The "Can-Do" Attitude: The Right Mindset for Work

In tech, your mindset can make or break opportunities. The way you respond when faced with unfamiliar tools or technologies determines how others perceive your ability. A "can-do" attitude means believing in your ability to learn and execute—even if you haven’t done something before.

Why Saying “I Haven’t Used This Before” Is the Wrong Approach

Imagine being approached for a project that uses Material UI, but you’ve never worked with it. Saying, “Oh, I haven’t used this before,” immediately raises doubts. The person considering you for the role might lose confidence in your ability to deliver. Instead, approach it with confidence:

• Acknowledge the challenge internally, but don’t make it the client’s problem.

• Trust in your ability to learn.

• Be proactive—read documentation, explore the codebase, and adapt quickly.

When I got the opportunity to work at Fullgap, they used Material UI and Redux Toolkit—neither of which I had experience with. But I didn’t let that stop me. I dived into the docs, studied the existing codebase, and got the job done. The client didn’t need to know I was new to those tools—they just needed results.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should accept projects you know you can’t deliver. There’s a difference between being able to learn a tool quickly and taking on something completely outside your expertise. The key is to assess whether you can realistically pick up the skill in time to execute effectively. If it's something you can grasp with research and practice, don't let unfamiliarity hold you back.

How This Attitude Impacts Your Pay

If you come into a project doubting yourself, the employer might doubt you too. This can reflect in how much they’re willing to pay. If you lowball yourself because you "don't know" the tech stack, they’ll likely take you at your word and undervalue your skills.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. A client once reached out to me for a project, and instead of showing confidence, I hesitated. The client picked up on my uncertainty and assumed I would need a lot of handholding. As a result, they offered me a much lower rate than I should have earned. I still delivered an excellent result, but my monetary reward didn’t reflect my effort or skill.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being handheld if you’re new to a tech stack or if you’re an intern—it’s part of the learning process. But you can’t be handheld forever. At some point, you have to stand on your own. And the best way to be independent is to learn and build.

That experience taught me an important lesson—when you present yourself as someone who delivers results, regardless of the tools, you position yourself as someone worth investing in. Confidence in your ability directly impacts how much you get paid. The more you take initiative, the more you prove your value, and the more you position yourself for better opportunities and pay.

Learning on the Job: The Best Way to Grow

The best way to learn in tech is by doing. When I joined Mozilla, I had to work with Django—a framework I had never used. During the contribution stage, I was asked to solve a backend task in Django. I could have backed out and said, “I don’t know Django, so this isn’t for me.” But instead, I researched, practiced, and got the job done. That mindset earned me the internship.

Imagine if I had given up just because I wasn’t familiar with a tool. I would have missed out on an amazing opportunity.

Final Thoughts

Believe in yourself. The next time you're faced with a new tech stack or an unfamiliar challenge, don’t doubt your ability. Do some research, read the documentation, and get to work. Not only will you complete the task, but you’ll walk away with a new skill. And in tech, the more you build, the more valuable you become.

Always have the "can-do" attitude—it’s the best way to grow, get paid what you're worth, and succeed.