In the IT world, the word "jun" has long become familiar. This is the name given to newcomers who are just taking their first steps in the profession and do not yet have much experience. Juns come to the company to learn, try their hand, and grow under the guidance of more experienced colleagues.
In 2026, the requirements for junas will become higher, but at the same time there will be more opportunities for a career start.
1. Basic programming
This is still the foundation:
variables, conditions, cycles, functions;
OOP and basic principles of code structuring;
proficiency in one language (Python, JavaScript, Java or C#).
Important: companies increasingly expect knowledge of at least one language with typing (TypeScript, Kotlin, Go).
2. Web and API
Even if you want to go into mobile or desktop development, you need to know the web:
basics of HTTP and REST API;
JSON and GraphQL;
HTML and CSS;
work with SQL and NoSQL.
Trend 2026: working with reactive APIs and streaming data.
3. Developer tools
work with Git and GitHub/GitLab;
CI/CD basics (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI);
basic knowledge of Docker;
ability to run a project locally and deploy it to the cloud (Vercel, Railway).
4. Algorithms and data structures
The classic that is tested in interviews:
arrays, lists, hash tables;
sorting and search;
understanding the complexity of algorithms (Big O).
5. Soft skills
By 2026, the following will be even more valued:
ability to work with AI assistants for code (Copilot, Codeium, CodikGPT);
communication and teamwork;
readiness to quickly join the project.
Tip: Employers are increasingly asking if you can effectively use tools that accelerate development.
6. How to stand out from the crowd
pet projects with AI (chatbots, generators, automations);
activity on GitHub and participation in open source;
experience with clouds (AWS, GCP, Yandex Cloud);
minimum security knowledge (SQL injections, XSS).
📚 Where can I study the basics and prepare for the first interview?
If you are just starting out, it is important to have structured training. Codice There are courses and modules that will help you learn the basics of programming.
After completing the course, you can get Certificate, which will be a plus when applying for your first job. This is a real way to stand out among candidates and show the employer the seriousness of your intentions 🚀.
And we also have an active Telegram channel, where we discuss cool ideas, share experiences and analyze tasks together — learning becomes not only useful, but also fun.