JL Solutions Mentorship Path

From Trainee to Developer — Your Career Ladder

Your Journey at JL Solutions

This isn't just about learning to code — it's about becoming part of the JL Solutions team. Each phase represents your growth from complete beginner to professional developer who can ship real work.

Take your time. There's no rush. What matters is that you're learning, growing, and building skills that will serve you for life.

Current Level: Phase 1 - Trainee (You're starting strong! 💪)

1

Phase 1: Trainee

Weeks 1-4 • Foundation Building

Welcome to the team! As a trainee, you're learning the absolute basics and getting comfortable with code. No pressure — everyone starts here.

What You're Learning:

  • HTML structure and elements
  • Basic CSS styling
  • How to use VS Code and Chrome DevTools
  • Git basics (clone, commit, push)
  • Reading and understanding existing code

What You'll Do for JL Solutions:

  • Fix simple typos on website pages
  • Update text content when Titi asks
  • Make small CSS changes (colors, spacing, fonts)
  • Follow along with small tutorials
  • Ask questions and learn from feedback

Success Looks Like:

  • ✓ You can create a simple HTML page from scratch
  • ✓ You can style elements with CSS
  • ✓ You understand how to navigate files and folders
  • ✓ You've made your first commit to GitHub
  • ✓ You're comfortable asking for help when stuck

Projects to Complete:

  • Personal Bio Page
  • Simple Portfolio Homepage
  • Styled Card Layout
2

Phase 2: Junior Apprentice

Weeks 5-8 • Adding Interactivity

You've got the basics down! Now we add JavaScript and make things interactive. You'll start contributing small features to real projects.

What You're Learning:

  • Core JavaScript (variables, functions, loops)
  • DOM manipulation and event handling
  • How to debug your code
  • Reading documentation
  • Working with local storage

What You'll Do for JL Solutions:

  • Build small UI components (buttons, cards, forms)
  • Fix simple CSS issues and bugs
  • Update existing pages with new sections
  • Add simple JavaScript interactivity
  • Test features and report what you find

Success Looks Like:

  • ✓ You can write JavaScript functions
  • ✓ You can make a page interactive with event listeners
  • ✓ You can debug using console.log and DevTools
  • ✓ You can build a small feature from scratch with guidance
  • ✓ You're starting to solve problems independently

Projects to Complete:

  • Calculator App
  • Todo List with Local Storage
  • Theme Switcher
  • Random Quote Generator
3

Phase 3: Junior Developer

Weeks 9-12 • Building Real Features

Now you're coding! You can work with APIs, build complete features, and start taking on small tasks independently.

What You're Learning:

  • Working with APIs and async/await
  • React fundamentals (components, props, state)
  • Form validation and error handling
  • Building responsive, mobile-friendly UIs
  • Version control workflows (branches, pull requests)

What You'll Do for JL Solutions:

  • Own small features from start to finish
  • Build simple CRUD interfaces
  • Integrate APIs into projects
  • Create new pages and components
  • Write clear code comments and documentation
  • Participate in code reviews

Success Looks Like:

  • ✓ You can fetch data from an API and display it
  • ✓ You can build a React component from scratch
  • ✓ You can handle forms and user input properly
  • ✓ You can deploy projects to production
  • ✓ You're comfortable working on real client projects

Projects to Complete:

  • Weather Dashboard (Full Version)
  • Movie Search App with Favorites
  • React Task Manager
  • Expense Tracker with Charts
4

Phase 4: Developer I

Months 4-6 • Professional Work

You're officially a developer! At this level, you can handle client work, solve complex problems, and build full features with minimal guidance.

What You're Learning:

  • Advanced React patterns and best practices
  • State management (Context API, potentially Redux)
  • Testing and quality assurance
  • Performance optimization
  • Agile workflows and project management

What You'll Do for JL Solutions:

  • Handle complete features from planning to deployment
  • Work directly with clients on requirements
  • Build dashboards and data visualization tools
  • Integrate with Power Platform and Azure services
  • Mentor newer trainees
  • Contribute to technical decisions

Success Looks Like:

  • ✓ You can scope and estimate your own work
  • ✓ You can work independently on features
  • ✓ You can communicate technical concepts to clients
  • ✓ You write clean, maintainable code
  • ✓ You can troubleshoot production issues

Projects to Complete:

  • "Capture Lite" - Document Management App
  • Client Onboarding Portal
  • Freelancer Invoice Generator
  • React Dashboard with Real Data
5

Phase 5: Developer II

6+ Months • Team Partner

This is it — you're a full team member. You and Titi are building JL Solutions together, tackling complex projects and growing the business.

What You're Learning:

  • Full-stack development concepts
  • Cloud platforms (Azure, AWS)
  • Power Platform integration
  • Architecture and system design
  • Client management and consulting

What You'll Do for JL Solutions:

  • Lead small projects from start to finish
  • Manage client relationships
  • Make technical decisions for the business
  • Build full applications (front-end + back-end)
  • Train and mentor new team members
  • Help grow JL Solutions and bring in new work

Success Looks Like:

  • ✓ You can architect and build entire applications
  • ✓ You're comfortable with multiple technologies
  • ✓ Clients trust you to solve their problems
  • ✓ You contribute to business strategy
  • ✓ You and Titi are true partners in the business

Projects You'll Own:

  • Full client projects
  • Internal JL Solutions tools
  • Innovation projects and experiments
  • Whatever we dream up together

💼 What We Expect at Each Level

Always Expected:

  • Show up and do the work
  • Ask questions when stuck
  • Be honest about what you know and don't know
  • Communicate clearly and often
  • Own your mistakes and learn from them
  • Keep learning and growing
  • Support and encourage each other

Never Expected:

  • Perfection
  • Knowing everything immediately
  • Working without support
  • Being available 24/7
  • Sacrificing your wellbeing for work
  • Comparing yourself to others
  • Pretending you understand when you don't

🚀 How Do You Move Up?

Moving from one phase to the next isn't about time — it's about demonstrated skills and confidence. Here's what we look for:

Technical Skills

  • You've completed the projects for your current phase
  • You've demonstrated the required technical skills consistently
  • You can explain your code and decisions

Problem Solving

  • You can work through problems with minimal help
  • You know how to debug and find answers
  • You can break down complex tasks into smaller steps

Communication

  • You ask good questions
  • You can explain technical concepts clearly
  • You update people on your progress

Readiness

  • You feel confident taking on the next level's responsibilities
  • You're excited (and maybe a little nervous) about the challenge
  • Titi agrees you're ready

Remember: This is your journey. Some people move quickly, some take their time. What matters is that you're learning, growing, and building something meaningful.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

Let's build your future together, one line of code at a time.

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