4 ms·

It's actually harder for Junior developers to just leave. Until you have 2-3 years experience under your belt, you're just not that attractive to employers; and

It's actually harder for Junior developers to just leave. Until you have 2-3 years experience under your belt, you're just not that attractive to employers; and your competition for those lower-level positions is fierce.

hn_throwaway_99 5y ago
> Until you have 2-3 years experience under your belt, you're just not that attractive to employers; and your competition for those lower-level positions is fierce. I don't agree, especially in today's market where I see companies snapping up junior level devs that can actually code. And importantly, if you're working in a place where you are getting 0 mentorship and/or growth opportunities, it is all a net negative for you in any case.
- gregoriol 5y ago
  Junior dev out of school maybe be more valuable for those companies than junior dev with a few months experience: the first one will more likely accept things than the other one, plus a first experience that ended shortly may not look very positive to a recruiter
- MattGaiser 5y ago
  You need at least a minimal amount of experience for that though. It took me a couple months to find a not crap junior job out of school. Just three months of experience made it so that recruiters barraged my LinkedIn.
- dehrmann 5y ago
  It got a lot easier for me to find new jobs after my resume was two jobs I held for three years. The tech job market also got a lot hotter around then, but hearing how hard it is to break into the industry, those six years really make a difference.
indymike 5y ago
I have no problem hiring junior developers if they are coming off a short stay with an employer. Honestly, junior employees are not very good at picking an employer, and there are lots of employers that are just horrible. Treat every candidate like they might just be your next hire... until it is clear they are not. And even then, treat them with courtesy, respect and dignity... after all referrals are a thing.
brundolf 5y ago
In 2014 I had four competing offers before I even graduated. I was coming from a mid-tier school with a just-okay GPA. And my impression is that things have only gotten more lucrative in the years since
- therealdrag0 5y ago
  Similar era and state school and I had a 3.99 gpa, and I only got 1 offer. Most companies are more thirsty for experienced devs.

hn_throwaway_99 5y ago

> Until you have 2-3 years experience under your belt, you're just not that attractive to employers; and your competition for those lower-level positions is fierce. I don't agree, especially in today's market where I see companies snapping up junior level devs that can actually code. And importantly, if you're working in a place where you are getting 0 mentorship and/or growth opportunities, it is all a net negative for you in any case.

gregoriol 5y ago
Junior dev out of school maybe be more valuable for those companies than junior dev with a few months experience: the first one will more likely accept things than the other one, plus a first experience that ended shortly may not look very positive to a recruiter
MattGaiser 5y ago
You need at least a minimal amount of experience for that though. It took me a couple months to find a not crap junior job out of school. Just three months of experience made it so that recruiters barraged my LinkedIn.
dehrmann 5y ago
It got a lot easier for me to find new jobs after my resume was two jobs I held for three years. The tech job market also got a lot hotter around then, but hearing how hard it is to break into the industry, those six years really make a difference.

indymike 5y ago

I have no problem hiring junior developers if they are coming off a short stay with an employer. Honestly, junior employees are not very good at picking an employer, and there are lots of employers that are just horrible. Treat every candidate like they might just be your next hire... until it is clear they are not. And even then, treat them with courtesy, respect and dignity... after all referrals are a thing.

brundolf 5y ago

In 2014 I had four competing offers before I even graduated. I was coming from a mid-tier school with a just-okay GPA. And my impression is that things have only gotten more lucrative in the years since

therealdrag0 5y ago
Similar era and state school and I had a 3.99 gpa, and I only got 1 offer. Most companies are more thirsty for experienced devs.