Well, my company hired a total amateur who can't do anything right on his own without copying code from me or the internet and I have to pretend he's helping in any capacity because otherwise I'm a "bad team player" and "should communicate more".

Helped me get over impostor syndrome, at least.

Why not take them under your wing? They'll be less on an issue

@UnicornPoo Neither actually, I guess we're just understaffed. I've been the only React dev on our team of now 5.

@MammaNeedHummus I'm trying to stay professional and help him out whenever he asks but I can only watch him fail to use simple boolean operations and array methods and ignore every piece of reference material I link him for so long before I lose my patience.

Had this happen to me. Never got better. I tried a lot of different things. Patience and listening had the best effect. However, the question comes down to that persons attitude. Anyone with a positive attitude that has a moderate degree of aptitude can be trained. If they are arrogant, this is a lost cause and you will have to let them fail on their own while providing futile instruction.

Those are just a huge time sink. Best to avoid. Compare it with a running team filled with top athletes and then get a slow, fat kid that is new to the concept of running in the team. Sure the kid might lose some weight and improve if the kid really takes in the athletes mentality but they won't win any prizes at all. Other members will switch to a team that actually stand a chance.

The gap is just too big. If there is talent and good attitude it's polishing a gem. Can still be hard work, but rewarding. Someone that unsuited will just be dead weight.

Status update: he quit 😘

try to polite and helpful but don't help them to hide their problems either = not the first time this situation the junior quit and hopefully get better fit position or another field of business