--- title: "Discussion on \"How to ask questions as a new engineer\" | Hashnode" description: "Discussion on \"How to ask questions as a new engineer\". 3 tips for asking for help that will make mentors love working with you" url: "https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677" --- [Feed](https://hashnode.com/feed) / Discussion # [How to ask questions as a new engineer](https://genericmikechen.hashnode.dev/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) 3 tips for asking for help that will make mentors love working with you Apr 19, 2022 · 6 min read · genericmikechen.hashnode.dev Updated Apr 21, 2022 Read the article - [#communication](https://hashnode.com/tag/communication) - [#career](https://hashnode.com/tag/career) - [#programming](https://hashnode.com/tag/programming) - [#general-advice](https://hashnode.com/tag/general-advice) - [#beginners](https://hashnode.com/tag/beginners) ## Written by [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) @genericmikechen [View profile](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) CTO and co-founder at Motivo Hello, I'm Mike! I'm a self-taught software engineer, now a CTO of a startup. I write to help people break into tech from nontraditional backgrounds and thrive in their early careers. If that's you, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter if you want to connect! ## Responses 15 Markdown supported · ⌘↵ to post [Tanish Shrivastava](https://hashnode.com/@Tanish) [Aug 13, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/62f7e9ca69fa1793160c380b) This reminds me of Eric S. Raymond document about asking questions. That one was much longer, but this one is also good. If anything, I think in the current times, this might work better. I do think though that it will take some time to adapt these habits. Thanks for this wonderful article, Mike. [CyberFreak999](https://hashnode.com/@CyberFreak999) [Apr 30, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/626d2c09a2d355d4df43eaf9) Nice [Kaushal Joshi](https://hashnode.com/@kaushal-joshi) [Apr 24, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/6265a080d82f4558aff8b647) This is really a great article, [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen). Reminded me of a website called [dontasktoask.com](https://dontasktoask.com/) But your version seems more detailed and well explained! [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 28, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/6265a080d82f4558aff8b647#reply-626abcc87d5d27b992e4c54f) Thanks Kaushal! Also in a similar vein: [nohello.com](https://www.nohello.com/) Reducing the amount of roundtrips required to address an issue is such a key principle in effective async communication. Thanks for sharing! [Victor Eke](https://hashnode.com/@Eke) [Apr 21, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/6260a4697019274627fd83f1) Every junior developer deserves to read this article. Absolutely brilliant! Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) 🔥 [Ben Laden](https://hashnode.com/@Pocochoco) [Apr 21, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/6260a4697019274627fd83f1#reply-62615faad82f4558aff85974) fadjshfsdghfhsdjikghbsdgsdgsd [Yuri](https://hashnode.com/@YuriCodesBot) [Apr 20, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/626097c7313088464cfc4dae) Asking questions is such a crucial part of learning and growing! The examples really hit the nail on the head, Mike. Also congrats on your first post! Will be looking forward to your content! :\] [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 23, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/626097c7313088464cfc4dae#reply-6264768c0f819f588af76a6a) That means a lot coming from you Yuri, thanks for reading! [Dave Guymon](https://hashnode.com/@daveguymon) [Apr 20, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/62602d5d7019274627fd7c1f) Wonderful article, Mike! You provided great value by offering examples for each points of advice. I've had similar conversations with new engineers on my own team. I am going to share a link to this post with them as a "second coat of paint" for learning the importance and strategy of asking good questions. 👏 [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 23, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/62602d5d7019274627fd7c1f#reply-6264764dd82f4558aff8a0d9) Thanks a lot Dave! I hope it'll be helpful to your team too! [Jason V. Castellano](https://hashnode.com/@thegreytangent) [Apr 20, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/626022f4313088464cfc4407) Nice article, I remember when I started in the industry. This is how I ask a question. 😂😂 [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 23, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/626022f4313088464cfc4407#reply-62647640d82f4558aff8a0d3) Agreed, it's hard to learn this stuff when you're just starting out! [Vinyl Davyl](https://hashnode.com/@Vinyl-Davyl) [Apr 20, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625ff6a2313088464cfc4030) Elite write-up ✨✨ [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 23, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625ff6a2313088464cfc4030#reply-62647628d82f4558aff8a0cf) Thank you Okononfua! [Jacob Good](https://hashnode.com/@Jacobegood) [Apr 20, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625fd6419ad0ef10f07c1a96) I really enjoyed the thoroughness of this article Mike. I learn best with explanations, bad examples, and good examples and you nailed all three. The XY Problem is also something I'll be teaching my class tomorrow to expose them (and cement my knowledge), so thanks for a great time-filler! [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 22, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625fd6419ad0ef10f07c1a96#reply-62623cb80f819f588af7374e) Thanks a lot Jacob! I struggle most with coming up with examples so I'm happy these were helpful! [Peter Gichia](https://hashnode.com/@seanpeters) [Apr 20, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625fc6aa9ad0ef10f07c1883) A very informative piece. I think this will be of much help to me and others getting into software. [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 22, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625fc6aa9ad0ef10f07c1883#reply-62623cf90f819f588af73763) I'm glad it was helpful, Peter! Thanks for reading! [Eleftheria Batsou](https://hashnode.com/@eleftheriabatsou) [Apr 20, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625fbac49ad0ef10f07c170e) Congrats on your first article [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen)! Great work [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 22, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625fbac49ad0ef10f07c170e#reply-62623cf0d82f4558aff86bb0) Thank you for the warm welcome Eleftheria! [Joel Pickin](https://hashnode.com/@JoelPickin) [Apr 20, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625fb6566122393b685b8c16) What a fantastic piece Mike! This article is going to help so many people build their confidence with asking questions! [Ben Laden](https://hashnode.com/@Pocochoco) [Apr 21, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625fb6566122393b685b8c16#reply-62615fb1d82f4558aff85978) fdslkfdjsfgnsdkjghnsdkjgsdgsd [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 23, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625fb6566122393b685b8c16#reply-62648bf10f819f588af76b19) Thanks so much Joel, great to see you on here too, looking forward to seeing more of your writing! [Sylvia F.](https://hashnode.com/@EngineeringLynn) [Apr 19, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625f2e60da7c2f332d1d5926) Great informative article!! Love the scenarios and examples, this has definitely given me insight on how to improve my communication skills. [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 22, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625f2e60da7c2f332d1d5926#reply-62623c9cd82f4558aff86ba1) Thanks Sylvia, I hope it helps you as you start your first internship!! [Curtis Einsmann](https://hashnode.com/@einsmanntech) [Apr 19, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625f15e0da7c2f332d1d5777) Good to see you here! Nice article. Effective questions ➡️ effective answers ➡️ effective developers. [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 22, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625f15e0da7c2f332d1d5777#reply-62623ce1d82f4558aff86bad) Thanks for the warm welcome from a seasoned pro in this space, Curtis! Doesn't surprise me in the least that you'd feel this way about effective communication! [Lyn Kim (she/her)](https://hashnode.com/@onwardLyn) [Apr 19, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625efb959ad0ef10f07c08de) Love this writeup, Mike! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Asking good questions is truly a skill but it definitely gets better with time/practice. Looking forward to more posts from you!! [Mike Chen](https://hashnode.com/@genericmikechen) [Apr 22, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/how-to-ask-questions-as-a-new-engineer/625ee06e57bc361115204677/comment/625efb959ad0ef10f07c08de#reply-62623c570f819f588af73743) Thank you Lyn! You already ask such good questions, I can tell it's something you've thought through before. Appreciate you reading!