Starting your first job as a software engineer is an exciting milestone for any graduate. It’s a moment filled with pride, anticipation, and yes, a little nervousness about adjusting to this new phase of life.

You’ve already tackled the hard part — clearing the interviews. But remember, that’s just the beginning. The real goal is to thrive and grow as an engineer in the company you’re joining.

In this blog, I’ll share actionable steps you can take both before and after joining your first job to set yourself up for success. These are some the things I learnt both as a new joiner and after being a mentor of a new joiner. Also please note that these are just my experience it may not be true for all.

Before You Join

Most of your learning will come from on-the-job experience. No one expects you to contribute on day one, but there are a few things you can do in advance to make a great first impression. You don’t need an extensive deep dive; even a quick review a day or two before starting can make a difference.

Familiarize Yourself with the Tech Stack

Find out what technologies your team or company uses. If this information isn’t shared during interviews, you can often figure it out with some research.

You don’t need to master these tools — just a basic understanding is enough. For instance, if your team uses Java, it’s helpful to revisit core concepts like SOLID principles, OOPs, and Dependency Injection. If you’re joining a big tech company, you may hear terms like “latency,” “SLA,” “Tier 1 service,” or “Tier 2 service.” Reading about these beforehand will help you feel more confident during conversations.

Brush Up on Git and Linux Basics

While you do not need to master git or linux it is valuable to know basic commands of linux as most of the organisations would be using these internally, if you are joining a startup most probably they would be using Github so it is worth investing time in learning these as the ramp up time is expected to be very fast.

After You Join

Once you’re onboarded, you’ll likely go through some training before being asked to contribute to team goals. Your ability to ramp up quickly and start adding value is a key factor that can set you apart from other entry-level engineers.

Earn Trust

You’ll typically be assigned an onboarding buddy — a mentor and guide who helps you settle in. Your manager will often rely on this person’s feedback about your progress.

Take full advantage of this opportunity by asking lots of questions — there’s no such thing as a “dumb question” here. However, try not to repeat the same question multiple times. Show your mentor that you’re learning and applying their guidance. When assigned tasks, give your best effort, as this will influence the kind of work you’ll be trusted with in the future.

Listen and connect

Beyond your onboarding buddy, make an effort to connect with other mid-level and senior engineers on your team. Attend team discussions, whiteboarding sessions, and meetings. Even if you don’t contribute much initially, simply being present, listening, and taking notes will help you learn faster.

After these discussions, review your notes and clarify doubts with your buddy or other team members. Remember, as a new hire, no one expects you to have all the answers — it’s okay to ask for help.

Don’t Take Unnecessary Pressure

Mistakes are part of the learning process, and no one expects perfection from a new grad. Missing a deadline or making a small mistake won’t usually cause major issues, especially if your mentor and manager are guiding you. Just make sure any errors you make don’t have a significant impact on the larger system.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and remind yourself that this is all part of the journey. Focus on learning and growing rather than trying to meet unrealistic expectations.

Conclusion

Starting your career in tech can feel overwhelming at first. Transitioning from academic programming to building production-grade systems is a big leap. But remember, no one expects you to have everything figured out right away.

Take your time, connect with your teammates, and ask questions. Building relationships and a strong foundation will make all the difference.

Clearing the interview is just the first step — your journey to becoming a great software engineer is just beginning.