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Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.99,0:00:19.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,KATHERINE WU: OK. Cool. I'll guess I'll go\Nahead and get
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.17,0:00:20.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,started, then.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.92,0:00:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hi. And, thank you all so much for coming
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.15,0:00:27.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to my talk here. I'm K Wu, and I
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.83,0:00:30.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,started at New Relic just about eight months\Nago.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.93,0:00:34.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's my first developer job there. And\Nfor
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.22,0:00:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my talk today, I'm going to first give a
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.68,0:00:40.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bit more context around where I'm coming from\Nand
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.50,0:00:42.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my intentions for this talk.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.58,0:00:45.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll then dive into what I see as the
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.17,0:00:49.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,main challenges for being a junior developer,\Nand I'll
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.09,0:00:51.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,talk about my tactics for how to overcome\Nthese
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.29,0:00:51.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,challenges.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.91,0:00:54.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a lot that I want to cover,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.37,0:00:56.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but if you're taking notes and happen to miss
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.97,0:01:00.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something, I have written a post for the New
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.25,0:01:01.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Relic blog that went up this morning that\Nyou
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.92,0:01:04.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can reference. And I also have a link to
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.75,0:01:07.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my slides at the end.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.90,0:01:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So. How many people here are junior developers?\NOK.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.70,0:01:18.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Awesome. Cool. And how many people did something\Nelse
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.24,0:01:23.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,professionally before they worked as developers?\NNice. OK. So
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.82,0:01:27.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are like amongst our own people here, right.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.00,0:01:28.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Very cool.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.45,0:01:31.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For me, being a developer is probably, like,\Nthe
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.75,0:01:35.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fourth or fifth career I've had at this point.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.34,0:01:37.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's hard to keep track. Some of the other
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.24,0:01:39.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,jobs I've had in the past are things like
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.64,0:01:42.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,product specialist, tech support. I used to\Nwork in
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.67,0:01:44.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a biology research lab and I also did some
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.96,0:01:46.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,copy editing on the side.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.67,0:01:49.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the thing is, compared to people who have
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.76,0:01:53.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,been coding since they were kids, I am literally
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.78,0:01:57.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,decades behind. This makes me just feel like\NI
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.89,0:02:02.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have so much to catch up on. However, something
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.55,0:02:06.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've realized is that being a developer is\Nessentially
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.42,0:02:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about constantly learning new things. And\Nguess what? I'm
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.98,0:02:14.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pretty good at that. I'm really practiced\Nat it
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.07,0:02:16.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with picking up a new career and starting\Nover
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.62,0:02:21.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and over again. And so, despite what my parents
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.10,0:02:24.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,think, I like to think that my previous lack
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.09,0:02:27.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of direction is now an asset.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.63,0:02:31.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other thing I've realized over the last\Nfew
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.58,0:02:34.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,months is that a lot of it can actually
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.11,0:02:37.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have nothing to do with coding. If you spent
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.64,0:02:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of time doing something besides computer\Nscience,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.61,0:02:44.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that means you have more experience for all\Nof
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.34,0:02:47.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the non-coding portions, and that means you\Ncan leverage
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.86,0:02:51.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those skills from that experience to help\Nyour team
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.20,0:02:54.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while you get better at the technical aspects.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.03,0:02:59.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My thesis is that, just because you switch\Ncareers
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.18,0:03:03.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doesn't mean you're starting over entirely.\NAnd, in fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.07,0:03:06.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can still use those other skills that\Nyou
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.04,0:03:10.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have. You may already know the different tactics\NI'll
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.16,0:03:12.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be talking about today, so I hope I can
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.41,0:03:16.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prompt you to consider new angles and get\Nexcited
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.08,0:03:18.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to apply them as a junior developer.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.26,0:03:21.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There will be sections that are actually more\Ntargeted
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.23,0:03:24.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,towards mentors, but, if you have a mentor\Nbut
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.52,0:03:27.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he or she doesn't happen to be here today,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.20,0:03:28.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe you can bring some of these ideas back
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.96,0:03:31.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to them and discuss it.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.16,0:03:33.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For senior, any senior developers that might\Nbe in
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.32,0:03:35.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the audience, I hope to help you remember\Nwhat
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.76,0:03:38.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it feels like to be on that junior side
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.93,0:03:41.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the mentoring relationship, and think about\Nways that
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.94,0:03:44.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can help your proteges feel valued in\Na
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.96,0:03:49.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very concrete kind of way.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.43,0:03:51.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think there are two big reasons for why
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.56,0:03:57.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's hard to be a junior developer. First,\Nthere's
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.31,0:03:59.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a ridiculous amount to learn. How many people\Nfeel
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.59,0:04:05.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like that? Yeah. Like, pretty much everyone\Nhere. Cool.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.00,0:04:07.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Second, I think it's also really hard to know
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.88,0:04:10.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how you can help your team and not just
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.87,0:04:16.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feel like this helpless little baby bird here.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.00,0:04:18.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll talk a little bit about these challenges\Nand
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.59,0:04:21.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how to handle each of them in turn.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.53,0:04:26.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My three step, fool-proof plan to tackling\Nthe fact
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.34,0:04:29.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there's a ridiculous amount to learn,\Nis really
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.16,0:04:31.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all about not trying to do it all just
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.79,0:04:34.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on your own.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.65,0:04:36.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Getting people to want to help you in the
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.30,0:04:38.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,first place can be a little bit of a
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.29,0:04:41.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hurdle sometimes, depending on how supportive\Nan environment you
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.85,0:04:44.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,happen to be in. I've been really lucky at
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.50,0:04:46.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,New Relic. But I think there are always things
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.90,0:04:48.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you can do even if you feel a
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.100,0:04:50.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bit more isolated.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.20,0:04:53.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People, fundamentally, just aren't all that\Ndifferent wherever you
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.55,0:04:58.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,go. A lot of this boils down to so-called
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.55,0:05:02.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,building relationships. But I prefer to think\Nabout it
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.30,0:05:05.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as really just getting to know people and\Nmaking
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.45,0:05:10.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,friends. Because, of course, friendship is\Nmagic.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.77,0:05:14.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I personally find this pretty hard, because\NI'm actually
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.84,0:05:18.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a pretty strong introvert. I fully expect\Nto spend
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.84,0:05:21.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most of tonight, like, huddled in a ball,\Nlike,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.90,0:05:26.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to recover from today. But, you know,\Nthe
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.05,0:05:27.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thing is, a lot of developers, by and large,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.92,0:05:31.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are also pretty introverted as well. And so\Nsometimes
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.10,0:05:32.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it can be hard to try to get the
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.77,0:05:36.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,conversation going. You know, even if you,\Nyou know,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.24,0:05:38.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both really want to connect.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.20,0:05:41.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Luckily, at my last job, I worked with PM
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.47,0:05:46.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and engineering and came up with a few hacks.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.13,0:05:48.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I do is I try and pay attention
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.85,0:05:51.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to, to try to remember small details that\Npeople
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.72,0:05:55.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have told me. Especially about their lives\Noutside of
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.13,0:05:58.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,work. Sometimes it's actually even easier\Nfor me to
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.18,0:06:02.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remember these details than peoples' names.\NBut usually people
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.69,0:06:05.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are pretty forgiving once I tell them, I do
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.66,0:06:09.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually remember talking to them for like\Ntwo hours
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.24,0:06:13.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about their love for, like, antique banjo\Ncollecting or
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.73,0:06:16.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.30,0:06:18.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This makes for much better conversations than\Nyour typical
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.54,0:06:24.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,small talk. Another really dorky thing that\NI do,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.10,0:06:28.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that I actually sometimes mentally prepare\Nstories to
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.35,0:06:32.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get a conversation going. Like, right after\Na weekend,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.20,0:06:35.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll try to think of something interesting\Nor odd
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.01,0:06:37.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I did, so that I'll have a non-generic
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.57,0:06:40.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,answer ready for when someone asks, how was\Nyour
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.85,0:06:42.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,weekend?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.11,0:06:44.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Otherwise I just kind of freeze up and just
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.76,0:06:47.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,say, oh, good, which is kind of a boring
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.37,0:06:50.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,answer and doesn't really get conversations\Nstarted. Does anybody
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.59,0:06:55.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,else have that knee-jerk reaction sometimes?\NYeah. Totally.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.25,0:06:58.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, with a story to tell, what I find
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.69,0:07:01.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that this can then prompt questions and\Nget
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.48,0:07:04.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some back and forth started, which breaks\Nthrough any
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.73,0:07:06.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,awkwardness there might be.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.43,0:07:11.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Helping break through awkwardness is also\Nsomething that mentors
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.67,0:07:14.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can do a lot to help with. Mentors are
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.24,0:07:18.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,really great for guiding newbies around team\Nculture and
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.05,0:07:22.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,history. They can help make introductions\Nand give advice
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.61,0:07:25.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on how to approach other people. Like, what\Nthe
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.32,0:07:27.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two of you may have in common, or who's
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.92,0:07:31.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a good person to ask about what.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.05,0:07:34.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, I think that if your company has a
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.48,0:07:38.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,support team, you should definitely make some\Ngood friends
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.15,0:07:41.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there. Support tends to be a little bit chronically
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.91,0:07:45.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,undervalued, but they probably know way more\Nabout the
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.14,0:07:47.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,products than you do. And if you think about
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.66,0:07:51.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it, they're very practised at explaining the\Nproduct to
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.85,0:07:53.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,newbies like your fellow customers.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.84,0:07:56.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I worked in tech support, sometimes they\Nwould
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.62,0:08:00.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have engineers shadow us so that engineers\Ncould learn
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.34,0:08:03.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how the customers actually used our product,\Nand use
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.17,0:08:06.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it to inform design decisions that they might\Nhave.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.42,0:08:09.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I definitely always really preferred the\Nengineers that
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.67,0:08:14.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were really eager to learn from me.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.19,0:08:16.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another key component to getting people to\Nwant to
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.36,0:08:20.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,help you is to demonstrate the time that they're
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.25,0:08:23.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,taking. And so that you took a reasonable\Namount
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.71,0:08:25.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of time to get as far as you could
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.85,0:08:29.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on your own. Each time someone helps you,\Nyou'll
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.77,0:08:32.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be able to learn new tactics and push yourself
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.35,0:08:35.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just a little bit further before the next\Ntime
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.04,0:08:37.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have to ask a question again.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.82,0:08:39.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you do ask for help, you can also
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.68,0:08:43.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ask questions like, if you're busy, who else\Ncould
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.08,0:08:47.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I talk to about this? When someone does help
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.13,0:08:51.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you, you can always end with asking something\Nlike,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.22,0:08:52.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is there somewhere I could have found this\Nanswer
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.93,0:08:56.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on my own? And if the answer is no
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.24,0:08:58.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there isn't any good reason it doesn't\Nexist
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.37,0:09:01.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,already, you should add it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.14,0:09:04.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you do have someone's time, try and think
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.97,0:09:08.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of ways to sort of push out and extend
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.04,0:09:10.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what you're learning from them at that point\Nin
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.49,0:09:13.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,time. That way, you'll be equipped when a\Nvariation
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.36,0:09:16.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of that same question comes up again.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.91,0:09:20.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lastly, for getting people to want to help\Nyou,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.37,0:09:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something just as simple as showing your appreciation\Nreally
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.53,0:09:27.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,goes a long way. Great mentors and teachers\Nwould,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.18,0:09:30.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of course, probably do it regardless, but\NI just
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.69,0:09:34.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,think it never hurts to make people feel extra
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.26,0:09:38.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,good about doing something that helps you.\NMaking sure
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.78,0:09:40.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to notice when people have gone out of their
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.84,0:09:44.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,way to help you encourages more of that to
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.75,0:09:46.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.19,0:09:48.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're working somewhere that's big enough,\Nwhere not
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.62,0:09:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,everyone knows what everyone else is doing,\Nyou can
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.75,0:09:54.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also do things like, let peoples' managers\Nknow when
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.46,0:09:58.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they've been particularly helpful. Most managers\Nlike hearing good
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.72,0:10:01.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things about their reports, and most people\Nlike their
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.59,0:10:03.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,managers to now the good things they've done\Nfor
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.61,0:10:05.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the team. So it's just a nice thing to
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.63,0:10:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do all around. We've covered step one now\Nof
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.46,0:10:17.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,getting people to want to help you.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.65,0:10:19.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Step two is make it easy for them to
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.75,0:10:25.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,help. Help them help you. There are a few
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.29,0:10:29.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,different ways you can do this. I think actually
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.56,0:10:32.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that one of the hardest parts to learning\Nis
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.23,0:10:36.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just letting people see inside your head and\Nunderstand
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.44,0:10:38.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you're at right now. But this can be
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.89,0:10:42.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,really hard in a field like programming, where\Nsometimes
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.09,0:10:44.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you might not even have the vocabulary to\Nexpress
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.88,0:10:47.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what it is that you don't understand because\Nyou
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.90,0:10:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't understand it.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.24,0:10:52.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Great teachers can draw it out from you, even
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.02,0:10:55.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you're asking pretty vague questions.\NBut most people
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.19,0:10:59.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you work with probably aren't highly\Ntrained teachers.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.28,0:11:00.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there are ways that you can make it
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.71,0:11:03.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,easier for others to help you by articulating\Nthe
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.37,0:11:06.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,premises that you're working off of and the\Nlogic
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.38,0:11:09.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you're using, so that together, you can\Nnarrow
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.56,0:11:12.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down what it is that you don't understand\Nor
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.40,0:11:14.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are missing.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.42,0:11:17.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can say things like, you had me up
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.14,0:11:22.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until such and such a point, or I'm confused,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.53,0:11:25.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I thought you said this and then this,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.70,0:11:28.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it doesn't seem to lead to this point.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.59,0:11:34.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a good general format for describing\Nproblems
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.21,0:11:36.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you might have. Say what you're trying\Nto
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.77,0:11:39.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do and why, so that someone can jump in
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.75,0:11:42.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if that's not even actually the right goal\Nto
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.20,0:11:44.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be aiming for in the first place.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.63,0:11:48.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, describe your current problem and what\Nyou've tried
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.55,0:11:52.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,already. Sometimes people might jump in quickly\Nwith their
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.05,0:11:54.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,idea of what the answer to your question is
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.32,0:11:57.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,already, but I think it's still good to be
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.11,0:12:01.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prepared regardless. And if you're a mentor,\Njust consider
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.38,0:12:03.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you should check to make sure that you
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.25,0:12:06.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,understand the question before you go ahead\Nand answer
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.26,0:12:08.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.19,0:12:09.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I worked in tech support, the best clients
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.98,0:12:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually put all of this information up front\Nin
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.74,0:12:15.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their ticket, which saved us a ton of time
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.31,0:12:17.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the back and forth from just trying to
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.76,0:12:22.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even figure out what the question was.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.33,0:12:25.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Remember that just having the courage to say\NI
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.50,0:12:30.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't know is a strength. Exposing your own\Nignorance
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.10,0:12:34.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feels really scary. So I'm always practicing\Nactually saying
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.32,0:12:38.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things like, wait, I don't even know what\Nthat
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.42,0:12:40.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,words means. I say this all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.95,0:12:44.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if it's something that's vital to understanding\Nwhat
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.51,0:12:47.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people are talking about, the sooner I tell\Npeople
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.66,0:12:50.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't actually know what's going on, the\Nsooner
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.47,0:12:53.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can get to actually learning and working.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.92,0:12:57.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of all the advice I got when I started
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.67,0:13:01.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at New Relic, this one is my very favorite.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.11,0:13:04.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the best things that mentors can do
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.71,0:13:08.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when junior developers are confused is even\Njust validating
Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.52,0:13:11.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that feeling. Being honest, and saying, this\Nis confusing
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.77,0:13:16.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for me too. It always, without fail, makes\Nme
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.20,0:13:18.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feel better when someone I expect to know\Nthe
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.83,0:13:23.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,answer actually says they don't know it either.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.79,0:13:26.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then it becomes this team effort to figure
Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.20,0:13:28.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out how to get out of this hole of
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.07,0:13:32.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ignorance together. It's also cool because\Nwhen you work
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.13,0:13:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with someone that also doesn't know the answer,\Nyou'll
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.90,0:13:37.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,frequently learn new debugging techniques\Nthat you can apply
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.75,0:13:39.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yourself next time.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.90,0:13:43.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I want you to think back to the
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.67,0:13:50.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,last few times you asked someone for help.\NOK.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.28,0:13:56.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many of you, after you got help from
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.56,0:14:00.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone, heard something from them that was\Nlike, did
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.33,0:14:05.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that help? A few people. Yeah. I get this
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.47,0:14:07.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all the time. And I realized that this is
Dialogue: 0,0:14:07.93,0:14:11.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because most of us are really needy and want
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.62,0:14:15.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,validation. That's because, and so, my favorite\Nfeedback that
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.56,0:14:18.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I get from people is usually people telling\Nme
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.87,0:14:22.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they actually used any advice that I\Ngave
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.29,0:14:22.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,them.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.76,0:14:24.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when you tell people specifically what\Nit is
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.95,0:14:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they did that helped you, they'll know what\Nthey
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.28,0:14:32.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can do more of. For example, it really helped
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.03,0:14:34.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,me when you walked me through how to use
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.83,0:14:39.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these tools with this example. Or, it really\Nhelps
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.31,0:14:42.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,me to be the driver when we pair program,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.23,0:14:45.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I absorb more than when I'm just shadowing.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.36,0:14:49.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One way of looking at mentoring relationships\Nthat I
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.91,0:14:52.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,really like is from the book club that we
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.08,0:14:54.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had at New Relic when I first started called
Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.41,0:14:59.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Managers as Mentors. The idea there is that\Nmentoring
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.68,0:15:03.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,should not be about this traditional mindset\Nof a
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.03,0:15:08.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one-way transmission of information. And instead,\Nit's the mentor's
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.50,0:15:12.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,responsibility to create a safe environment\Nand remove any
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.67,0:15:16.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,barriers to learning, so that their mentees\Ncan speak
Dialogue: 0,0:15:16.27,0:15:19.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up about any fears they might have, and not
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.24,0:15:22.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be afraid of failing.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.33,0:15:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This way, they can learn a lot more and
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.00,0:15:26.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot faster.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.43,0:15:31.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know, for me, making the move from just
Dialogue: 0,0:15:31.20,0:15:34.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,working on my own projects that no one was
Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.20,0:15:38.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depending on to working on something that\Nactual people
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.74,0:15:43.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were paying us actual money for was pretty\Nterrifying.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:43.90,0:15:48.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sure, we have this idea of failing fast, but
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.56,0:15:50.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's so hard to apply it when you don't
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.56,0:15:52.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feel secure.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:52.62,0:15:55.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What helped me was all the support that I
Dialogue: 0,0:15:55.74,0:15:58.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,got from mentors sharing their stories about\Nhow they'd
Dialogue: 0,0:15:58.90,0:16:01.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,messed things up, too, and the idea that it's
Dialogue: 0,0:16:01.91,0:16:05.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not a matter of if you break production, but
Dialogue: 0,0:16:05.33,0:16:07.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.81,0:16:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when you do make mistakes, your team should
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.98,0:16:14.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have processes set up in place to make it
Dialogue: 0,0:16:14.02,0:16:16.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,easy to recover quickly and ways to try to
Dialogue: 0,0:16:16.79,0:16:20.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prevent that same mistake from happening again.\NIf none
Dialogue: 0,0:16:20.73,0:16:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of these processes exist already, you should\Ntry to
Dialogue: 0,0:16:23.53,0:16:27.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,help establish them. Because if just one person\Ncan
Dialogue: 0,0:16:27.68,0:16:31.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ruin everything, that's a pretty big problem\Nfor the
Dialogue: 0,0:16:31.68,0:16:33.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,entire team.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:33.44,0:16:37.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something I'm a really big fan of, as well,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:37.55,0:16:41.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is just having a direct conversation up front\Nabout
Dialogue: 0,0:16:41.11,0:16:44.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone's learning style along with the other\Nperson's teaching
Dialogue: 0,0:16:44.44,0:16:47.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,style. This way you can try to sync them
Dialogue: 0,0:16:47.47,0:16:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up and talk through any mismatches ahead of\Ntime
Dialogue: 0,0:16:51.06,0:16:54.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before there's any conflict. It's great when\Nmentors show
Dialogue: 0,0:16:54.61,0:16:57.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they're open to feedback along the way\Nas
Dialogue: 0,0:16:57.25,0:17:00.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, so that they can continue iterating\Nand adapting
Dialogue: 0,0:17:00.23,0:17:03.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their style to match whatever will help the\Njunior
Dialogue: 0,0:17:03.84,0:17:05.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,learn best.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:05.25,0:17:08.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's also really important to talk about how\Nyou
Dialogue: 0,0:17:08.82,0:17:12.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prefer to be interrupted. My mentor at New\NRelic,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:12.77,0:17:15.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,David, told me that I could interrupt him\Npretty
Dialogue: 0,0:17:15.33,0:17:19.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much any time. And because he was really clear
Dialogue: 0,0:17:19.14,0:17:21.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and direct with me when he couldn't help me
Dialogue: 0,0:17:21.57,0:17:23.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,right then, and still always gave me some\Nother
Dialogue: 0,0:17:23.93,0:17:27.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,resource to try, I had that much more confidence
Dialogue: 0,0:17:27.69,0:17:31.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in it being OK to interrupt rather than bottling
Dialogue: 0,0:17:31.22,0:17:33.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it all up and just saving it for our
Dialogue: 0,0:17:33.41,0:17:37.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,designated weekly meetings.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:37.47,0:17:40.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I started, David's desk was right next\Nto
Dialogue: 0,0:17:40.68,0:17:42.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mine, so that even when I was talking to
Dialogue: 0,0:17:42.79,0:17:46.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,other people, he could sort of lightly listen\Nin
Dialogue: 0,0:17:46.37,0:17:48.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and jump in whenever it was clear to him
Dialogue: 0,0:17:48.64,0:17:52.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I was missing something fundamental.\NAs my mentor,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:52.98,0:17:56.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he had a better overall understanding of where\Nmy
Dialogue: 0,0:17:56.17,0:17:59.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,knowledge level was at, so he could help others
Dialogue: 0,0:17:59.28,0:18:02.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,help me, too.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:02.56,0:18:06.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If, as a mentor, part of your philosophy is
Dialogue: 0,0:18:06.20,0:18:09.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to let people struggle, this is also something\Nthat's
Dialogue: 0,0:18:09.64,0:18:12.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,good to make clear up front. It's really good
Dialogue: 0,0:18:12.44,0:18:15.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to talk about this, because that way, you\Ncan
Dialogue: 0,0:18:15.19,0:18:17.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,let the juniors know that you are intentionally\Ndoing
Dialogue: 0,0:18:17.71,0:18:19.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this. And it is out of a faith in
Dialogue: 0,0:18:19.93,0:18:23.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,them, rather than setting them up to fail\Nor
Dialogue: 0,0:18:23.10,0:18:26.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,having misplaced expectations.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:26.40,0:18:29.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just being reminded that you expect this to\Nbe
Dialogue: 0,0:18:29.28,0:18:32.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hard goes really far towards dispelling any\Nsense of
Dialogue: 0,0:18:32.63,0:18:36.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,impostor syndrome, where you might have this\Nsinking feeling
Dialogue: 0,0:18:36.28,0:18:39.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it should be easier. But that's wrong.\NIt's
Dialogue: 0,0:18:39.48,0:18:41.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,supposed to be hard.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:41.75,0:18:45.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally, I think it's ideal if you can push
Dialogue: 0,0:18:45.30,0:18:49.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up responsibility for deadlines. The junior\Ndeveloper's job is
Dialogue: 0,0:18:49.41,0:18:51.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to keep everyone up to date so that no
Dialogue: 0,0:18:51.60,0:18:53.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one is surprised by how much work is left
Dialogue: 0,0:18:53.97,0:18:57.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to do. On one project, a couple months ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:57.25,0:18:59.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I was freaking out because I felt like
Dialogue: 0,0:18:59.95,0:19:02.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was taking me forever to learn even just
Dialogue: 0,0:19:02.39,0:19:05.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the basics of D3, one of our project managers
Dialogue: 0,0:19:05.70,0:19:08.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,came to me and said that shuffling resources\Nis
Dialogue: 0,0:19:08.81,0:19:11.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his job, so that I could go back to
Dialogue: 0,0:19:11.37,0:19:14.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,learning and struggling. And if at any point\Nthe
Dialogue: 0,0:19:14.45,0:19:17.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,project deadline was in danger, the burden\Nwasn't entirely
Dialogue: 0,0:19:17.88,0:19:19.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on my shoulders.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:19.60,0:19:25.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now we have covered these first two steps.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:25.81,0:19:27.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are just a little bit halfway through.\NSo
Dialogue: 0,0:19:27.53,0:19:29.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just want to take a real quick break.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:29.52,0:19:31.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Humor me. If you could all just sort of
Dialogue: 0,0:19:31.89,0:19:35.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sit forward in your chairs a little bit. Thank
Dialogue: 0,0:19:35.31,0:19:37.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you. And go ahead and just put your arms
Dialogue: 0,0:19:37.48,0:19:40.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,behind your back like this. And just try to
Dialogue: 0,0:19:40.48,0:19:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stretch and pull your shoulders down and back\Na
Dialogue: 0,0:19:43.14,0:19:45.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,little bit. Just try to counteract a little\Nbit
Dialogue: 0,0:19:45.61,0:19:48.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the terrible posture a lot of us probably
Dialogue: 0,0:19:48.89,0:19:52.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have over a hunched over computer. OK. Cool.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:52.42,0:19:55.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Feels better. I do this a lot when we
Dialogue: 0,0:19:55.40,0:19:57.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do stand ups actually, because it's like a\Ngood
Dialogue: 0,0:19:57.53,0:20:00.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,time as any to stretch and be slightly more
Dialogue: 0,0:20:00.35,0:20:01.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ergonomic.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:01.20,0:20:07.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All right. Back to where we were.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:07.22,0:20:09.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The final step in tackling how much there\Nis
Dialogue: 0,0:20:09.48,0:20:12.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to learn is much like how you'd approach any
Dialogue: 0,0:20:12.34,0:20:17.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,other gnarly technical problem. Narrow your\Nscope. Mentors are
Dialogue: 0,0:20:17.53,0:20:21.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,highly helpful here, too, because they can\Nhelp prioritize
Dialogue: 0,0:20:21.13,0:20:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what to learn next.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:23.18,0:20:25.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, one of my things is that I
Dialogue: 0,0:20:25.77,0:20:28.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,still actually need to build a Rails app from
Dialogue: 0,0:20:28.26,0:20:33.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the beginning. Know that it's important to\Ndeliver recommendations
Dialogue: 0,0:20:33.67,0:20:36.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the right time. If a mentor gets really
Dialogue: 0,0:20:36.92,0:20:39.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,excited about yet another new thing to add\Nto
Dialogue: 0,0:20:39.61,0:20:42.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the junior developer's plate and just sort\Nof blurts
Dialogue: 0,0:20:42.62,0:20:45.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it out right then, this can sometimes be taken
Dialogue: 0,0:20:45.63,0:20:48.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a little bit like, wow, it must be really
Dialogue: 0,0:20:48.90,0:20:51.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,important to be told right away that I need
Dialogue: 0,0:20:51.09,0:20:54.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to know this. Maybe I should know this already?
Dialogue: 0,0:20:54.81,0:20:57.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which at least, for me, can sometimes lead\Nto
Dialogue: 0,0:20:57.25,0:21:02.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a little bit of a death spiral of self-doubt.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:02.77,0:21:05.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You also have to match up learning style with
Dialogue: 0,0:21:05.01,0:21:09.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the tutorial style. This is important, because\Na lot
Dialogue: 0,0:21:09.57,0:21:16.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of programming tutorials, well, they're kind\Nof like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:16.27,0:21:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How to draw an owl. Step one, draw some
Dialogue: 0,0:21:20.14,0:21:23.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,circles. Step two, draw the rest of the owl.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:23.75,0:21:25.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many people have done tutorials that are\Nlike
Dialogue: 0,0:21:25.69,0:21:28.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this? Yeah.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:28.22,0:21:34.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, even on more detailed tutorials, there\Nare differences,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:34.51,0:21:38.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like whether the work is goal-oriented or\Nnot. For
Dialogue: 0,0:21:38.41,0:21:41.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,me, it's actually harder to stay motivated\Nwhen I
Dialogue: 0,0:21:41.29,0:21:43.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't have a specific thing that I'm trying\Nto
Dialogue: 0,0:21:43.85,0:21:48.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,accomplish. I like structure and being too\Nfree-form actually
Dialogue: 0,0:21:48.86,0:21:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,means that I'll get bored. For example, I\Ntook
Dialogue: 0,0:21:52.35,0:21:54.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,calculus in high school. And it was fun and
Dialogue: 0,0:21:54.97,0:21:55.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,interesting.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:55.36,0:21:58.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it wasn't until I took physics in college
Dialogue: 0,0:21:58.75,0:22:02.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I was like, oh, that's what calculus\Nwas
Dialogue: 0,0:22:02.51,0:22:06.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,invented for. But that's just me. And other\Npeople
Dialogue: 0,0:22:06.86,0:22:10.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,might be similar or very different.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:10.31,0:22:14.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, in terms of content, my personal view\Nis
Dialogue: 0,0:22:14.18,0:22:17.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the highest value areas are things like\Nteam
Dialogue: 0,0:22:17.47,0:22:21.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,processes for code review and version control\Nlike git.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:21.23,0:22:25.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And specific product, product knowledge over\Nmore generalized programming
Dialogue: 0,0:22:25.47,0:22:28.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,knowledge.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:28.16,0:22:30.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This might be a bit controversial, but I think
Dialogue: 0,0:22:30.47,0:22:34.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,less useful are actually things like getting\Ntoo much
Dialogue: 0,0:22:34.01,0:22:37.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into optimizing your tools and environment.\NOr even learning
Dialogue: 0,0:22:37.67,0:22:42.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tons of keyboard short cuts. At least to start.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:42.05,0:22:45.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Keyboard short cuts are fun and useful, but\Nlet's
Dialogue: 0,0:22:45.42,0:22:49.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be honest. Right now, how fast I can type
Dialogue: 0,0:22:49.13,0:22:51.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not the limiting factor in how fast I
Dialogue: 0,0:22:51.89,0:22:53.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can complete a feature.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:53.70,0:22:57.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that wraps up my ideas for how to
Dialogue: 0,0:22:57.45,0:22:59.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tackle this first challenge of how there's\Nso much
Dialogue: 0,0:22:59.84,0:23:03.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to learn as a junior developer. Next, I'll\Ntalk
Dialogue: 0,0:23:03.57,0:23:05.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about ways that even junior developers can\Nhelp their
Dialogue: 0,0:23:05.99,0:23:08.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,team immediately.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:08.34,0:23:15.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Knowing how to help your team is hard because
Dialogue: 0,0:23:16.35,0:23:18.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe you feel like you're a drag on your
Dialogue: 0,0:23:18.67,0:23:21.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,team's productivity with how much help you\Nneed right
Dialogue: 0,0:23:21.67,0:23:24.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then. How many people have felt like this?
Dialogue: 0,0:23:24.56,0:23:29.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, in one of the first conversations that\NDavid
Dialogue: 0,0:23:29.42,0:23:31.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I had, I actually pretty much just straight
Dialogue: 0,0:23:31.81,0:23:35.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up asked him, how did you get stuck with
Dialogue: 0,0:23:35.28,0:23:39.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,me? To his and New Relic's everlasting credit,\Nhe
Dialogue: 0,0:23:39.88,0:23:42.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,immediately reassured me that it wasn't that\Nhe got
Dialogue: 0,0:23:42.64,0:23:45.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stuck with me, but that he wanted to learn
Dialogue: 0,0:23:45.44,0:23:48.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be a good mentor himself. So it was
Dialogue: 0,0:23:48.24,0:23:52.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from there that I realized, ah, even my ignorance
Dialogue: 0,0:23:52.28,0:23:54.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can be helpful for the team when it gives
Dialogue: 0,0:23:54.75,0:23:58.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,them opportunities to practice things like\Nmentoring.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:58.79,0:24:02.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, even if you are a junior developer,\Nyour
Dialogue: 0,0:24:02.72,0:24:07.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,technical contributions are still important.\NYes, you may be
Dialogue: 0,0:24:07.92,0:24:11.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,working on features that someone else may\Nmake faster,
Dialogue: 0,0:24:11.89,0:24:14.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in a world where there is never enough
Dialogue: 0,0:24:14.43,0:24:16.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,junior developers for all of the, you know,\Nor
Dialogue: 0,0:24:16.51,0:24:19.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just developers in general, for all the developer\Njobs
Dialogue: 0,0:24:19.06,0:24:22.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are out there, it's not actually necessarily\Na
Dialogue: 0,0:24:22.35,0:24:26.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,choice between a junior developer building\Nit slowly and
Dialogue: 0,0:24:26.68,0:24:29.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a senior developer building it really quickly.\NIt's a
Dialogue: 0,0:24:29.55,0:24:32.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,choice between having something built and\Nnot having it
Dialogue: 0,0:24:32.94,0:24:36.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:36.28,0:24:38.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Don't forget, either, that everyone started\Nout at your
Dialogue: 0,0:24:38.91,0:24:41.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,point at some, at some point, and you won't
Dialogue: 0,0:24:41.51,0:24:44.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be at your current stage forever. As my southern
Dialogue: 0,0:24:44.71,0:24:47.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,friend likes to drawl, no one comes out of
Dialogue: 0,0:24:47.81,0:24:51.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their mama's womb knowing how to code. Just\Nthink
Dialogue: 0,0:24:51.46,0:24:55.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about that for a minute.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:55.16,0:25:00.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So onwards to some of the other non-technical\Nways
Dialogue: 0,0:25:00.56,0:25:03.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can help your team right away. First,\NI
Dialogue: 0,0:25:03.82,0:25:08.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,really strongly believe that questions are\Nbasically the junior
Dialogue: 0,0:25:08.78,0:25:12.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,developer's super power, and as we all know,\Nwith
Dialogue: 0,0:25:12.18,0:25:16.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,great power comes great responsibility. Fresh\Neyes are helpful,
Dialogue: 0,0:25:16.92,0:25:19.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you can specifically figure out how to\Nbe
Dialogue: 0,0:25:19.57,0:25:22.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an extra helpful set of fresh eyes with the
Dialogue: 0,0:25:22.01,0:25:24.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,use of skillful questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:24.36,0:25:28.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Good questions are invaluable for highlighting\Nassumptions and helping
Dialogue: 0,0:25:28.31,0:25:31.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the team avoid dead ends, which helps you\Nall
Dialogue: 0,0:25:31.41,0:25:35.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,move faster. Questions like, are we working\Non the
Dialogue: 0,0:25:35.69,0:25:39.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,right thing? Or, is there a reason we're doing
Dialogue: 0,0:25:39.20,0:25:42.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it this way? This is something that came up
Dialogue: 0,0:25:42.13,0:25:45.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in my old job, too. Because sometimes this\Nuncovered
Dialogue: 0,0:25:45.81,0:25:50.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an actual misunderstanding about a feature's\Nrequirements, where, like
Dialogue: 0,0:25:50.70,0:25:54.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an offhand comment from a comment email, got\Ninterpreted
Dialogue: 0,0:25:54.09,0:25:56.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a must-have item.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:56.09,0:25:59.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Getting rid of these kinds of things saves\Neveryone
Dialogue: 0,0:25:59.21,0:26:01.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of time and disappointment.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:01.99,0:26:04.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Has anyone here ever worked as a consultant\Nor
Dialogue: 0,0:26:04.85,0:26:08.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,product manager at all? So you probably have\Nsimilar
Dialogue: 0,0:26:08.84,0:26:13.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stories like that, too. Of course, you do\Nwant
Dialogue: 0,0:26:13.28,0:26:15.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to ask your questions in a way that won't
Dialogue: 0,0:26:15.61,0:26:19.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,put people on the defensive. If someone hisses\Nat
Dialogue: 0,0:26:19.16,0:26:22.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you, that's probably not a good sign.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:22.96,0:26:25.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Try to express humility, since you're asking\Nthese questions
Dialogue: 0,0:26:25.96,0:26:28.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from a place where it's because you want to
Dialogue: 0,0:26:28.59,0:26:33.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,learn rather than assuming that you already\Nknow. You
Dialogue: 0,0:26:33.25,0:26:36.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can also think about questions that other\Nnon-engineering people
Dialogue: 0,0:26:36.47,0:26:40.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,might ask, like your sales or support teams.\NGetting
Dialogue: 0,0:26:40.08,0:26:42.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these answers earlier on gives your team a\Njump
Dialogue: 0,0:26:42.56,0:26:45.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,start on looping in other teams as needed.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:45.72,0:26:47.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if the only answers your team has are
Dialogue: 0,0:26:47.75,0:26:51.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pretty vague, that's an opportunity to dig\Nfurther for
Dialogue: 0,0:26:51.15,0:26:55.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,greater clarity. OK. We're two thirds of the\Nway
Dialogue: 0,0:26:55.65,0:26:57.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through the outline now.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:57.40,0:27:01.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the other side from asking questions, providing\Nconstructive
Dialogue: 0,0:27:01.84,0:27:05.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feedback is really important, too. If you've\Nhad another
Dialogue: 0,0:27:05.59,0:27:07.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,career before now, this is a skill that I
Dialogue: 0,0:27:07.13,0:27:12.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,am sure you have already practiced. Giving\Nuseful feedback
Dialogue: 0,0:27:12.66,0:27:15.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the right person in the right venue at
Dialogue: 0,0:27:15.84,0:27:18.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the right time is hard for a lot of
Dialogue: 0,0:27:18.78,0:27:19.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:19.96,0:27:21.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For me, when I worked in tech support, we'd
Dialogue: 0,0:27:21.97,0:27:24.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,frequently do quality reviews of each others\Nwork to
Dialogue: 0,0:27:24.72,0:27:27.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,try to improve the customer support experience.\NAnd we'd
Dialogue: 0,0:27:27.76,0:27:31.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also just do general peer feedback every few\Nquarters.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:31.82,0:27:34.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which meant that I got a lot of practice
Dialogue: 0,0:27:34.03,0:27:36.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at phrasing feedback in a way that wouldn't\Nlose
Dialogue: 0,0:27:36.79,0:27:40.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,me any friends, hopefully.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:40.93,0:27:43.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before offering feedback, I like to spend\Nsome time
Dialogue: 0,0:27:43.39,0:27:45.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thinking about what would be useful to the\Nperson
Dialogue: 0,0:27:45.49,0:27:49.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,receiving the feedback. What is it that they\Nwant?
Dialogue: 0,0:27:49.92,0:27:53.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What are they trying to do? You always also
Dialogue: 0,0:27:53.17,0:27:56.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get bonus points for bringing suggestions\Nfor solutions with
Dialogue: 0,0:27:56.40,0:27:58.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:58.02,0:28:01.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's hard, sometimes, to refrain from nitpicking\Njust for
Dialogue: 0,0:28:01.01,0:28:03.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the sake of having something to say, but it's
Dialogue: 0,0:28:03.65,0:28:06.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,worth it to increase the value that people\Nget
Dialogue: 0,0:28:06.30,0:28:09.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from listening to you. You just want to have
Dialogue: 0,0:28:09.23,0:28:13.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a really high personal ratio of useful to\Nnot-useful
Dialogue: 0,0:28:13.60,0:28:15.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things to say.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:15.09,0:28:19.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something else I've been trying lately is\Nto give
Dialogue: 0,0:28:19.06,0:28:22.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,positive feedback whenever there is an opportunity.\NI don't
Dialogue: 0,0:28:22.74,0:28:25.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mean, like, fake positive compliments or anything\Nlike that
Dialogue: 0,0:28:25.90,0:28:28.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at all. But just that it's a lot easier
Dialogue: 0,0:28:28.91,0:28:32.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in most cases to complain about something\Nthan to
Dialogue: 0,0:28:32.12,0:28:34.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remember to speak up when there are good things
Dialogue: 0,0:28:34.49,0:28:35.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to talk about.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:35.66,0:28:38.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My hope is that this is helpful in the
Dialogue: 0,0:28:38.70,0:28:40.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,longer term, so that I can build up a
Dialogue: 0,0:28:40.83,0:28:44.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,general reputation for being a positive person.\NAnd any
Dialogue: 0,0:28:44.56,0:28:47.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,negative feedback I have will be taken more\Nseriously.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:47.27,0:28:52.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the other hand, sometimes giving good feedback\Ncan
Dialogue: 0,0:28:52.99,0:28:55.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also mean just stating, I don't have an opinion
Dialogue: 0,0:28:55.74,0:28:58.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on this topic, so that you withdraw yourself\Nfrom
Dialogue: 0,0:28:58.56,0:29:01.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the pool of people weighing in. It makes life
Dialogue: 0,0:29:01.10,0:29:03.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot easier for whoever's in charge of getting
Dialogue: 0,0:29:03.57,0:29:06.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the group to a consensus.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:06.17,0:29:09.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So now we've covered two strategies for helping\Nyour
Dialogue: 0,0:29:09.53,0:29:14.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,team. Lastly, there's a lot you can do to
Dialogue: 0,0:29:14.14,0:29:17.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,make your team look good to other teams. It
Dialogue: 0,0:29:17.59,0:29:20.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,isn't all that hard. It helps your team feel
Dialogue: 0,0:29:20.42,0:29:23.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,good and it helps other teams feel good, too,
Dialogue: 0,0:29:23.31,0:29:27.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about working with your team. One of the common
Dialogue: 0,0:29:27.41,0:29:30.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,areas this can come up in is in any
Dialogue: 0,0:29:30.16,0:29:33.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,demo or review team, meetings your team might\Nhave.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:33.65,0:29:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can give awesome demos just by being thoughtful
Dialogue: 0,0:29:36.68,0:29:38.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and prepared.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:38.54,0:29:40.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Think about why this change matters to your\Naudience.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:40.80,0:29:43.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why should they care? And think about how\Nyou
Dialogue: 0,0:29:43.83,0:29:46.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can show the before and after, doing things\Nlike
Dialogue: 0,0:29:46.49,0:29:48.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,grabbing screen shots, so you can show new\Nand
Dialogue: 0,0:29:48.84,0:29:52.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,old side by side. Or gathering metrics to\Nshow
Dialogue: 0,0:29:52.50,0:29:54.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why the thing that your team did is actually
Dialogue: 0,0:29:54.78,0:29:56.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a big deal.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:56.17,0:29:59.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Demos are also good for getting full credit\Nfor
Dialogue: 0,0:29:59.02,0:30:01.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your team, for everything that they've done.\NEven ones
Dialogue: 0,0:30:01.81,0:30:05.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that aren't easily visible. You can do things\Nlike
Dialogue: 0,0:30:05.48,0:30:09.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,talk about corner cases and, you know, choices\Nthat
Dialogue: 0,0:30:09.20,0:30:12.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you either decided to do something about right\Nnow
Dialogue: 0,0:30:12.02,0:30:15.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or have consciously chosen to delay, so that\Nit
Dialogue: 0,0:30:15.83,0:30:18.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shows other teams, shows these other teams\Nthat you've
Dialogue: 0,0:30:18.36,0:30:21.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,been thoughtful about your impact to them,\Nlike the
Dialogue: 0,0:30:21.32,0:30:25.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,supportability of a new feature you've released.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:25.61,0:30:28.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like to over prepare. So I almost always
Dialogue: 0,0:30:28.43,0:30:32.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,write a script, which is sometimes a literal\Nword-for-word
Dialogue: 0,0:30:32.17,0:30:34.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,script. But more often, it's just a list of
Dialogue: 0,0:30:34.81,0:30:37.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what I want to show in a particular order
Dialogue: 0,0:30:37.85,0:30:40.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that it flows well and I don't end
Dialogue: 0,0:30:40.35,0:30:44.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up having to backtrack because I've forgotten\Nsomething.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:44.75,0:30:47.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I also like to do a test run through,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:47.61,0:30:49.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that this way, I'll know everything I need
Dialogue: 0,0:30:49.78,0:30:52.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get preloaded onto my computer, which makes\Nthe
Dialogue: 0,0:30:52.81,0:30:57.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,demo really efficient and less prone to errors.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:57.43,0:31:02.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In general, making an effort to be responsive,\Nthorough,
Dialogue: 0,0:31:02.27,0:31:06.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and empathetic really goes a long way. I'm\Nreally
Dialogue: 0,0:31:06.47,0:31:08.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,proud of the time that someone on our support
Dialogue: 0,0:31:08.83,0:31:10.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,team at New Relic told me I was her
Dialogue: 0,0:31:10.70,0:31:14.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,favorite engineer to work with, mostly just\Nbecause I
Dialogue: 0,0:31:14.04,0:31:17.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was being really responsive. All this just\Nhelps people
Dialogue: 0,0:31:17.73,0:31:21.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feel heard, and knock down any stereotypes\Nthat engineers
Dialogue: 0,0:31:21.79,0:31:25.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't care about what other people care about.\NAnd
Dialogue: 0,0:31:25.30,0:31:28.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so this way, when your team needs their help,
Dialogue: 0,0:31:28.64,0:31:30.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they'll be there for you too.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:30.38,0:31:33.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That wraps up my ideas for how to tackle
Dialogue: 0,0:31:33.66,0:31:35.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the challenge of figuring out how you can\Nhelp
Dialogue: 0,0:31:35.40,0:31:39.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your team even when you're a junior developer.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:39.81,0:31:41.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before I finish up my talk, I do want
Dialogue: 0,0:31:41.44,0:31:45.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to mention a few caveats and pitfalls to avoid.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:45.17,0:31:47.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm hoping that mentors, in particular, will\Nhelp out
Dialogue: 0,0:31:47.80,0:31:50.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with watching out for these.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:50.47,0:31:52.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sometimes, I think there's a bit of an issue
Dialogue: 0,0:31:52.84,0:31:57.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the tech community of undervaluing non-technical\Nskills, and
Dialogue: 0,0:31:57.37,0:31:59.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of what I've talked about is essentially
Dialogue: 0,0:31:59.71,0:32:04.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using your non-technical skills to help yourself\Nmove forward.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:04.60,0:32:06.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The thing is, you just don't want to be
Dialogue: 0,0:32:06.89,0:32:10.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,assumed to just be the secretary, which I\Ndon't
Dialogue: 0,0:32:10.69,0:32:13.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mean as a diss on secretaries at all. It's
Dialogue: 0,0:32:13.21,0:32:17.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just not the job that I'm working towards.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:17.61,0:32:21.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's also a phenomenon called the Girl\NScout tax,
Dialogue: 0,0:32:21.53,0:32:23.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which comes about because we have a stereotype\Nand
Dialogue: 0,0:32:23.97,0:32:29.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,expectation that women are helpful. Unfortunately,\Nthis leads to
Dialogue: 0,0:32:29.07,0:32:30.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of women not getting credit for the
Dialogue: 0,0:32:30.98,0:32:35.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,help that they provide, because supposedly,\Nthat's just what
Dialogue: 0,0:32:35.26,0:32:39.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,women do. They're helpful. This is just one\Nof
Dialogue: 0,0:32:39.15,0:32:41.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those unconscious things that we probably\Nall do from
Dialogue: 0,0:32:41.92,0:32:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,time to time, and so we should all try
Dialogue: 0,0:32:44.02,0:32:46.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to watch out for it so that everyone gets
Dialogue: 0,0:32:46.82,0:32:51.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,recognized and appreciated for the work that\Nthey do.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:51.73,0:32:54.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You just don't want to get sidelined or pushed
Dialogue: 0,0:32:54.20,0:32:57.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into a role you're not interested in. Everything\NI've
Dialogue: 0,0:32:57.54,0:32:59.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,talked about today is from the stand point\Nthat
Dialogue: 0,0:32:59.88,0:33:02.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're willing to do whatever's best for your\Nteam
Dialogue: 0,0:33:02.48,0:33:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the short term, but you all need to
Dialogue: 0,0:33:04.50,0:33:06.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be doing what's best for everyone longer term\Nas
Dialogue: 0,0:33:06.95,0:33:10.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well, which is to help you grow as a
Dialogue: 0,0:33:10.85,0:33:12.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,developer.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:12.16,0:33:16.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultimately, keep focused on whatever your\Nend goal is.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:16.63,0:33:19.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whether that's getting better at coding, working\Non bigger
Dialogue: 0,0:33:19.98,0:33:23.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,features, or learning about the market and\Nindustry. This
Dialogue: 0,0:33:23.95,0:33:27.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,way you can consciously choose what things\Nyou'll do
Dialogue: 0,0:33:27.56,0:33:29.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that will bring you closer to the goal, and
Dialogue: 0,0:33:29.94,0:33:33.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not do things that will move you further away
Dialogue: 0,0:33:33.26,0:33:35.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from it.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:35.16,0:33:38.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are some recommendations for further\Nreading. The first
Dialogue: 0,0:33:38.55,0:33:41.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two are books that are actually pretty quick\Nand
Dialogue: 0,0:33:41.45,0:33:44.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,easy reads. Teen Geek was written by a couple
Dialogue: 0,0:33:44.64,0:33:48.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of Google engineering managers who actually\Nco-founded the Google's
Dialogue: 0,0:33:48.36,0:33:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,engineering office here in Chicago. And that\Nsecond book,
Dialogue: 0,0:33:52.35,0:33:55.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Upside of Down is a good book if
Dialogue: 0,0:33:55.30,0:33:57.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you feel like you're being held back by a
Dialogue: 0,0:33:57.17,0:33:59.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fear of failure.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:59.59,0:34:01.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other four are blog posts that I also
Dialogue: 0,0:34:01.35,0:34:04.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,found really interesting and full of good\Ncareer advice
Dialogue: 0,0:34:04.21,0:34:07.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for junior developers.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:07.07,0:34:09.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's the full outline of everything I've\Ntalked
Dialogue: 0,0:34:09.88,0:34:12.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about today. I think there are two main challenges
Dialogue: 0,0:34:12.85,0:34:16.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in being a junior developer. For the problem\Nof
Dialogue: 0,0:34:16.82,0:34:19.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there being so much to learn, the three step
Dialogue: 0,0:34:19.13,0:34:21.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plan is to get people to want to help
Dialogue: 0,0:34:21.89,0:34:24.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you, make it easy for them to help, and
Dialogue: 0,0:34:24.87,0:34:28.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,narrow the scope of what you're trying to\Ncover.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:28.04,0:34:29.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For the problem of not knowing how to help
Dialogue: 0,0:34:29.83,0:34:33.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your team, always remember that good questions\Nare the
Dialogue: 0,0:34:33.81,0:34:37.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,junior developer's super power. You can also\Ndo a
Dialogue: 0,0:34:37.29,0:34:40.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lot by giving good feedback and making your\Nteam
Dialogue: 0,0:34:40.73,0:34:44.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,look good in front of other teams.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:44.13,0:34:47.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In conclusion, we talk a lot about the benefits
Dialogue: 0,0:34:47.66,0:34:50.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of diversity, but if you're the one that's\Nbringing
Dialogue: 0,0:34:50.35,0:34:54.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,diversity to your team, that can be hard,\Nbecause
Dialogue: 0,0:34:54.16,0:34:57.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the typical narrative won't use your particular\Nstrength set
Dialogue: 0,0:34:57.56,0:35:02.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much, because by definition, they're different.\NAs my first
Dialogue: 0,0:35:02.78,0:35:05.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,boss told me, we can and should work on
Dialogue: 0,0:35:05.81,0:35:09.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our areas for development. But it's really\Nyour strengths
Dialogue: 0,0:35:09.41,0:35:11.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you can lean on most heavily to get
Dialogue: 0,0:35:11.71,0:35:13.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you where you want to go.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:13.20,0:35:16.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So to all the junior developers and career\Nsearchers
Dialogue: 0,0:35:16.72,0:35:19.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out there, I just want to say, you deserve
Dialogue: 0,0:35:19.49,0:35:23.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to feel confidence in yourself as a person.\NPlace
Dialogue: 0,0:35:23.04,0:35:26.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your confidence in your proven ability to\Nlearn over
Dialogue: 0,0:35:26.37,0:35:29.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your current level of coding knowledge. It's\Nonly a
Dialogue: 0,0:35:29.50,0:35:31.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,matter of time, and I hope I've helped you
Dialogue: 0,0:35:31.97,0:35:34.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shorten that amount of time as a junior developer,
Dialogue: 0,0:35:34.97,0:35:37.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so someday, when you'll be mentoring junior\Ndevelopers
Dialogue: 0,0:35:37.98,0:35:38.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yourself.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:38.60,0:35:39.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.