4 things I wish I knew about working in the tech field 🖥️ 💡

Do you think working in tech means writing code all day?

When I started my first tech job, I thought most of my day would be spent writing code.

But once I was actually in the role, things looked quite different. Writing code was often just 20% of the job.

What surprised me most was that much of my work looked like this:

• Understanding the real problem before jumping to solutions

• Asking questions when things weren't clear

• Explaining my ideas clearly to teammates

These small, everyday actions played a much bigger role in how my tech teams actually worked.

That's when I realized growth in tech wasn't just about coding. I wanted to keep learning, just in a more meaningful way.

One thing I realized working in tech was that I wasn't expected to "know it all" — and neither was anyone else around me!

What actually mattered was staying curious and being open to new ideas every day.

Learning in tech turned out to be less about having all the answers and more about building small, everyday habits.

For me, learning over knowing started to look like this:

• Learning where to look and who to ask. I didn’t need to memorize everything. I just needed to know how to find reliable information and who to reach out to when I needed help.

• Being resourceful. I began using the available resources as part of my everyday work. Documentation, Google searches, Stack Overflow, and even teammates became part of my daily learning toolkit. Looking things up early helped me get unstuck and actually move the work forward.

• Working on side projects. Side projects were a great way to build my learning habit. They gave me space to try things, make mistakes, and learn without the pressure of deadlines or expectations. I started exploring beginner-friendly projects on platforms like GitHub and it helped me to figure out what I actually enjoyed working on and where I wanted to grow next.

Over time, these small habits quietly built my confidence and helped me feel more comfortable growing in tech.

And, I didn't figure any of this out on my own. Learning in tech almost always happens with others.

Along the way, I began to see how much of my growth came from other people.

Working in tech was a team sport, and my progress became faster when I wasn't working alone.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Here's what really made a difference for me:

• Team collaboration turned my individual effort into shared learning, and that’s where real momentum started to build. Taking part in discussions, reviews, and working as a team shaped most of my everyday work in tech.

• Clear communication mattered just as much as writing good code. When people started to understand my work, they gave better feedback, and that helped me make improvements. The better I communicated, the easier it became for others to support and strengthen my work.

• Clear thinking showed up as clear communication. When I could explain my thinking and listen to others, my growth happened faster, and I started to feel more confident in my work.

As my role began to take shape in the tech world, I realized this kind of team support really mattered for my growth.

As the work became more real, a few challenging moments naturally started to show up. Things didn't always go smoothly.

I remember one of my early tasks where I felt pretty confident about what I’d done. Then the feedback came with comments, suggestions, and a few changes I hadn’t expected.

Everything felt so uncomfortable. And yes, there were moments of self-doubt too! I wondered if I’d missed something or wasn’t doing a good enough job.

Mistakes happened, and my work got reviewed. Sometimes it was sent back with notes. But, trust me! This is all part of the process.

Looking back, all those moments weren't mistakes to fear — they were part of learning how the real work gets done.

In tech, feedback and reviews usually mean your work matters.

Each revision became a small upgrade — one that slowly moved up my skills. Every comment helped me see things more clearly, think a bit deeper, and get better faster.

And that shift in mindset clearly made all the difference.

Over the years, I learned that success in tech isn't about big breakthroughs — it all came from a few small habits practiced every day.

"The only sustainable advantage in tech you can have over others is agility."

— Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon

As tools kept evolving, roles shifted, and expectations grew faster than expected, I learned that being able to adapt, learn, and adjust mattered more than having all the answers.

Here are five small everyday habits that helped me grow steadily and feel more confident in tech.

1. Ask questions early. If something isn’t clear, ask sooner rather than guessing.

2. Write things down. Keeping notes helps you learning stick and adds up over time.

3. Search before stressing. Clear searches and good documents often have the answer.

4. Treat bugs as puzzles. They are problems to be solved, not things to fear.

5. Protect your energy. Take breaks and avoid constant hustle. Your mind and body are your biggest assets.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Ara is a few weeks into her first tech job.

Meetings move fast, and new tools keep showing up. She understands parts of what’s happening, but not everything yet.

What should Ara do next?

A. Ask clarifying questions, take notes, and keep learning as she works.

B. Stay quiet so she doesn’t look unprepared.

C. Try to figure everything out alone after work.

D. Wait until someone notices she’s confused and helps.

Now that you know what working in tech is really like, here are a few gentle ways that could help build confidence when you're stepping into the tech field.