Code Review for Juniors: From Fear to Confidence

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If you’re a junior developer, code reviews can feel like the scariest part of your job. You put in hours of work, make sure your feature works perfectly, and then a senior drops a long list of comments on your pull request. It can feel overwhelming, and sometimes, even discouraging. But here’s the thing: code reviews aren’t just about catching mistakes; they’re about learning, improving, and growing as a developer.

This article is the first in a series exploring code reviews beyond the basics. In the upcoming articles, we’ll dive deeper into specific aspects — how to give and receive feedback effectively, best practices for reviewing different types of code and how to integrate code reviews seamlessly into agile workflows. Stay tuned as we uncover ways to make code reviews a powerful tool for better software and stronger teams. Find list of articles in this series below,
  1. Code Review: Beyond the Checklist
  2. Code Review for Juniors: From Fear to Confidence

Why Do Code Reviews Feel Overwhelming for Juniors?

When you’re new to coding, every pull request (PR) feels like a test. You’ve already spent time making sure your code works, so seeing a bunch of comments can feel like someone telling you, “You did it wrong.” But that’s not the case at all. Here’s why code reviews might feel intimidating:

  • You take feedback personally — It’s easy to see review comments as criticism of you rather than the code.
  • You’re afraid of looking inexperienced — Asking questions or pushing back on feedback might feel risky.
  • You’re unsure of best practices — Sometimes, you don’t even know why something needs to be changed.
  • You worry about slowing things down — If your PR gets multiple rounds of feedback, it can feel like you’re holding up the team.

But guess what? Every senior engineer was once in your shoes. Code reviews are not an exam — they’re a collaboration. The more you engage with them, the faster you grow.

Turning Code Reviews Into a Learning Experience

1. Refactoring vs. Working Code: When Should You Change It?

When you submit code, it might work perfectly fine, but a senior engineer might suggest a refactor. That doesn’t mean your code is wrong — it means there’s an opportunity to improve it.

As a junior, one of the best skills you can develop is knowing when a suggested change is worth doing now, and when it’s tech debt that can be improved later. If you’re unsure, ask

  • “Is this something I should change now, or is it an optimization for the future?”

This shows that you’re thinking critically, rather than just blindly accepting changes.

2. Tech Debt Awareness: What You Don’t Fix Today, You Fix Tomorrow

Deadlines often push juniors to write working code quickly, which is fine. But cutting corners repeatedly leads to tech debt — issues that will slow down development later.

When a senior suggests a better approach, don’t just see it as extra work — see it as a chance to avoid future headaches. If something feels like a big refactor, discuss it,

  • “Would this refactor be part of a tech debt task, or should I prioritize it now?”

This kind of thinking separates an average developer from a great one.

3. Learning to Balance Speed and Quality

Juniors often feel pressure to deliver fast, but rushing can lead to messy, hard-to-maintain code. Code reviews help you understand when to slow down and focus on quality.

A good mindset is: “Code isn’t just for the computer, it’s for other developers to read too.” Clean, well-structured code makes future changes easier.

When you get feedback, instead of thinking “Ugh, more work”, try thinking “How can I make my code cleaner next time, so fewer changes are needed?”

4. Handling Large Review Comments Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Sometimes, a PR comes back with 10+ comments, and it feels like your entire code is wrong. It’s not. Here’s how to handle it:

  • Group similar comments together — If multiple comments suggest improving readability, fix them all at once.
  • Address quick fixes first — Small formatting or naming issues? Fix them immediately and push.
  • Ask for clarification — If a comment isn’t clear, reply with “Could you give an example?” instead of guessing.
  • Keep the conversation open — Instead of just accepting changes, respond with “Good point! I’ve updated it this way.”

Code reviews are not a personal attack. They’re a tool to level up your skills.

5. Understanding Trade-offs: Not Every Change is a Must

Not every code review comment is equally important. Some are essential (security, performance, correctness), while others are subjective (style, small optimizations).

As a junior, you don’t have to accept every single change without thinking. It’s okay to push back when needed,

  • “Would it be okay to keep this approach for now and refactor it later?”
  • “I see why this could be better, but does it impact performance significantly?”

6. Proactively Seeking Code Reviews (Not Just Waiting for Feedback)

Instead of waiting until your PR is fully complete, get early feedback,

  • If you’re unsure about an approach, ask a senior before submitting the full PR.
  • If your PR is big, let reviewers know: “This is a larger change, feel free to review it in parts.”
  • If you see patterns in previous feedback, start applying them early.

This saves time and makes the review process smoother.

How Juniors Can Start Contributing to Code Reviews

Code reviews aren’t just for seniors — juniors can participate too. Even if you’re not an expert, you can still,

  • Observe how seniors review PRs — Read through the PRs of other team members and see the kind of feedback given.
  • Ask clarifying questions — “I see this pattern in several places — should we standardize it?”
  • Suggest improvements — Even if it’s small, giving feedback like “Would using X here make this more readable?” helps build confidence.
  • Follow review discussions — Understanding why decisions are made helps improve your coding skills.

Some organizations allow juniors to add comments on PRs — if yours does, take advantage of it! The more you engage in reviews, the more you’ll grow.

Final Thoughts

Code reviews shouldn’t feel like a test. They’re a way to collaborate, learn, and write better code together.

The best juniors aren’t the ones who write perfect code. They’re the ones who take feedback, learn from it, and improve over time. That’s how you go from fear to confidence.