For professional programmers, how much mastery of JavaScript and other languages did you need before being hired?

I’m committed to mastering JavaScript yet find error debugging and code segments challenging. Is working on practical projects more effective than repetitive bootcamp exercises for landing a junior developer role?

hey emma, imho project work gives you deeper insight unlike pure bootcamp drill. im still figuring out my debugging skills, but freestyling with code makes u learn way more. mix in other lang practice too if u can, employers dig that untidy learning path!

Based on my own journey, attaining a solid grasp on JavaScript and its debugging techniques took years of alternating between hands-on projects and structured exercises. I found that while repetition and bootcamp frameworks build foundational knowledge, real-world projects force you to encounter and resolve unpredictable issues, which in turn strengthens your practical problem-solving skills. Engaging in projects allowed me not only to refine my coding abilities but also to become more adaptable in troubleshooting. This balanced approach helped me demonstrate both technical proficiency and resilience during interviews, an aspect many recruiters recognized as essential for junior developer roles.

Based on my own path, I realized that immersing myself in real world projects was a game changer. I started with small projects to test my understanding and then gradually tackled larger tasks that mimicked professional challenges. This allowed me to see firsthand how to debug errors that I wouldn’t expect in a bootcamp setting. While structured exercises laid the groundwork for understanding syntax and logic, practical project work honed my problem-solving skills and prepared me for the unpredictable nature of live code environments.

hey emma, i found that mixint hands-on mini projects with some bootcamp lessons really helped build my skills and confidence. struggling with bugs over and over eventually turned into a strenght. sometimes experimenting is the best teacher.