How to be a good partner in Paired Programming

Going Through a coding bootcamp is a fun and rewarding experience. Over the course of several weeks, a student and their mind are put through many rigorous tests. These tests are an array of different types of assignments to help hone and develop the necessary skills to become a Software Engineer. Some of these projects are to be completed individually, but some are with a randomly assigned partner(so pray to RnGsus).

Working with a partner has its advantages and disadvantages. The reason for paired programming, is to not only help eliminate small overlooks, but also to develop the “soft” skills necessary to work well within a team. Some disadvantages to paired programming are: One person could be much stronger/weaker than their counter part. Not all pairs will have an evenly balanced team where each person has the same level of experience or skill set. This usually leads to the person with the least amount of experience leaning on the more experienced person to do most of the work or visa versa. Also sometimes in paired programming, when working outside of normal working hours your partner is no where to be found, and here you are itching to knock out a problem. Unfortunately, in paired programming it is not right to work on your project without your partner because it is not fair to them, they could be missing out on learning or growing from the work done.

Regardless of the situation, it is your job to be the best possible partner for you and your team. Showing up on time and being ready to work is only half the battle. Being able to not only work well with others but also to be able to identify the needs of your team to make it successful will set you apart from the pack. If something is not working or you feel like maybe you and your partner are going nowhere fast with how things are set, it is your job to not only acknowledge this problem, but also to come up with a plan that better suits you and your partners workflow. If a situation does come up, it can be a little frustrating but not the end of the world. So make sure that whatever communication you do have with your partner comes from a positive place. I cant tell you how many times I have heard, “Its not what you say, but how you say it”, and its ALWAYS true.