Im only 1.5 YOE and feel pigeonholed, help!

New
DuYL41

New

DuYL41
Feb 17 9 Comments

My first internship that put me in React front end, and I feel like I’ve been pigeonholed since. I worked at my next job (current one) for almost a year, doing mobile dev for iOS and android mainly, with some experience in cloud and backend.

Honestly working with UI is not nearly as interesting to be as working with data. I enjoyed my cloud and backend tasks alot.

I want to make a transition to full back end or full stack with half back end tasks. My boss is hiring for back end engineer. Is it a good idea to ask him for the role or more back end tasks? I also know he also needs me for my current role because I am the only one on the team that knows how.

At least in the long term I don’t want to be pigeonholed. Any ideas on how to find a back end role with my experience in my next job?

Also im trying to make it to big tech, i hear they hire for generalists, what does that mean? Will they take a look at my experience and put me in a front end role or do I have some say in it?

Background i have a BSCS, 1.5YOE, TC 85k.
Im very motivated to learn, analytical, would do well in a back end role, just never had an opportunity to do so.
Thanks.

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TOP 9 Comments
  • Google
    gn_jsk

    Go to company page Google

    gn_jsk
    I felt like that at my first job. Had a tooling and infrastructure title which was essentially glorified devOps. Definitely was quite hard to pivot since I did it for almost 2.5 yrs.

    Internal pivoting technically should be a bit easier but for me it wasn’t so I interviewed outside and luckily got a job with data pipelining and backend serving tasks. Couldn’t be happier with this new role but more importantly, it changes the narrative on my resume and pulled me out of the testing hole.

    I’d say look both places (internal & external) and consider making a lateral jump as well cause the narrative change will in the long run help you grow faster and earn more
    Feb 18 1
    • New
      DuYL41

      New

      DuYL41
      OP
      Thanks so much. This was actually helpful. What does lateral jump mean?
      Feb 18
  • Following. I feel very similar, especially now trying to apply to jobs. 1.5yoe is tough, we aren’t quite jr devs anymore but we don’t hit the exp threshold for mid level unless you can really shine in an interview
    Feb 17 2
    • New
      EnEffTee

      New

      EnEffTee
      at 1.5 yrs you have the capacity to reach mid level, don’t limit yourself
      Feb 18
    • New
      EnEffTee

      New

      EnEffTee
      in fact even after 1 is doable
      Feb 18
  • Paytm
    schtewpid

    Go to company page Paytm

    schtewpid
    Feel you i hated being a ui dev. Learnt some backend on my own and switched jobs. It was a little harder to do it because I had no backend experience but in the end it worked out
    Feb 18 1
    • New
      DuYL41

      New

      DuYL41
      OP
      How long were you a ui dev for before you switched? And how much backend did you learn? How did you sell yourself in the resumes/ interview? Thanks.
      Feb 18
  • Meta
    XpOu65

    Go to company page Meta

    XpOu65
    If you're in the US or authorized to work in Canada, ping me. I'm hiring for an established startup for 2-years experienced people who want to do backend distributed systems.
    Feb 18 1
    • New
      DuYL41

      New

      DuYL41
      OP
      Messaged!
      Feb 18