- Published on
From Fresh Grad to Real-World Dev: How My Mindset Changed After 1 Year at Etiqa
- Authors
- Name
- Haikal Tahar
Introduction
when i graduated, i thought i was ready.
turns out, i just knew how to code — not how to solve real problems.
my first year working at etiqa rewired the way i think.
it wasn't about learning new tools. it was about learning how to think differently.
Table of Contents
Fresh Grad Me
- thought fast = smart
- avoided things i didn’t understand
- do not know whats going on
- googled a solution, copy-pasted, moved on
- didn’t take ownership
Work Taught Me This
Slower Is Faster
rushing always led to rework.
i learned to pause. write things down. sketch the flow.
most bugs weren’t hard, they were hidden by messy thinking.
Understand Human Behavior
coding is one thing, but working with people is another.
i learned to observe, listen, and understand how others think.
it’s not just about writing code, it’s about solving problems together.
Argue with Solid Arguments
early on, i’d avoid debates or rely on opinions.
now, i back my points with data, examples, and logic.
a strong argument, it’s about being clear and reasonable.
Don’t Panic, Trace
early on, i’d freak out when something broke.
now? i zoom out. read logs. trace what changed.
Ask Better Questions
before: “why doesn’t this work?”
now: “what do i expect to happen, and what actually is happening?”
better questions = faster answers.
debugging is more about logic than luck.
You vs You
comparison used to kill me.
seeing senior devs do things in 5 mins made me feel behind.
but i realized i’m not racing them.
just need to be better than yesterday.
Conclusion
i came in trying to prove i was good enough.
i left year one learning to become good enough.
still a long way to go.
but now, i’m more patient. more curious. less afraid to be wrong.
and that’s progress.