It’s no secret that software development is a highly competitive industry. The breadth of knowledge required to land an interview is unparalleled — and that doesn’t even cover the intensive hiring process.
Even if you’ve already landed a job, that doesn’t mean you’ve landed your dream developer gig. That’s going to take even more work, knowledge, and patience.
But there are ways to make obtaining a successful career easier for yourself. Keep reading to find out.
1) Invest In Continued Education
The tech industry is fast-paced and ever-changing. Developers must keep learning new programming languages, technologies, frameworks, skills, and project management techniques to stay relevant.
Thankfully many learning opportunities, like Scrum and Scaled Agile courses, are available online. And if you’re at a company that treats you right, you can even negotiate them paying for these continuing education courses. After all, these classes benefit you both.
2) Realize Your Worth
As mentioned, this industry is cutthroat, which can cause you a little imposter syndrome. But guess what?
As competitive as the field is, you’re still a scarce resource. Companies all over the globe cannot function without you. Your skill sets are valuable. For example, software programming and related coding positions are the third most in-demand in Australia today.
You need to understand your value to access the best career opportunities with the highest salaries. Plus, the self-confidence boost doesn’t hurt, either.
3) Don’t Tolerate Toxicity
With how in-demand your skills are, there’s no reason to tolerate a toxic work environment. And during your career, it’s possible that you might encounter some supervisors that don’t deserve their title.
A “leader” that doesn’t support you isn’t a good one. And, despite your best efforts, there really are some bosses you can’t please. No matter how good the gig seems from the outside, bad leaders hurt your career and confidence.
Don’t let incapable people or draining environments bring you down. Instead, seek out employers who value you as a person, and you’re more likely to feel fulfilled by your career.
4) Consider Side Projects
When you’re with one company for an extended time, you’re using their software standards. You may love coding, but doing the same thing over and over again won’t always keep you stimulated. Plus, you may not be using the latest tech available.
Having a side hustle, or even a personal hobby project, can help break up the monotony. In addition, you can stay fresh on updated technologies and programming languages. These side projects also give your CV a nice facelift and can help you network within your community.
Even if it takes up time, side hustles are worth the benefits. This isn’t about the money; it’s about the challenge.
5) Keep Asking Questions
Even if you’re seasoned in the industry, it’s never too late to ask questions.
If you don’t know something, you need to ask. This won’t undermine your reputation — it’ll boost it. It shows you’re aware of how rapidly the software industry changes and that you’re capable of humility.
Additionally, it’ll improve upon your relationships with your colleagues. Communication is key, and failing to communicate when you’re lost or uncertain only leads to disaster for all involved. Asking questions allows you to develop new solutions together.
Start Boosting Your Career Today
It’s never too late or too early to give yourself the software development career you deserve.
As your confidence and CV grow, your success is just around the corner. Continue investing in yourself by maintaining your education and taking on side projects. Leave toxic work environments behind, and join a team that supports you from day one.
Remember: you’re in demand, and that’s not changing any time soon.
