Here's how you can showcase your worth as a mid-career software developer to your employers.

Mastering the art of mentorship is not just about imparting knowledge, it's about stepping into someone else's shoes and helping them grow. As a mentor, it's essential to be selfless and share your wisdom with kindness and honesty, especially when guiding beginners. Your efforts should aim to instil a sense of confidence in your mentees, which will help them reach their full potential. Empathize with your team and help them discover their goals, while also sharing your insights about the organization's vision and values. Remember to share the materials and books that helped you succeed, as this will inspire your mentees to do the same. Keep motivating your team and helping them become the best versions of themselves.

In the competitive field of software development, mid-career professionals can significantly boost their value by mastering mentorship. Taking on a mentorship role not only reinforces your skills but also highlights your leadership qualities and dedication to organizational growth. By guiding younger developers, you impart essential technical skills and share valuable insights, fostering a collaborative environment that drives innovation. This involvement enhances your visibility within the company and underscores your commitment to collective success, marking you as an indispensable team leader. Embrace mentorship to not only aid the development of others but also secure your position as a pivotal figure in your organization.

Don't just mentor juniors at your job. Find coding communities in popular forums and social medias such as Reddit, Discord, Slack, CodeForum, etc, and get involved. Answer questions that are within your skillset. If there's something you may not know, don't be afraid to admit it, but at the same time, don't allow your lack of knowledge to deter your from researching and finding an answer to that question. Don't just answer questions that are posted. Allow users to message you directly should they have follow-up questions. Remember that growing in your SE career is not just about how much you know nor how fast you can code, it is also about what you can learn from teaching someone what you know.

Taking the lead in projects is a great way to showcase your skills and demonstrate your maturity. It's important to have a clear purpose and approach it constructively. Keep an eye on the quality of work and be transparent in your communication with your leaders. Delegating tasks, and you should do so appropriately, providing guidance and support to junior developers when necessary. Leading by example and being a supportive team player will help you gain respect from your peers. I have noticed that smart people often have a sharp eye for identifying risks and other critical elements of a project early on. They communicate these effectively to the larger group, helping the team deliver the project efficiently overall.

Software Development is a never ending journey and there are way to many paths to be successful. Start by making a plan of where you want to be in 3 years, write down in paper the tech you have to learn, plan the software you want to write, start writing it for you even if it seems absurd and impossible. Always allocate some time for the project, maybe the project is good, or maybe it gets you landed a similar work. Setting a specific goal and taking small steps will put you in motion and give you momentum. Check back in 3 years, is the plan working? if yes then write new goals, if not then learn from the experience and rethink new goals and make a new plan.

Process improvements can showcase my analytical skills and position me as a thought leader within the organization. I will make a conscious effort to actively participate and share my ideas, as I believe it will not only enrich the team's knowledge but also demonstrate my commitment to our collective success.

In my opinion as a leader, the most important skill for a professional is accountability. It’s about taking ownership of your work and delivering the results you need. Understand the value that your delivery has for the customer, give feedback and communicate impediments at the right time.