The last time I went for a job interview was about 4-5 months ago. Like many others, I went to various places, each with its own interesting experience, and I realized that no two interviews were the same. I prepared myself to be comfortable and set criteria for a new work environment, not focusing too much on theory but rather answering based on my practical work experience.
One day, a CTO asked me a question: "What level do you think you are at?" Without hesitation, I answered, "Actually, I haven't paid much attention to my level. My immediate goal is to keep learning...". - "If you haven't determined your level, you should reconsider!"
It was clear that the interviewer wanted me to choose between three levels: Junior, Mid-Level, and Senior. With over 5 years of experience, I might choose to be at the Senior level, as it is commonly accepted in the local job market that someone with 5 or more years of experience can be considered a Senior. But I think that I haven't reached this level yet, maybe I'm just at the Mid-Level. However, because the perception and market have conflicting views on the distinction between these levels, or in other words, these 3 levels depend on the thoughts of each individual, I am hesitant and unable to give an accurate answer for myself.
The words of the CTO were right, not determining your level is indeed dangerous, but because I didn't express my thoughts, it was misunderstood that I didn't know where I was. Therefore, in today's article, let's discuss the three levels: Junior, Mid-Level, and Senior, to see what it really takes to be a "real" Senior!
Try searching Google with the keywords "Junior, Mid-Level, and Senior developer" and you will find many results, showing that this is a topic that many people are interested in. Most of us read to find out where we are and what we need to do to achieve the next level.
Among them, many articles list the number of years of experience to determine at which level a person is. For example, fresh graduates are considered Junior, 3-5 years are considered Mid-Level, and 5 years or more are considered Senior...! To be honest, I used to believe in these numbers too. I thought that the longer I work, the higher my "rank" would be.
Or there are articles that point out that the number of years does not solely determine a person's level, but rather it depends on their problem-solving abilities. "They know how to organize code, care about future maintainability, how to ask questions, and how to solve problems..." It sounds reasonable, but it may still not be enough. For me, a programmer should not only know how to code. To reach the highest level in programming, they must go beyond coding and do much more.
By chance, I found a very detailed article about what can be achieved at all three levels. Moreover, it is comprehensive, detailed, and provides advice on how to level up. Readers can find it at Levels of Seniority.
To summarize, the article mainly focuses on the Junior level, introducing the concept, indicators, and what to do to progress. Some notable points include:
Afterward, the article provides advice for Juniors, such as:
A Mid-level includes all the elements of a Junior, along with problem-solving abilities. They have more knowledge than Juniors but still struggle with applying it. The article emphasizes that Mid-level is very common and is sometimes mistaken for "Senior". However, they need additional mentoring to become a "real" Senior.
A Senior is the next level after Mid-Level developer. They can complete tasks independently without supervision and without introducing any issues during the process. Some of the things a Senior can do include:
In summary, in addition to coding, a Senior can mentor and advise others, have a deep understanding of the business, the industry, and the human aspect.
Junior, Mid-Level, and Senior are the three levels of a programmer, with Junior being the lowest and Senior being someone with extensive knowledge. Determining which level you are at and what you need to do to reach the next level is crucial in everyone's career path.
Hello, my name is Hoai - a developer who tells stories through writing ✍️ and creating products 🚀. With many years of programming experience, I have contributed to various products that bring value to users at my workplace as well as to myself. My hobbies include reading, writing, and researching... I created this blog with the mission of delivering quality articles to the readers of 2coffee.dev.Follow me through these channels LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram.
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