You have no idea what a real-life job as a React dev looks like. And that holds you back.

You’ve come a long way. You learned to code. You can build simple React apps. What an achievement compared to only a few months or years ago.

Now you wonder if it’s time to get your first job as a React developer. The problem is that you have no idea what’s awaiting you. Even worse, you have no idea what is expected of you.

• How are the skills that you’ve learned applied in a real-life job?
• What are the tasks of an average developer?
• What does a typical day for a dev look like?
• Are your skills even good enough for an actual job?

This uncertainty can become a real blocker. It might stop you from applying for jobs. It might let you freeze in interviews. You probably feel scared and curious at the same time. And you have every right to.

Working as a developer in a real-life product team is totally different from working solo on your own projects. You’ll learn a ton. But likely you’ll also be overwhelmed just like this developer:

“Before I started my first job, I knew how to solve a problem and put it into coding. But my first day was a mess anyway. An overwhelming mess where I couldn’t keep track of things: WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHERE ARE THINGS ORGANIZED? WHAT IS A STORY? WHAT IS THIS? AND WHAT IS THAT?” - Junior dev with panicky eyes

As normal as it is to feel scared, it doesn't help you get closer to your first job. If only you could get past these first few months of your first job.

Let me tell you, once you’re past a few months of being at your first developer job everything starts to change.

• You’ll learn techniques and skills from experienced developers in your team.
• You’ll understand how your team operates, how the developers collaborate, and how your product is being built.
• You’ll learn a lot of new processes and lingo outside of coding that is used in tech and product companies.

In most teams, these things are fairly similar. So you'll have learned many transferable skills. You’ll carry the clarity and insights you have gained to every following job. And it’ll be so much easier to join a new team.

That’s also part of the reason why it’ll be so much easier to find another job once you gained a little bit of professional experience.

Obviously, the experience of your first job can’t be replaced. But you can get close and prepare yourself with a dry run.

The React Job Simulator is designed to imitate the experience you get on your first developer job. In a nutshell that means:

• You work on an existing codebase where you adjust existing code and integrate new features.
• You work with tools and libraries that are common in professional projects.
• You use a structured process based on designs, tasks, and a project management tool.
• You learn to improve your code with example code reviews and a professional implementation as a comparison.
• You get access to a community of fellow learners where you can ask questions to your peers and an experienced developer.

If you’re a complete beginner, this is not the right place for you.

But if you’ve been through a few React courses and maybe built a small project on your own this is exactly for you. You’ll get introductory content, but most of the time you’ll have to figure it own on your own. Just like on the job. You’ll search on Google, read documentation, and (if you’re really stuck) ask for help. Again, just like on the job.

It won't be easy, but once you’re done with this project you’ll be well-prepared for the real world. You’ll be ready for the job.

There are more technical modules that might follow. For example about

• Debugging
• Continuous Integration and Deployment
• Authentication and Authorization
• Building a REST or GraphQL API

There's also a plan to build a Career Center to help you with writing a resume and applying for jobs. Note that all this is not set in stone and will be changed and prioritized depending on demand.