Determining Your Level of Expertise in Tech

Developers often think about their career paths. They ask themselves questions like, What is my current level, and how do I reach the next level? The answer is not clear-cut. A developer might work as a senior in one company but be considered mid-level in another. Why? Because measuring expertise can be subjective.

Imagine two senior developers in the same field, placed on the same team. One has 7 years of experience, and the other has 6. It’s easy to assume the one with more years is more skilled, right? But what if the developer with 6 years has tackled more projects? Expertise isn’t just about time; it’s also about the variety and depth of experiences.

Every developer is unique, with different life experiences that shape their approach to problem-solving. Plus, luck can play a role in their career journey, affecting the opportunities they encounter.

Often, understanding your level is trickiest at the junior level. In tech, progress is ongoing, without clear-cut milestones. From your first day, you’re a junior, and this label sticks for quite some time. Moving from junior to mid-level isn’t a matter of months but years, due to the vast amount of knowledge to obtain. It’s more than daily study; it’s about how your brain integrates this information over time.

However, after dedicated effort, you’ll reach a point where you feel confident in your skills, capable of building projects independently. Yet, to truly step into a mid-level role, this confidence must be validated by professional experience. Personal projects are a start, but tackling real-world projects in a real job is the ultimate test.

To advance to senior level, the key is embracing responsibility. Seniors must have a broad knowledge base, not just to tackle tasks but to lead and innovate solutions for complex problems. It’s not just about writing better code; it’s about crafting the right solutions, demonstrating a depth of understanding and decision-making that distinguishes you from mid-level peers.