How Do I Know I'm Ready to Apply for My First Web Development Job?

I always get asked some variation of the same question

I'm a self-taught developer, how do I know when I'm ready to start applying to junior dev jobs?

You will always have imposter syndrome.

You'll always have doubts before you get hired. You won't be feeling confident in your skills. You can prepare for months or even years and still not feel ready for the job. This is the dilemma many of us find ourselves in.

The reality is, you'll probably never feel 100% ready for a job, whether it's your first or a transition to a new one. If you do feel completely ready, you might actually be overqualified for the position or find it unchallenging.

If you believe you can meet 50-60% of the requirements mentioned in the job description, don't hesitate to apply. You don't need to have experience with every single requirement. Ultimately, it's up to the company to determine what they're looking for in a junior developer.

If you keep waiting for that perfect moment when you’re absolutely “ready” to apply for jobs, you might miss out on valuable opportunities.

Be open to receiving feedback

The worst-case scenario of applying prematurely is not getting the job offer. While it may be discouraging, every rejection provides valuable feedback to improve your chances in the future. It might indicate a specific concept to learn or the need for more project experience. Perhaps you should practice answering interview questions that you find challenging.

It may sound cheesy, but if you never try, you'll never know!