Here's how you can create a robust portfolio as a newcomer to the Enterprise Software field.

I began programming from an early age and did not consider it as a profession until I was in my late 20's after working in construction and IT. However, my time spent as a hobby programmer gave me an edge when I began taking on simple projects as a QC analyst at a software company. By leaning on my experience as a hobby developer, I was able to begin with picking up simple PHP updates and move into a senior software engineer position within a couple of years. Anytime I need to learn new skills for a job, I reflect on my experience as a hobbyist to approach the task with a "beginner's mind" and try to enjoy the process while visualizing how I can use these skills to do an excellent job on the project and exceed client expectations.

Embarking on enterprise software development requires a solid foundation in key programming languages like Java, .NET, or Python. Understanding database management and Agile/Scrum methodologies is vital. Self-directed learning via online courses or workshops is recommended. Apply learned skills to small projects or contribute to open-source initiatives for practical experience to showcase in your portfolio.

Building small projects is the cornerstone of gaining experience required to succeed in enterprise software. Taking small challenges and turning them into real-life useful tools and examples for others can set you on the right path towards taking on bigger projects in the future. You will learn over time that the same techniques which apply to building and managing small projects also fit with larger and more complex jobs, and the sense of being able to wrap your head around a project from start to finish can help tremendously when scoping and executing on challenging jobs. After my first software job, I began helping others with small tools and things, and when I got into tech writing, it helped me tremendously to build example projects.

Meet everyone you can if you want to succeed in enterprise software. The more people you know, the better your chances will be. Making friends will go a long way here, as they can introduce you to others and pass along a good reference in the process. Additionally you will learn new perspectives and skills more rapidly from interacting with people and gaining insight into real-world challenges than if you approach things on your own. Development is a collaborative effort. The more you're able to collaborate openly and freely, the more opportunities you will find to grow and expand your career and make an impact on the world.

Read everything that you can get your hands on from a variety of sources. Not just technical or financial, but philosophical, written or referenced by people you follow. Try to attend events or conferences where people you have read are attending and engage with them on a topic. Pay forward. If you have something of value to offer to someone in a peer group or coming up behind you, offer it. They will remember and include you next time they have a question or learn something you might need to know. This builds a reputation as a giver.

Offer to endorse or recommend work done by a colleague. It will usually come back to you when you deliver value to someone else.

Building long lasting enterprise solutions takes strong teams working together with trust. A very underrated skill is the ability to have fun while solving hard problems. The strongest teams and team members have fun while they engineering great solutions.

From my experience, it is important to value everyone's opinion. Often if a voice is not heard there can be details that are missed that cause problems and pain points that could have been avoided.