Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire: A Manager's Guide to Helping New Developers Thrive

Andrew Colburn's talk, titled 'Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire, a Manager's Guide to Helping New Developers Thrive,' focuses on effective strategies for onboarding new developers to help them get up to speed quickly.

Andrew Colburn is a developer consultant at Bitovi, a remote JavaScript consulting firm based in Chicago. He has been with Bitovi since April 2021 and has extensive experience in onboarding new developers.

Andrew Colburn's talk is divided into four parts: an introduction and background on himself, real-life stories of developer onboarding, concrete tactical strategies for managers, and a Q&A session.

Bitovi handles a variety of projects, including building Greenfield applications, solving specific technical problems, and augmenting existing development teams. They work with clients ranging from small startups to Fortune 500 companies.

Documentation is essential for helping new team members get off to a good start. It provides them with the tools to unblock themselves and make decisions confidently without constantly needing to check in with their manager or other team members.

A buddy system pairs new hires with experienced team members who can help them navigate the codebase and company processes. This system is crucial because it provides new team members with a knowledgeable resource who is not their manager, making it easier for them to ask questions and get up to speed.

New developers might face challenges such as lack of access to necessary systems, outdated or incorrect documentation, and unclear expectations from managers. These issues can hinder their ability to contribute effectively from the start.

Preparing specific tasks for new developers is important because it helps them build momentum, learn the codebase, and gain confidence. These tasks should be non-critical, not time-sensitive, and well-documented to ensure a smooth onboarding experience.

Managers can improve the onboarding process by ensuring proper documentation, setting up a buddy system, simulating the onboarding process themselves, using checklists, retroactively reviewing the process with new hires, and being prepared with necessary access and tasks for new developers.

For further questions about Andrew Colburn's talk, you can connect with him on LinkedIn or join the Bitovi community Discord. Both links are available via a QR code shared during his presentation.