I messed up my career by not specializing
I have 7yoe as fullstack, but nothing on a very deep level. Now I feel like I’m not strong enough in anything to apply to just backend or frontend roles. My backend has been mainly nodejs and python django CRUD with a couple aws services like s3 ec2 lambdas and sqs. My frontend has been react redux and some nextjs lately. But again - although I’ve worked on multiple bigger projects, nothing was very complex. Now, I’ve been looking to take the next career step and would love to be more backend focused, but most jobs want strong backend skills ideally with distributed systems experience, which I lack. Is there any way I can still transition to backend and work on some services? How can I do this? Just apply to fullstack openings and try to grab more backend focused work? Or should I at this point just focus on frontend only and go up the ladder to staff/principal with deep frontend knowledge? I feel like today I can’t apply to most backend/frontend focused jobs as I feel like my knowledge is not deep enough. I feel like I should have picked one and stick with it a few years ago. Tc170k #roblox #tiktok #airbnb #netflix #stripe #dropbox #google
Following. I hope you get solid advice here OP. I trust Blinders here since most are very successful in their career. Im in your boat with 4 YOE with a masters degree
Apply to lower level backend if you really want to go backend. These days, hiring seems to be pickier with specialization and instant impact hires.
The same thing happened to me. FAANG is the answer here because they don't really care. The interview process just screens for general ability, and then you go to team matching. I've found it harder to get jobs at startups, even ones paying like 180k for senior. They always want someone with more experience in a particular area.
Can you share more details about your experience switching to faang and what it’s been like since?
Front end demand seems to be increasingly declining i would go find a backend role and grab some cloud certs and say your a backend/cloud specialization more demand for this
In the same boat. Throughout my career people have said, oh being a generalist is good! I'm not so sure and am starting to think that is, to some extent, bullshit. At the end of the day people want someone who is really good at what they do and not a jack of all trades. Maybe what others have been saying is not wrong, but it sure doesn't feel like it to me. I'm trying to decide how to proceed as well.
Dm for a TikTok referral when you’re ready to apply
Which one you like more
Backend. But have more frontend experience so far. Would love to transition and work much more on the backend.