Making the Invisible Visible, Part 2

Last time, I wrote that the one of the hardest challenges for someone brand-new to computer programming is to “make the invisible visible.” One example is how we create mental models of runtime behavior from static, textual code in order to “see” what the computer is doing, before it does it.

We also talked about how to how debugging is hard when our mental model of that code doesn’t match cold reality: we know a section of code isn’t working, but we don’t know why. There’s still something invisible about our code model. Adding print statements and using debugging tools can illuminate those dark walls of our cave, so we can get new insight into what’s actually going on.

Today, I want to submit that you need to do the same thing to your career. Sometimes we develop blind spots when we:

• are in school (including a bootcamp) and believe that we can press pause on being proactive about our professional career while we’re in school

• graduate from school (or bootcamp) and think the job offers will automatically come rolling in

• take an initial position as an entry level developer, intern, or apprenticeship, and stop being proactive about getting the next opportunity

These blind spots happen because, for most of us, building a career is hard work. There are loads of opportunities out there, but are you prepared for the next one that comes by?

Have you been actively shining a light on your shortcomings? Those areas where you know you should be stronger but just aren’t?

Do you even know what you shortcomings are? Everybody has them. What are yours?

Ask a friend what they think of your resume. See what another perspective might bring?

Take a bold step and join a local community of like-minded developers. Meet other people in your industry to stay current in your field, find out what’s new, and discover how to be helpful to people around you.

Doing these things is like turning a debugger on your career.

Sometimes we get so busy that we can’t think of what more we could possibly be doing to help your career along. But that’s just your mental model of yourself. Just like debugging code, you need to find ways to debug your career.

Sounds weird, I know. But if there’s “one secret trick” to advancing your career, this is it: to get outside help to look at where you are now, and to figure out what’s next. You can’t always do that by remaining inside your head.

There’s always a next step, even if it’s hard to see. So get some light, and make the next step visible.

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