Dear Beginner Engineer: An Honest and Encouraging Guide to Navigating Your Journey

Dear Beginner Engineer / Developer / Technologist,

Welcome to ! As you embark on your journey, it's essential to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals, explore different learning methods, and immerse yourself in the field.

Right off the bat, shoutout to you if you’re coming up in either engineering / development or technology in general. Frankly speaking, we totally get it. As exciting as it may be to be embarking on this journey, we know how overwhelming it can be knowing there’s a ton to learn. Becoming an engineer, developer, or technologist is hard work, and it won't happen overnight, but you CAN make it happen. Seriously, it's possible, and that's why we put together this blog post! We hope this post gives you some clarity, lots of motivation, and concrete direction on how to navigate this journey.

How to Learn Engineering / Development / Technology

Generally speaking, there are three primary approaches to learning engineering, development, or technology. However, it's important to note that you won't learning everything you need to know through just one method. Most coming up in the space navigate the learning journey through a mix of techniques. Here are the main three:

1. College / University Programs: Pursue a degree in computer science, software engineering, or related fields. Many universities offer comprehensive programs, internships, and networking opportunities. There may also be bootcamp-like programs at colleges and universities.
2. Bootcamp Programs: Enroll in coding bootcamps or specialized training programs that provide a more focused, accelerated learning experience.
3. Self-Taught Methods: Utilize online resources, books, and tutorials to teach yourself coding and other relevant skills.

Skills to Learn

Like in any field, the specific skills you need to learn depend on the specific domain or role you’re pursuing. Again like in any field, there are both key hard skills and soft skills needed to be learned.

Let’s start with some of the more technical skills:

Programming Languages: Depending on the specific role you’re pursuing, you’ll want to learn the appropriate programming languages. Keep in mind that this will be dictated by the medium you’re planning on focusing on (i.e. websites, mobile apps, AR/VR, etc.), frontend vs. backend, and other related considerations.

Frameworks & Libraries: In addition to programming languages, and adjacent to programming languages, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with popular frameworks and libraries used in the different areas of engineering and development.

Version Control: Regardless of which programming languages and what frameworks and libraries, you’ll want to understand version control systems and collaboration tools for managing code and projects such as Git and GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab.

Databases: Depending on how much you focus on backend over frontend, but even regardless of which side you focus on, you’ll want to learn about various types of databases and their management systems. Whether that’s relational databases (i.e. SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.), NoSQL databases (i.e. MongoDB), or Cloud-based databases (i.e. Firebase, AWS, etc.)

Networking & Security: If you focus more on the network and security side of things, you’ll of course want to understand the fundamentals of computer networks, network security, and cybersecurity. But regardless of your area of focus, some understanding of networking and security would be very beneficial. Make sure to learn about networking basics (IP addressing, routing, etc.), network security (firewalls, intrusion detection systems, VPNs, etc.), and cybersecurity (encryption, authentication, threat analysis, etc.)

Software Development Methodologies: You’ll also want to study the various development methodologies to improve project management and collaboration including Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Waterfall, etc.

When it comes to soft skills, you’ll want to develop interpersonal skills essential for effective teamwork and communication. Some of these include problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, time management, and problem solving.

Immerse Yourself in the Field of Engineering

Attend Events and Meetups

We highly recommend participating in local and online events, hackathons, and meetups to learn from others, share your knowledge, and build connections.

Attend Workshops and Online Seminars

We also recommend signing up for workshops and online seminars to gain practical experience and learn about new developments in the field. This is a great way to build on top of and complement what you’re already learning.

P.S. We offer seminars every month. Check out our seminars page for more information by clicking here: Rita Lab Seminars

Join a Community

Make sure to connect with like-minded individuals in online forums, social media groups, and coding communities to share resources, ask questions, and collaborate on projects. In other words, we recommending joining a community to help keep you motivated and give you the support you need.

You can start by joining ours 🙂 We think we have one of the best communities, but we’re biased 😉 You can join our community by joining our Discord server. You can do so by clicking here: Rita Lab Discord Server

Stay Up to Date with the Latest in the Field

Consistently staying up to date with the latest in the space is key. Subscribe to email newsletters, podcasts, and blogs to stay informed about the latest trends and advancements in engineering and technology.

Here are some email newsletters we recommend: Technology Newsletters

Here are some podcasts we recommend: Technology Podcasts

Network and Meet Engineering Professionals

Connect with professionals in the space on platforms like LinkedIn, by attending networking events, and by directly reaching out to specific experts to learn from their experiences. Networking can also open doors to new opportunities, mentorship, and collaborations.

If anyone would like to meet with me personally, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @miguelmakes!

Find Your People

Seek out mentors, peers, and others who share your passion and can support your growth. We highly recommend to not go at it alone. Even if you start by yourself, eventually find people who will support you and motivate you.

Navigating Engineering Roles

We’ll be coming out with a more extensive resource covering most engineering, development, and technology roles. For now, here’s a quick list of roles to stay on top of:

• Frontend Developer: Focuses on the user interface and experience
• Backend Developer: Develops server-side logic and manages databases
• Data Scientist: Analyzes and interprets complex data sets
• DevOps Engineer: Streamlines software development and deployment
• Cybersecurity Engineer: Protects systems from threats and vulnerabilities
• Cloud Solution Engineer: Designs and implements cloud-based solutions
• AI Engineer: Develops artificial intelligence and machine learning models
• AI Ethicist: Ensures responsible development and use of AI technologies

Resumes, Portfolios, Cover Letters, Oh My!

Resumes, portfolios, and cover letters are essential components of any engineer's, developer's, or technologist's job application toolkit. A resume is a concise document that highlights your relevant work experience, education, and skills, providing a snapshot of your professional background. Portfolios, on the other hand, showcase your engineering or development projects, demonstrating your technical prowess, problem-solving abilities, and domain expertise through unique case studies or code samples. Finally, a cover letter is a personalized introduction, detailing your interest in the position, how your skills align with the job requirements, and what makes you a strong candidate. Together, these elements help paint a comprehensive picture of your abilities and potential as an engineer, developer, or technologist, making them crucial for landing that dream job. These won't come together overnight, but they will come together. Trust the process!

We’ll be sharing a new blog post soon on the projects you want to make sure to include in your portfolio. Stay tuned!

Overcoming a Saturated Job Market and Mass Layoffs

We must be honest: the job market for engineers, developers, and technologists is currently quite saturated, and the tech industry has seen its share of layoffs. This reality may make finding jobs more challenging, but remember that it's still possible to succeed in the space! Many professionals make common mistakes, like not tailoring their learning to their goals, not working on projects that align with their objectives, and not investing in their personal brands. If you can avoid these pitfalls and put in the hard work, you'll be well on your way to standing out and succeeding as an engineer, developer, or technologist.

We wrote a blog post expanding on these ideas. Check it out here: Coming Up in Tech and Design in 2023 Amidst Layoffs, Economic Instability, Reprioritizations, and AI Advancements

You Got This

Embrace the challenges, stay curious, and remain persistent in your pursuit of a successful career in engineering, development, and technology. Remember that learning is a lifelong process, and there's always something new to discover. Surround yourself with supportive and knowledgeable people, and never be afraid to ask for help or guidance.

Wishing you all the best of luck in your engineering journey!