Hello fellow programmers,
I'm a newcomer to the world of IT, specifically focusing on frontend development. I recently embarked on this journey in my 30s, and I find myself contemplating the importance of having a mentor to guide me through this exciting yet challenging field. I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on whether having a mentor is crucial when entering IT as a self-taught developer.
While I understand the benefits of self-learning and online resources, I believe having a mentor could provide invaluable guidance, industry insights, and personal support. A mentor's guidance can help navigate the vast landscape of frontend development, from learning best practices, mastering frameworks, to gaining a deeper understanding of the industry's expectations.
Additionally, I have aspirations to work in the EU or US region in the future. If having a mentor is indeed beneficial, I would appreciate advice on where to find one, particularly someone experienced in the European or American job markets. Are there specific mentorship programs, online communities, or platforms where I can connect with potential mentors?
Any personal success stories are highly welcome
I do not believe having a mentor is necessary, but I wish I'd had one. actually, I still wish I had one sometimes. however, a lot of the things you can get from a mentor can be gleaned from community. this forum, hackernews, friends in the industry, and communicative coworkers can all give you unexpected insights.
I'm now on the other end where I'm training new people so I have a little advice - if you're in a position where you're working on a team, ask for as much help as you can get away with (and be as specific as possible with all of your asks, people like answering simple questions).