Happy new year, everyone! With 2023 upon us, I would like to take this opportunity to recap what happened in 2022, and discuss what to be done in 2023.
Recap in 2022
This year has been a challenging one for me, with the Internet company experiencing significant layoffs, the high temperatures in Chengdu in June, the COVID-19 epidemic in September, and my own infection with the virus in December.
In March 2022, I started to apply for internships in front-end positions, but the process wasn’t smooth. I was rejected by companies like ByteDance and Tencent due to my lack of excellent project experience, which left me feeling frustrated. Eventually, a friend recommended me to Microsoft in Suzhou, but I wanted to stay in Chengdu, so I turned the opportunity down, which may have been the dumbest decision I made in 2022. Later that month, I interviewed with a big data internet company in Chengdu.
Starting in April, I began learning new technologies to improve my skills. To date, I have written almost 30 blog posts on my website and read seven related books, two of which are in English. At the same time, I realized the importance of English as most technical articles are published in English, so I started rebuilding my English knowledge. I forced myself to only read original English technical articles.
Currently, if I have time, I attend the English corner for programmers organized by the group every Friday. There are people who work abroad and those who work for foreign companies in China, and although I haven’t reached their level yet, I’m learning from them in terms of pronunciation and grammar. I’ve also been working with the React framework to further my progress in front-end development, along with learning the underlying logic of TypeScript. While I learned about these topics earlier this year, I feel that my understanding is still basic and I want to do some projects to truly dive into React and TypeScript.
What to Expect in 2023
In 2023, it’s possible that TypeScript may release version 5.0 or that React may release a new version. There may also be a lot of other updates in the front-end ecosystem. If I were to learn everything step by step, I’m afraid my ability to keep up with the pace of technological change would be limited. That’s why I believe it’s important for me to develop a front-end system mindset this year.
Additionally, learning algorithms is essential. In 2022, I neglected to focus on learning algorithms, thinking that they weren’t often used in front-end work. However, I later realized that even though they may not be used frequently, they can still have a significant impact on my thinking and problem-solving abilities.
One of the key points I am focusing on this year is improving my English skills. While the environment around me may not be conducive to learning English, the internet allows me to connect with others and practice speaking. I am motivated to do this for two reasons: my goal of eventually working for a foreign company, and my desire to be proficient in a second language. I plan to put a lot of effort into practicing speaking and improving my English skills this year.
Therefore, I can expect the following in 2023:
- A deep focus on front-end technologies, including React, TypeScript, and Node.js, etc.
- Continued practice with algorithms on LeetCode.
- A dedication to learning and improving English language skills.
I am hoping for a better outcome on December 31, 2023.