Hit Plateau? Start Fresh
Navigate career plateaus by intentionally hitting the reset button, unlocking transformative growth. Explore strength in starting fresh to pave the way for lasting success in your professional journey
In 2014, I didn't know what career path to take. Many were doing Android Development, which seemed easy and trendy. Phones and laptops were affordable, and everyone in engineering school was building apps. I joined the bandwagon, influenced by my peers. Despite trying other paths, I struggled to find the right opportunity. I had some experience with PHP, HTML, CSS, and MYSQL, but it wasn't enough. Web development internships were hard to come by.
With my friend's help, I landed an Android Development internship at his brother's tech company. It lasted for four months. Later, I became a Junior Android Developer at a top tech company in my country, spending four years in various roles.
In my past jobs, I noticed that backend developers were seen as more valuable than frontend ones. I thought pursuing backend development would earn me more respect, a belief I now find silly looking back. It was early in my career, and I lacked experience. I also relied heavily on backend APIs, which sometimes caused delays. This made me curious about backend development.
I tried learning it with a senior developer's help but lost motivation and stopped. Months later, I attempted backend development again using Node.js. I wanted to create a Yelp clone for my country with my cousin, but the project only reached an authentication module. My dream of becoming a backend developer was put on hold.
As a Senior Software Engineer in the Mobile Team working on European products, our client stopped the product I was leading. Restless for the next challenge, I dreamed of starting my own company and eventually resigned. I started a mentorship-related product company, surviving for a year with savings. I made mistakes, like getting a fancy office and surrounding myself with people who valued luxury. The ending was unpleasant, but I learned valuable lessons on how not to start a company.
Returning to the idea of becoming a backend developer, I faced challenges due to limited experience. I applied for junior roles but got no positive responses. Thankfully, a good friend told me about a Backend Developer position in his startup. With familiar faces, the interview was smooth, and I became a Senior Software Engineer in the backend team. Excitement and nervousness filled me, as I lacked experience in backend development. Instead of joining immediately, I took a month to learn the technologies, building APIs for about 20 days before starting fresh.
The beginning was tough—I struggled and got nervous proposing solutions to the team. I read a lot, practiced, and worked on personal projects to avoid mistakes. As time passed, things became more comfortable.
Seeking more challenges, I pursued a master's in computer science in Paris in 2021. Moving to a new country, culture, and language, everything was new, and even buying groceries became a struggle.
After completing my master's, I needed an internship. Despite my years of experience, I chose an internship to start fresh. The experience taught me valuable lessons, making me reflect on my working style and how cultural differences led to conflicts. After a career break, I got a job but hesitated to take senior roles due to past unpleasant experiences.
Wanting to focus on technical aspects and hardcore coding, I consciously reset my career again. Through multiple resets, I developed a mindset to start from scratch, thinking like a beginner. This eliminated the fear of making mistakes and asking questions, making me more open-minded. It boosted my confidence and improved both technical and communication skills.
Career plateaus are normal, and in those times, starting fresh can reveal many opportunities. A fresh start imparts wisdom and humility. Training yourself to embrace this mindset adds considerable value to your career journey.