you get stuck. During the technical part, there were moments I didn’t know the answer right away. I stayed calm, asked clarifying questions, and showed them how I think — not that I could magically know everything.

  • Build real projects before interviews. Having real projects to talk about gave me confidence. I could share real experiences like "When I built this, I faced this bug and solved it like this."

  • Show your passion. At the end of the day, they can feel if you genuinely enjoy coding. I didn’t pretend to be a know-it-all. I was honest about what I knew, excited about learning, and ready to grow.

My Tip: The Modern Tech Stack Roadmap 🛠️

If you're wondering what to learn to become job-ready, here’s a simple roadmap I followed (and still build on):

Frontend

  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript — strong fundamentals
  • React.js (and Next.js for fullstack apps)
  • Tailwind CSS for faster, beautiful UI
  • Bonus: Framer Motion (animations), Shadcn UI (modern components)

Backend

  • Node.js + Express.js (or NestJS for more structure)
  • Basic Authentication (JWTs, sessions)
  • MongoDB (easy to start with) or PostgreSQL

Version Control

  • Git and GitHub — daily commit practice, understand branching

Deployment

  • Learn to deploy using Vercel, Render, or Railway

Other Skills

  • TypeScript (strongly recommended!)
  • Understanding how to work with APIs (fetch, error handling)
  • Basic testing knowledge (optional but great)

Final Words

I’m still early in my career, but every step I take reminds me: It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being consistent, curious, and ready to grow.

If you’re starting your journey too: Trust the process. Build things. Break things. Fix them. Keep coding. Keep vibing. Big things are waiting for you. 🚀

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