Why Juniors Shouldn’t Rush — And What Companies Must Do Instead
In today's video, I responded to a question from Thomas about how to keep junior developers motivated and loyal. And let’s face it: we’ve all seen the patterns. Someone finishes a bootcamp, gets a first job for six months, and suddenly demands senior-level money, often backed more by algorithm-fed hype than by actual results.
I don’t say this to shame anyone. But it’s a warning sign. Not because money talk is bad, but because it often reveals a missing mindset: the commitment to learning, growing roots, and becoming a domain expert.
Job-Hopping Isn’t a Growth Strategy
Social media is full of survivorship bias. For every one person who made it big by jumping from company to company, there are hundreds stuck with shallow résumés and no real value-add after three years. Long-term impact requires context, repetition, and ownership — things that don’t happen in six months.
That’s why I call such developers shallow engineers. It sounds harsh, but it’s reality. And if you’re wondering why some companies don’t want to take a chance on your CV, maybe it’s not about you, but about the pattern your decisions reflect.
What Companies & Trainers Must Do
This isn’t just a junior problem. Companies, vocational trainers, and senior developers have a responsibility here. We must give newcomers a narrative. Help them map out the first 3 years. Then 5. Then the seniorship.
The software industry still lacks proper guardrails. There’s no official path. That’s both a blessing and a curse, but it’s up to us to create clarity.
Career planning shouldn’t be a side quest. It’s the main game.
If You're a Junior Right Now
Slow down. Take a role where you can grow, stay, and see something through. Don’t chase money, chase depth. The money comes later, and when it does, it sticks.
Being grounded, loyal, and deliberate in your early years will set you apart more than any “rockstar” label ever could.
PS: If you're training juniors, make it your mission to prepare them for the next job and the real career ahead.
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