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A blueprint for junior developers in today's market
In recent weeks, I’ve had a few conversations with aspiring developers who have been met with closed doors from potential employers. Some wonder if it’s worth pursuing a career in web development. I’ll try and shed light on this situation and provide a perspective on how to make it as a junior developer in today’s competitive market.
The Reality of Junior Positions
Let’s start by acknowledging the truth: Very few job listings explicitly seek “junior” developers.
In the United States, if you search for “Junior” and “React” on LinkedIn, you’ll find just 32 positions as of this writing. Expand the search to “React” alone, and you’re faced with a staggering 42,367 results. So, it’s clear that companies aren’t actively looking for junior developers.
Why Businesses Avoid Junior Developers
To understand why this is the case, put yourself in the shoes of a business owner. In a competitive market, companies want dependable professionals who can hit the ground running. We don’t have the same market we had before Covid and they don’t have the time or resources to provide extensive training, mentorship, or “hand-holding”. They need people who can tackle tasks independently and efficiently.
