A New Opportunity at Bhuman

Hey there, fellow developers and curious readers! It's been quite a while since I first started working as a frontend developer, and I've been lucky enough to have some amazing opportunities and challenges along the way. As I'm writing this blog post, I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia and gratitude for everything I've learned and achieved so far.

But hey, enough with the sentimental intro! The purpose of this post is not to bore you with my personal journey (at least not entirely), but rather to share some of the most important lessons, insights, and tips I've gathered throughout my experience. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, I hope you'll find something useful or inspiring in these words.

So without further ado, let's dive into the first part of this reflection series: how I got started and what I've learned so far. Get ready for some nerdy anecdotes, some honest confessions, and some funny memes (okay, maybe not that last one, but who knows?).

First Day

At 17, I was still learning the ropes of front-end development, working on side projects and hustling with my bro to build our own start-up. Outta nowhere, a friend told me a recruiter from bhuman wanted to chat. Turns out, they'd seen my work and were impressed, offering me a frontend role. I was stoked but also nervous about the test work they wanted me to do.

The task was to make a dashboard using SolidJS, a library I'd never worked with before. I was a huge fan of NextJS, and it was my go-to for most projects. But I wasn't gonna let my lack of SolidJS experience hold me back, so I took on the challenge.

I remember diving headfirst into the docs, trying to figure out the ins and outs of SolidJS. After 3-4 hours of grinding, I finally finished the dashboard, and I was pretty happy with the result.

To my surprise, the CEO was impressed with my work and offered me the job on the spot. I couldn't believe it – my dream was coming true! I was stoked to join bhuman as a frontend developer. This experience taught me that hard work and dedication can pay off in unexpected ways, and being open to new experiences and learning new skills can lead to awesome opportunities.

Challenges & Worklife

My first big job was getting the app revamp from development to production. When I started working on redesigning the website for Bhuman, I had no idea it would be such a huge project. I started out just messing around with a few components and making minor design adjustments. But as I kept going, I realized I'd basically given the website a total makeover.

It was intimidating at first, but I was up for the challenge. I knew SolidJS was the best way to make the website more scalable and maintainable, so I jumped in. One of the biggest issues I had to face was the lack of available npm packages for SolidJS. Most of the packages were written in jQuery, which wasn't ideal for us.

So, I had to get creative and figure out how to rewrite and convert React/JS components to work with SolidJS. It was a learning curve, but I was able to figure it out and conquer the challenges.

My main goal was to keep the website as lightweight as possible while still making it look good and be functional. I added micro-animations with Motion.dev to give the user experience a boost and make the website more engaging. I also focused on making the website responsive and easy to navigate.

All in all, the redesign was a huge job, but I'm proud of what I achieved. The website looks and works much better now, and I learned a ton in the process. It was awesome to work on such a big project and see the positive effect my work had on the company.gn was a massive undertaking, but I'm proud of what I was able to accomplish. The website looks and functions much better now, and I learned a lot in the process. It was a great experience to work on such a significant project and see the positive impact of my work on the company.

Work Culture

At Bhuman, the work culture is amazing! It's a place to grow and learn, where your ideas are valued and respected. Everyone's super approachable and always willing to lend a hand. No useless meetings or micromanaging - we just trust each other to do our best.

Code reviews are awesome here - no egos or competition, just a real desire to learn from each other and make the codebase better. When mistakes happen (cos, y'know, they do) we don't point fingers - we learn from it and try to stop it from happening again.

Plus, it's like one big family. We're not just coworkers - we're friends supporting each other in and out of work. It's a positive atmosphere where people are happy to come in and motivated to do their best.

The talent level is also off the charts. There's so many young stars who are passionate about their work, and it shows in the quality of their output. Everyone's always pushing themselves to learn and improve, creating an atmosphere of excellence and innovation.

To summarizes, the work culture at Bhuman is something special. You're not just a number, you're an important part of the team and you're encouraged to grow and thrive. I'm proud to be part of this community and can't wait to see what the future holds.

Accomplishments and lessons learned

At bhuman, I had a blast and achieved a lot of things I'm super proud of. One of the biggest accomplishments was joining the frontend crew and redesigning the company's website using SolidJS. I tackled learning a new framework head-on and ended up delivering top-notch code that wowed the team and made our customers' experience so much better.

Besides that, I worked on a bunch of other cool projects while I was there. One of them was creating a custom Figma to code plugin that let us generate ready-to-go code straight from our design files. Even though it's not out there for everyone, we still use it in-house to make our workflow smoother and boost our productivity.

But it wasn't just about the projects. Being part of the bhuman family taught me a ton of valuable life lessons that I'll carry with me for the rest of my career. One major takeaway was the power of teamwork and collaboration. At bhuman, everyone's got your back and is ready to lend a hand when needed, making for an awesome work environment that encourages growth and learning.

Another big lesson I learned was the importance of taking risks and stepping out of my comfort zone. When I first joined bhuman, I'd never worked with SolidJS before, but I was game to learn and take on the challenge. That decision led to one of my proudest moments.

All in all, my time at bhuman was insanely rewarding. I'm so stoked about the experiences and lessons I picked up during my time there!

How can I break into frontend engineering?

If you're trying to break into the world of frontend engineering, there are a bunch of things you can do to seriously boost your chances of getting your foot in the door. First and foremost, it's super important to have a rock-solid understanding of the fundamentals of web development, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. To stay ahead of the game, you should also be familiar with popular frontend frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular – trust me, it'll make a big difference.

Now, let's talk about showcasing your skills. Having a killer portfolio that demonstrates your experience and what you're capable of is essential. This can include personal projects you're proud of, contributions to open-source software, and freelance work you've done for clients. A strong portfolio not only highlights your abilities but also proves that you're passionate about frontend development and are willing to put in the time and effort to level up your skills.

Don't underestimate the power of networking – it's a major key in the frontend development industry. Make sure you attend meetups and conferences, and connect with other developers on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. Building relationships with fellow devs can open doors to job opportunities or even collaborations on exciting projects.

Last but not least, don't be afraid to apply for junior frontend developer roles. While these positions may not offer the same level of pay or responsibility as more senior roles, they can provide invaluable experience and opportunities to learn from more experienced developers. Remember, everyone starts somewhere, and landing a junior role can be the perfect stepping stone to bigger and better things in your frontend career.

Ending Thoughts

To sum it up, my experience working at BHuman as a frontend developer has been fantastic. I've learned a bunch, improved my skills, and made amazing friends along the way. During my time here, I've realized the value of a positive work culture and a supportive team. I've also discovered that staying up-to-date with the latest tech and tools is crucial for success in this field.

If you're looking to break into frontend engineering, I hope my experiences at BHuman have provided some helpful insights and tips to get you started. Keep in mind, always stay curious, never stop learning, and don't be afraid to take risks and try new things. Who knows, you might just end up like me, landing your dream job and achieving more than you ever imagined!