Experience Isn't Just Technical: What I Learned Before My First Line of Code

Before getting to where I am today, I walked many different paths. Most of them had absolutely nothing to do with what I do now in front of a screen. I had to learn the hard way—taking the "long way around" and stumbling as I chased the dream of finally working in a field I love. Along the way, I took plenty of wrong turns, but with every mistake, I moved a little further forward. That was my journey: raw, real, and built on trial and error.

I’ve worked in customer service, as a delivery driver, and even as a bricklayer (though I confess that last one only lasted about a month, haha!). At the time, I used to resent those jobs. I would complain because I felt I was "wasting time," doing things that didn't align with my goal of becoming a developer.

The Value of What Doesn't Show on a Resume

Today, looking back with a cooler head and years of engineering experience, I realize how wrong I was. Every experience, no matter how far removed it seems from technology, teaches you something fundamental. What I gained on the streets, in shops, and on construction sites were communication skills, the ability to lose the fear of public speaking, and the grit to handle pressures that a crashed server could never match.

I came to understand that:

• Customer service taught me empathy—a vital trait for understanding what a user actually needs before I even touch a UI component.
• Being a delivery driver taught me about logistics and route optimization (pure logic in motion).
• Even that month as a bricklayer taught me about structures, solid foundations, and the sheer effort required to build something from the ground up.

It seemed like these things "didn't count," but they are exactly what allow me today to sit at a table with clients, understand their business problems, and lead technical projects with a human perspective.

A Space to Grow Together

Every experience nourishes you. I’m bringing all that accumulated knowledge here, to this site, where I’ll be sharing and talking about the topics I’m passionate about: from Frontend development with Next.js to complex system architecture.

I am convinced that sharing is a two-way street for learning and growth. It doesn't matter if you come from medicine, sales, or construction; if you are in tech today, your past is your greatest competitive advantage.

I invite you to join this space, read these reflections, and share your own stories as well. Because at the end of the day, what makes us "Seniors" isn't just the code we write—it's the story we carry with us.

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How about you? What "useless" job taught you the most important lesson of your career?