Will I be junior again?

The programming boot camp is slowly but steadily coming to an end. Which means it is soon time to start applying for jobs.

When entering the jobmarket with this new skillset, most people will perceive me and my classmates as junior developers. But taking into account the fact that most of us have several years of work experience, the junior prefix feels somewhat misleading.

I discussed this topic with my career mentor who agreed with me. “Career-change developers”, who are not fresh from university, bring other values.

When hiring someone with a previous career, one could argue that you get 2 (or more) for 1. Maybe a recruiter/developer, a journalist/developer or an economist/developer?

Having a rich background creates a foundation for versatility, allowing one to more easily adapt to different roles and other perspectives. With this comes also knowledge of strengths, weaknesses, and what leadership is needed to succeed in an environment that is probably far more complex and dynamic than the classroom.

Coming from a background in recruitment, I believe it is important to see the bigger picture — new employees will bring all of their experiences, and more.