So you just learned to code, and you're excited to tell the world and get started on your career.
I've been saying this for years, and it's still true in 2026, but don’t sell yourself short!
Seriously, don’t be or call yourself a Junior Developer. A Junior Developer puts this title in their resume, emails, and LinkedIn.
They announce it to the world but my advice is don’t do this.
Why?
Because when you do that, this is what recruiters and companies see:
“Hi, I’m desperately looking to get hired as a developer.
I’m still new at this, but can you please, please, please place a bet on me and hope that I turn out to be an asset and not a liability for your company.
Oh, and I’m also going to need a lot of help from your current employees for the first 6 months!”
Doesn't look great right?
And I know what you're thinking...
But I AM a Junior Developer!
And I get it. We all start at the beginning. However, you'll have better long-term success if you focus on improving your skills to become an intermediate developer first before you announce it to the world or apply for tech jobs.
Why?
Well a few reasons:
Intermediate devs get paid a lot more money
There are a lot more job opportunities
You won't pigeonhole yourself into the junior role
And you won't be stuck in that junior role at a company for longer than you need to be
And I know what you're probably thinking...
But I need a job right now!
I get it, but you need to stop that short-term thinking. Because unless your job involves you working with really smart people that you can learn from every day, or on technologies that are relevant and current (few junior developer roles offer you this), then its not worth it.
Your time would be better invested learning skills to get out of the junior mindset, and so you don't get trapped in those junior roles.
Long term, you will earn more money, be working with better developer teams, and you will be more likely to work for a company that teaches you and let’s you work with up-to-date technologies every day.
How will I know when I’m no longer a Junior Developer?
There won’t be a magic moment, and you'll always feel like you don’t know enough, and that others are smarter than you. It's actually a sign you're competent because only those who know a lot on a topic, realize how much else they don't know.
This is called impostor syndrome, and it’s completely normal and every developer feels it. Even the best in their fields suffer from it from time to time.
However, there are a few things that can help to determine if you are still a junior developer or not:
Can you explain to your family members how the internet works?
How a computer works?
How websites work?
Do you have a basic understanding of HTML, CSS and JavaScript to the point that you can build your own websites?
Do you know a little bit of React?
Have you built a few projects on your own on GitHub and are comfortable putting websites and apps online?
If you can answer yes to all the above, then congratulations, you are no longer a junior developer. Go ahead and start applying for those roles using my guide below.
However, if you can't answer all of them then you still have some work to do.
But the good news is, I'm going to share my best advice in this guide!
Sidenote: If you want to fast-track all of this, I've created a course to take from you junior to senior also:
It's the ultimate resource to get people out of the 'junior mindset'.
It also covers the whole developer ecosystem on the web and even the selective knowledge known by only senior developers.
Everything from:
SSH
Linux Servers
Performance (from minimizing DOM updates to Load Balancing)
Security
State Management
AWS lambda and other server-less architectures
TypeScript
Server Side vs Single Page Applications
Testing
Docker
Sessions with JWT
Redis
Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery
Know how to properly leverage AI tools (lots of misconception about this one out there right now... more on this later)
And more
The course is focused on connecting the dots between all of these so that the next time you are in an interview, you can speak intelligently about current tactics for building projects, architecture, and setting up developer environments.
It is the follow-up course to my complete web developer bootcamp.
If you're not ready to fast track your journey, then here's the exact topics and skills you need to learn to go from Junior to Senior in the next 12 months, using mostly free resources. (No degree required).
The 14 skills required to go from Junior to Senior Developer this year
To become a Senior Developer, you will need more than just technical skills. I have written extensively about the other 'peripheral' skills (i.e. people skills) in my article How To Become A Senior Developer.
Ok, enough chatter. Let’s get started and have a look at what skills you need, and how to get you out of being stuck as a Junior Developer in 2026.
Here's the assumption I'm going with here:
You know HTML, CSS and JavaScript
You have built a few projects yourself
Perhaps you also know how to create a simple Node.js server
If this is not the case, go learn all of this here first.
However...
If you still feel like you know a tiny bit in a giant universe of skills
If you find yourself stuck thinking where should I get started on a new project
If the idea of your boss asking you to be in charge of a project scares you
If you don't know how to make good architectural decisions.
Then you need to work on the skills I outline below.
As with all of my articles and courses, our focus is on efficiency. We all have the same hours in a day, but some people are able to learn and do more than others.
Side note: That's actually a skill you can learn. So my #1 suggestion is to first become an efficient learner.
![Learning to Learn [Efficient Learning]](https://images.ctfassets.net/aq13lwl6616q/6VWcUgLgG0SU55ORlILe2S/e186361aeb48561bcd19ae6486577022/Learning_to_Learn.jpg?w=1200&h=672&q=50&fm=webp&bg=transparent)
I'm going to save you a ton of time because rather than having to jump around to a bunch of different articles and YouTube videos, I've outlined everything that I recommend you learn below.
These are the skills (and resources... mostly free) that will make you stand above a Junior Developer role:
#1. Learn about SSH
Learn about how SSH works, and how to SSH into a server. Then learn a little about Symmetric and Asymmetric encryption:
As well as Hashing:
And then learn how to manage SSH keys:
#2. Learn advanced JavaScript
Learn common algorithms and data structures
Learn some common design patterns
Learn the difference between OOP and Functional Programming, and the pros and cons of each
Learn common Functional Programming techniques
Learn how to Optimize Code
Learn how modules work
I cover all of this in my Advanced JavaScript Concepts Course:
#3. Learn how to improve Web Performance
Learn about network performance, improving delivery, and minimizing files and images
Learn the differences between HTTP/2 vs HTTP/1.1
Learn how the Critical Render Path works
Learn about pre-fetching resources
Learn about code-splitting
Learn about CDNs
Learn about compression
Learn about Caching and all the places you can use caching
Learn how to do Load Balancing using Nginx, then try load testing on it
Go over important performance topics following this tutorial
#4. Learn a popular Frontend Library, as well as how to manage complex state
Learn a popular frontend library/framework like React, Vue or Angular to build large web applications. My choice (and top recommendation) is to learn React but you can pick whichever suits you
Learn the principles of Redux or other state management tools) and not only how to manage state but how to think about data flow through your app as it grows
Learn about Event Sourcing and CQRS which inspired Redux
Learn a little bit about module bundling using Vite, or Parcel
#5. Learn about testing
Learn the current testing landscape and the tools you can use
Learn about the different types of tests: Unit Tests, Integration Tests, End to End Testing
Learn how to write good tests
Learn about TDD and BDD
Learn how to write Asynchronous Tests
Learn about Snapshot testing
Learn how to use Mocks, Stubs and Spies
Of course, we also talk about testing in almost all of our programming courses but we also have a dedicated testing course as well:
#6. Learn about TypeScript
Learn the benefits of having static typing in JavaScript
Learn how to use the TypeScript Compiler and how to write in TypeScript
Learn when and when not to use Typescript
Or, if you want to learn everything in one place, then take our TypeScript course:
This course covers everything from beginner to advanced topics, so if you're a JavaScript developer who is serious about taking your coding skills and career to the next level, then this is the course for you.
#7. Learn about Client Side Rendering vs Server Side Rendering
Learn about when to use Client Side Rendering and when to use Server Side Rendering
Learn the benefits of using Next.js or Gatsby.js instead of implementing your own server side rendering
#8. Learn about securing your applications
Learn how to avoid XSS or CSRF
Learn how to use HTTPS to make the web safer
Learn about Access Control, SQL Injections, Command Execution, etc
Learn why you would want to keep all software up to date
We have numerous cybersecurity courses that you can follow to learn all of this:
#9. Learn about Docker and Containers
Learn why containers are different (and sometimes better) than VMs
Learn to create a Docker container
Learn how to use Docker Compose to orchestrate services and make developers’ lives easier
#10. Learn about the different types of Databases
Learn about relational and non relational databases
Learn when one is better than the other in certain situations
#11. Learn how to manage sign in + sessions in your app
Learn how to manage sensitive user information like passwords
Learn the difference between cookie based authentication and token based authentication
Learn how you can use JWTs
Implement your own authentication/authorization flow in your app
#12. Learn about Infrastructure as a Service and Platform as a Service
Browse some of the most common offerings by the big players like AWS, GCP, Azure and IBM Cloud
Learn about functions as a service like AWS Lambda
Create your own Digital Ocean Droplet and run a server
Learn about serverless architecture
Learn about Monolithic vs Micro Services architecture
#13. Learn about Continuous Integration, Delivery, and Deployment
Learn about Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment and how you can manage large projects to run smoothly
Learn to work in teams
#14. Start learning how to use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor to become more efficient and build faster
You thought I was going to leave this one out didn't you?!
To be clear, I haven't added this to the list for 2026 just because it's the hot and trendy thing right now. It's because I've spent over 200+ hours going deep and these tools are definitely here to stay and are going to become a key part of the developer's toolkit to become more efficient and deliver more value.
However... there is a right way and a wrong way to use AI tools.
An AI tool SHOULD SAVE YOU TIME. By saving you time, it makes you more productive and increases your value
An AI tool SHOULDN'T ADD COMPLEXITY. It’s the biggest thing that senior engineers do for companies. They prevent complexity of a system
However, you need to be careful because you can use it in the wrong way that negatively affects your learning and fundamental understanding to become a senior level developer.
I created a workshop for ZTM students to show them the right way but recently made it free to anyone to take advantage of. I hope it helps.
What's the difference between a Senior Developer and a Junior Developer?
As I'm sure you've noticed by now, the difference between junior developers and senior developers isn't just the technical skills listed above.
That's not enough.
There is also a set of non-technical skills that are just as important. I wrote a whole post that covers these 5 other important non-technical skills you need to become a senior developer so I won't re-write it here.
But the high-level answer is a Junior Developer writes code and just does the work they're told to do. While a Senior Developer is someone who brings an incremental benefit to the table.
This means that a Senior Developer is someone that:
Makes people around them better
Thinks higher-level and has a longer-term vision
Is able to communicate clearly and effectively with their teams
Comes to the table with solutions to problems rather than just identifying them
Consistently delivers and produce business value
Conclusion
Does your head hurt yet?
This will take a while for you to go through but at least you have a roadmap of what is important for you to learn in 2026 to go from Junior to Senior Developer.
If you want to fast-track and learn all of this, remember that I have a course that covers all of this in one place:
It has over 37 hours of professional, HD video lessons and gives you everything in one place to guide you along your journey to becoming a Senior Developer.
That being said, being a developer is a never ending journey of learning as technologies always change. This means that in order to keep up with the industry, your best bet is to be efficient and be wise about what you spend time on because it is impossible to learn and know everything.
My advice is to focus your efforts on connecting the dots:
Why do these technologies and solutions exist?
What problems do they solve?
What are the pros and cons of using them?
By doing this and learning the fundamentals, you are more resistant to change. (This is the theory behind all of the courses that I teach).
If you take away one thing from this article, let it be this
Stop calling yourself a Junior Developer. But always keep a Junior Developer mindset.
What does that mean?!
This means that you are constantly looking to learn from others and improve (junior mindset), no matter how senior you are but you never settle for a junior developer role.
Apply for roles for which you are under-qualified, not over-qualified.
Remember that if you never ask (or in this case, never apply to the intermediate role), the answer will always be no.
Don’t overestimate the world and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.
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Want to learn more?
Here's all the articles in this 3-part series:
Part 1: Learn to code for free & get hired in 5 months. Full step-by-step guide to go from complete beginner to becoming a web developer
Part 2: Don't Be A Junior Developer: The Roadmap From Junior to Senior. (This article)
Part 3: How to Interview, Land a Job, and Get a Raise. The strategies and tactics I used to get multiple job offers after following the steps in this guide.
Want to fast-track this?
Here's my step-by-step roadmap which includes all the training resources in one place to become a Full-Stack Web Developer.
Become a Fullstack Web Developer
13 milestones 9 courses
Step-by-step roadmap where you'll learn to code and build a portfolio.
Curated curriculum of courses, workshops, challenges, projects, and action items.
Become a Fullstack Web Developer from scratch and actually get hired.
Earn on average per year:
$115,887
US salary data collected from Indeed, LinkedIn, and Web3.career 2026.
^^ These are paid courses, but they are all included in a single ZTM membership, as well as support and private community access. All up to date and designed to help you get there quicker than doing this on your own.
