Software companies will have a pre-defined induction plan for all their roles. The Induction plan is prepared to help developers to understand the company culture, processes, products and technology stack.
Week 1-2: Introduction and Onboarding. During your first 2 weeks, you will be introduced to the company, the team members, and the general culture. Here are some of the activities you probably will be involved in:
- Meet with your manager and team members to discuss your role and responsibilities.
- Attend a company-wide orientation to learn more about the mission, vision, values, and company culture.
- Receive an overview of the software development processes, tools, and technologies.
- Set up your development environment and ensure that you have access to all the necessary tools and resources.
Week 2-4: Understanding the Product and Technology Stack. In second to forth week, you will focus on getting a deeper understanding of the product and technology stack. Here are some of the activities you will be involved in:
- Attend a product demo and learn about the features and functionality of the software.
- Work with your team members to learn about the technology stack and coding conventions.
- Attend a code review session to learn how the company maintains code quality and consistency.
- Participate in a hands-on coding exercise to practice coding in the technology stack.
Week 4-12: Projects and Collaborations. During weeks 4-12, you will be likely assigned to a project team and start working on a specific project or feature. Here are some of the activities you will be involved in:
- Attend daily stand-up meetings to discuss project progress and roadblocks with your team.
- Collaborate with your team members to develop software features and functionality.
- Attend code review sessions to learn from your colleagues' feedback and insights.
- Participate in sprint retrospective meetings to reflect on the progress made and identify areas for improvement.
Week 12-24: Professional Development and Career Pathing. After the first 3 months and during weeks 12-24, you will mostly focus on your professional development and career path planning. Here are some of the activities you will be involved in:
- Attend a performance review meeting with your manager to discuss your progress and set goals for the future.
- Identify areas where you would like to develop your skills and collaborate with your manager to create a development plan.
- Attend a training session to learn about new tools, technologies, or processes that could benefit your career development.
- Participate in a mentorship program, where you will be paired with a senior developer to help guide your professional growth.
In conclusion the induction plan is designed to give you a comprehensive introduction to the company culture, processes, and technology stack. This plan will help you to feel welcome and supported as you begin your journey as a junior software developer.
These induction plans when you are a junior developer usually last for around 6 months and are running together with your probation periods. Feedback from your line manager will be provided usually monthly, and you will have more regular 1-1 catchups. As time passes and you are going through your objectives and goals defined in the plan, these will become more and more passive and 1-1 catchups will become more informal and more about you. After the first 3-6 months you should feel like part of the team already and start being productive.