By the time I got my first job in 1996 I had been a hobbyist writing in assembly language for Apple //es and played around with it for 68k, PPC and x86 computers.
Three months into my first job as the only person who could code - I was hired as a computer operator based on a prior internship - I was tasked with writing a relatively complicated data entry system in C that ran across 12 network computers. I had to talk to the customer for the new contract and demo it. We ran the data entry center. 30 years later if I had to do the same using modern technology (pre AI), it would still take me maybe 3-4 months to get it done by myself.
Now on the other hand, I did admittedly become an “expert beginner” at my second job between 2002-2008.
But that’s besides the point , I have had two open reqs that I had to fight for and I’m judged based on my ability as a lead to get work done on time, within budget and meets requirements.
I hired a senior who I used my filter for at my last job. Why would I hire a junior that puts more work on me and my team?
I told him on a very high level “we need $x, these are the only constraints we are working under”. He came back with a design plan, he did the implementation, the design review and I gladly stepped back and gave him all of the credit.
That’s always my m.o., I’m far past the point where I need the glory.